'63 Rubber Cushion on Crossmember Over Rear Axle

[Harry S.]

Re: '63 Rubber Cushion on Crossmember Over Rear Axle

Has anyone determined the GM part number on the pads? or where they are in the AIM?

Thanks

[Frank D.]

Re: '63 Rubber Cushion on Crossmember Over Rear Axle

I think several (including the link I provided) confirmed they aren't in the AIM...

[Mike M.]

[Harry S.]

Re: '63 Rubber Cushion on Crossmember Over Rear Axle

I've been looking through my documentation and as the good Dr. says they were on C1's. I found a picture that shows one on a 56. As far as being installed on a C2, all I can find is, they were only installed on 63 coupes. No part number available.

[Harry S.]

Re: '63 Rubber Cushion on Crossmember Over Rear Axle

From an ebay auction. A coupe.

[Joseph S.]

Re: '63 Rubber Cushion on Crossmember Over Rear Axle

I would think that they cancelled those rubber pieces once they isolated the body from the frame, switching to rubber body mounts in 64. That's why we only see them on 63 cars. But why only coupes? I have never seen them on a convertible.

[Duke W.]

Re: '63 Rubber Cushion on Crossmember Over Rear Axle

The convertible body style would be less likely to generate the low frequency drumming sound that driver and passenger can hear. The coupe's "open" interior is a better resonance chamber.

Duke

[Duke W.]

Re: '63 Rubber Cushion on Crossmember Over Rear Axle

Norm - what's your VIN sequence number or build date? I'm trying to sort out the time frame that those rubber blocks were used.

Duke

[Frank D.]

Re: '63 Rubber Cushion on Crossmember Over Rear Axle

Having owned my 63 coupe for 6 years now, I'm still amazed at the things that come out about these early midyears...

It was only a few months ago that I found out about the pinch welt on the seat front tracks - I'd never noticed it but I had one original left and was missing the other three (now corrected)... Now I have to get under the car on the lift and see if I have the rubber cushions ?!?

My 29th car doesn't have them and I see no evidence of them...I also looked through John Hinckley's excellent presentation on the 63 assembly process and didn't see them in any of the photos but they could have been easily missed.

I wonder if these can be installed with the body on the car ?!

[Norm B.]

Re: '63 Rubber Cushion on Crossmember Over Rear Axle

Hi Duke. VIN is 2507. Build date is Oct. 29. As near as I can figure it's probably one of the first five down the line that day making it one of those dreaded "Monday morning" cars.

[Harry S.]

Re: '63 Rubber Cushion on Crossmember Over Rear Axle

Having owned my 63 coupe for 6 years now, I'm still amazed at the things that come out about these early midyears...

It was only a few months ago that I found out about the pinch welt on the seat front tracks - I'd never noticed it but I had one original left and was missing the other three (now corrected)... Now I have to get under the car on the lift and see if I have the rubber cushions ?!?

As soon as I can the coupe on the lift I'll take a look. My 63 convertible is up there now. I looked at it yesterday and you can see the area where the pads are to be easily with a mirror and flashlight.

[Harry S.]

Re: '63 Rubber Cushion on Crossmember Over Rear Axle

Thought I'd take a look with the car sitting on the ground. You can get a pretty good look even with the tire on. They are not on coupe 20018. They may have been when the car was born but I'm the 9th owner.

[Duke W.]

Re: '63 Rubber Cushion on Crossmember Over Rear Axle

Hi Duke. VIN is 2507. Build date is Oct. 29. As near as I can figure it's probably one of the first five down the line that day making it one of those dreaded "Monday morning" cars.

'63 Shop Manual, page 1-33, Figure 73, Body Mounts show two "shims" in that location. The shop manual was available by start of production or at the very least early in production, so the photos/configurations are based on pilot line cars or maybe even late prototype builds.

This leads me to believe that perhaps these "shims" were installed on early production cars, but were deleted in later production, which seems odd because they performed a useful function - eliminating the "drumming" of the rear floor pan section and didn't cost much for the part or installation labor.

Duke

[Duke W.]

Re: '63 Rubber Cushion on Crossmember Over Rear Axle

I wonder if these can be installed with the body on the car ?!

Probably yes, but you might have to remove the spare tire carrier. The "shims" must be under at least a little bit of compression to be effective, and you can probably carefully pry the floor pan up and shove them in. As long as they are under compression no glue is really necessary. The glue was probably used to keep them in place before body drop. Once in if you can't slide them around, they won't be going anywhere, but it certainly won't do any harm to use some adhesive.

Duke

[Duke W.]

Re: '63 Rubber Cushion on Crossmember Over Rear Axle

Thought I'd take a look with the car sitting on the ground. You can get a pretty good look even with the tire on. They are not on coupe 20018. They may have been when the car was born but I'm the 9th owner.

I think the chassis judges should be able to see them. I don't have a recent '63 JG, but for those who have the latest edition, does it say anything about these "shims"?

Duke