1963 Grill attachment Screws

[Richard G.]

I am installing the grill in my 63.
My question is were the J nuts installed after painting?
I assume they were and should be black phosphate without over-spray.
can anyone confirm this?


I also purchased some 63-64 grill J-nuts without my car being here.
I paid extra for the 1/4 -29 Square nuts installed.
My December car has the standard style J nuts.
Any idea what they might be for?



I purchased some replacement screws from my 63's grill.
The ones from one vendor are black phosphate.
The second set look to be identical but are zinc plated.
JM indicates the black ones are correct.

Crazy you can get almost any finish from vendors, isn't it?

A lot of details to deal in the coming weeks.
Rick

[Harry S.]

Re: 1963 Grill attaachment Screws

J nut installed ater paint.

[Bob R.]

Re: 1963 Grill attaachment Screws

The correct screws are machine thread and not sheet metal screws as you have in your picture. I think the thread size is 1/4 20 with a large #3 phillips round head.

[Richard G.]

Re: 1963 Grill attaachment Screws

Bob;
But after thinking about it the 1/4" screws may be just for the grill and not the grill surround? Of course the holes in the surround are not big enough for 1/4" screws. I think you may have solved me "what are these for" question. I did say "Grill" in my post but was writing about the surround. My bad. Sure appreciate everyone help on this one. I thought was good at pictures and cataloging parts. This was disassembled so long ago some information has got lost. I believe I have a set of the correct 1/4" screws with Philips heads to use with the pictured 1/4" square "J" nuts to attach the Grill. I also rechecked the packages, one says 63 early grill screws (sheet metal). The other grill nuts with 1/4-20 square nuts. I will replace the Grill surround, "J" nuts with new ones that are not painted. I have been looking at the judging manual but in the future I will also check the assembly manual. Is the "Grill attachment bracket painted? I was thinking the grill bracket should be blacked out.
Getting through this is a process.
Thanks again for everyone's input.

[Timothy B.]

Re: 1963 Grill attaachment Screws

Richard,

I believe the sheet metal screws and j nuts are correct for your early car. I believe the 1/4" screws started either later in 63 or 64. You probably only need to remove and clean them and reinstall. I also think the clips that hold the lower grill molding are attached with different hardware but I don't have the assembly manual in front of me.

I do recall it being hard to figure out at the time looking at the AIM, maybe someone with a original car in that time frame will post and clear it up but you may be good to go with the sheet metal screws.

[Richard G.]

Re: 1963 Grill attaachment Screws

I found the grill attachment details in Noland's The Compete Corvette Restoration & Technical Guide Vol2 on page 96.
The early grills had sheet metal screws till Vin 106727. My car is in the 1055** range. He lists the early screws as sheet metal screws 1/2 long with an integral washer and a Phillips head. Of course none of the current vendor supplied hardware, that I have checked on, have the captive washer. The late grill attachment hardware was with a 1/4-20 machine bolt with a Phillips head and a captive washer. It is 1/2 long.

[Keith W.]

Re: 1963 Grill attaachment Screws

The correct screws are machine thread and not sheet metal screws as you have in your picture. I think the thread size is 1/4 20 with a large #3 phillips round head.

Bob Machine screws and sheet metal screws , can you please put an example of the two different types to highlight the difference , Please just to make it easy for me thanks Keith