Black headlight motor plugs in 63?

[Richard G.]

I have a late December 1962 build SWC. I have what appears to be correctly dated motors for my headlights. A friend of my has another Dec 62 build date SWC. The cars were built within two weeks of each other. Both his headlight gearboxes and mine are dated the same 11-62. So far so good.

Here is the question;
All 4 of the motor electrical plugs are white plastic that seems to have yellowed over time. It would seem unlikely that all 4 of the motors had been replaced. They had what appeared to be matching patinas. We still see these cars with original motors that are still functioning after all these years. They didn't seem to a design that failed often. If one had an issue wouldn't it been typical to have purchased the motor/gearbox as a set from GM. Was the motor even available separately?

Just having a difficult time with the blanket statement the 63 motor plugs were all black. Is this an early late thing? Or am I just off base here? I did look through the different vendors and haven't been able to find a single black plug. LIC has only the white one. I didn't see this in the JM but mine is out of date.
Any input appreciated.
Rick

[Don H.]

Re: Black headlight motor plugs in 63?

Good to see that you found the date on your motors.
https://www.forums.ncrs.org/showthre...-dates-located

[Harry S.]

Re: Black headlight motor plugs in 63?

I know, never say never with a 63. The plugs are black in my motors dated 12/62, 3/63, 6/63 and 6/63. Even my spare of 7/73 is black. I've looked at and judged many 63's over the years and all I have seen is black. It was and still may be common practice when a person sent his motor in for a rebuild to simply cannibalize a few motors to end up with a working one, thus the white plugs.

Why not start a survey and see what we get on plug color?

[Edward J.]

Re: Black headlight motor plugs in 63?

My March car has a 12/62 and 1/63 and are black plugs. I would think that it maybe possible that a very late car could have a white plug but that is just a guess.

[John D.]

Re: Black headlight motor plugs in 63?

My March 3rd car has black plugs.

[Richard G.]

Re: Black headlight motor plugs in 63?

Thanks Don, Yes after reviewing the "where are my dates" answers I did find the dates from the information posted, thank you.

Interesting as I have found a lot more changes to my cars over the years than I would have expected. I was under the impression my car was closer to original that it was. Some things I have identified in the last year;

1) The heater box installed in my car had a built after the car's build date. However it was dated 1963 not 62. So it obviously it was, in all likelihood, replaced under GM warranty program. I have read where the original heater box had operational/function issues and GM was aware of them, obvious because of the design changes.
2) My differential gears were originally 4:11 and was found with 3:32 with a 10-65 date on them. Got tired of the 4:11's quickly didn't they!
3) Disc Brake trailing arm was installed on the Right side along with later year flanges.
4) 1968 Seat-belts
5) Headlight motors changed out?
6) My 63 was painted twice in the first 5 years with no evidence of any body damage that may have precipitated the color changes.

Back to the point, I looks very likely both headlight motors were indeed replaced with newer ones because the white plugs identify them as later models motors. I didn't think the motors reliability was problematic. Maybe it was another issue that wasn't correctly diagnosed? Who knows but I am ready to acknowledge they are indeed incorrect for my application. Still haven't found a black plug supplier and I have the motors apart.
Rick

[Harry S.]

[Frank D.]

Re: Black headlight motor plugs in 63?

My May 63 split window has one original motor with black connector on driver's side and a '65 motor with a white connector on the passenger's side. Someday I'll just touch up the white connector with black paint. Someday...

[Joseph S.]

Re: Black headlight motor plugs in 63?

SN 1022, 5962, 9301, 11573 all have black sockets

[Andy C.]

Re: Black headlight motor plugs in 63?

Ed, I have an 1964 built on September 16th 1963. Both motors have black plugs. I am certain they are original to the car. The vin is #794 if someone else has a car in that range.

[Frederick H.]

Re: Black headlight motor plugs in 63?

Late to the fray but my March car's motor is dated 12/62 with the black plug.