1963 Rear Muffler Hangers... Current Thoughts

[Chuck G.]

I've attached several photos from my AIM. They show braided straps, not the copper bands... used as the grounding method.

Revision is dated 5-16-63. It says "View Added". That added view, compared to the AM only radio, is the center illustration showing the braided straps. It also mentions that "Item 8 & 9 Added". Items 8 and 9 are the braided strap...and a toothed lock washer used to retain it.

The JG says that the 3" wide copper band is used throughout 1963.

Would that be true for a late car? When did the transition occur?

[Harry S.]

Re: 1963 Rear Muffler Hangers... Current Thoughts

Chuck, best I can recall neither strap was installed in 63 regardless of what the AIM says, The hanger itself provided the ground.

[Chuck G.]

Re: 1963 Rear Muffler Hangers... Current Thoughts

Chuck, best I can recall neither strap was installed in 63 regardless of what the AIM says, The hanger itself provided the ground.

Thank you, Harry, however the most recent 1963/64 JG states:

"In 1963, the rear muffler hanger system consists of a roughly triangular metal plate bolted to the underside of the frame with two bolts, nuts, and split lock washers. Onto this metal plate is bolted an upper metal bracket, with a "conveyor belt" style flat rubber insulator riveted to it, and a thick sheet of copper that is bent outwardly in the center to cover the rear surface of the rubber insulator."

"Two metal retainers also cover the rear surface of the copper sheet, one of which serves as the muffler bolt plate, the other which serves as the upper rivet plate...... etc. etc."

[Harry S.]

Re: 1963 Rear Muffler Hangers... Current Thoughts

Thank you, Harry, however the most recent 1963/64 JG states:

"In 1963, the rear muffler hanger system consists of a roughly triangular metal plate bolted to the underside of the frame with two bolts, nuts, and split lock washers. Onto this metal plate is bolted an upper metal bracket, with a "conveyor belt" style flat rubber insulator riveted to it, and a thick sheet of copper that is bent outwardly in the center to cover the rear surface of the rubber insulator."

"Two metal retainers also cover the rear surface of the copper sheet, one of which serves as the muffler bolt plate, the other which serves as the upper rivet plate...... etc. etc."

Chuck, just took these. Both my 63's are the same.

[Chuck G.]

Re: 1963 Rear Muffler Hangers... Current Thoughts

So, you do have the copper strap on both of your cars...

[Rich Y.]

Re: 1963 Rear Muffler Hangers... Current Thoughts

Here is a photo of my original, untouched muffler hanger.

[Chuck G.]

Re: 1963 Rear Muffler Hangers... Current Thoughts

Thank you.. To Harry and Richard... What are the VIN's of your cars....OR if you don't want to post them, in what month were they built?

Early, Mid, Late in production?

[Harry S.]

Re: 1963 Rear Muffler Hangers... Current Thoughts

Chuck, April 20th and July 19th.

[Dave S.]

Re: 1963 Rear Muffler Hangers... Current Thoughts

The hangers on my 63 match Harry's photos FWIW.
There should be a ground strap between the lower and upper pair of bolts ( inner bolts as I recall ) on U69 cars. Not sure about AM only cars.

[Rich Y.]

Re: 1963 Rear Muffler Hangers... Current Thoughts

My car was built in February 1963.

[Chuck G.]

Re: 1963 Rear Muffler Hangers... Current Thoughts

My 63 is a July 13 build... so it's "late"...

Dave, you're saying that you think there should be a braided strap in addition to the copper sheet?

There should be a ground strap between the lower and upper pair of bolts ( inner bolts as I recall ) on U69 cars. Not sure about AM only cars.

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[Harry S.]

Re: 1963 Rear Muffler Hangers... Current Thoughts

According to the AIM, yes a strap is installed. But, I've never seen one on a 63. I believe it started in 64.

[Alan D.]

Re: 1963 Rear Muffler Hangers... Current Thoughts

Here is what Noland has documented: The 64AIM does not show any ground strap in the subject area, so do not believe it was ever used in 1964. Sorry for poor scan.

[Edward J.]

Re: 1963 Rear Muffler Hangers... Current Thoughts

The hangers on my 63 match Harry's photos FWIW.
There should be a ground strap between the lower and upper pair of bolts ( inner bolts as I recall ) on U69 cars. Not sure about AM only cars.

I think that there was a change at some point the AM radio's had a different ground strap mounting method for the antenna, AM/FM radio's mounted in front of the rear #4 body mount on side of frame. AM was behind mount on underside of frame. the muffler ground strap was also changed to a braided strap when the AM/FM became a option. But this was what the JM says??, around 15xxx

[Dave S.]

Re: 1963 Rear Muffler Hangers... Current Thoughts

My 63 is a July 13 build... so it's "late"...

Dave, you're saying that you think there should be a braided strap in addition to the copper sheet?

There should be a ground strap between the lower and upper pair of bolts ( inner bolts as I recall ) on U69 cars. Not sure about AM only cars.

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Chuck,

based on the info I guess that is what I'm saying.

Seems like this is an area of great confusion. If the AIM calls for a separate braided ground strap then it would have been additional to the exhaust hanger that was installed on all cars wether it had a radio or not. I'm new to this 63 stuff but one can only apply logic when the information is not clear. I have an April 10 AM/FM car. I would agree that the addition of a braided ground strap is like a double ground and doesn't make much sense but the information I've read leads you in that direction. Are there any experienced chassis judges out there.?