63 Fuel injection build date

[Joseph S.]

Re: 63 Fuel injection build date

Todd, That is definitely a 63 FI core support. If it were a 64-5 FI support or a service replacement we would see the nut plate and stampings for the horn attachment.

Good luck with your restoration, Joe

[Todd L.]

Re: 63 Fuel injection build date

Thank you for the clarification Joe. Attached is a picture of the front looking through the grill opening as Donald requested earlier.

[Joseph S.]

Re: 63 Fuel injection build date

Perfect!! That is 63 only!

[Todd L.]

Re: 63 Fuel injection build date

Great! Thanks for your insight.

[John D.]

Re: 63 Fuel injection build date

Perfect!! That is 63 only!

Joe. I can't tell from this photo. Does this core support have the correct corners? Puffed up like a sock?

[Dan A.]

Re: 63 Fuel injection build date

The strap type bracket retaining the round rod that crisscrosses the rad support for strength (at the end of red arrow) is '63 only and was simplified for subsequent years reducing cost.

1963 only FI rad caore support_2.jpg


The raised area high lighted below is ' 63 only too and suffered the same fate.

1963 only FI rad caore support_3.jpg

[Duke W.]

Re: 63 Fuel injection build date

As stated '63 radiator supports are unique to that year. There were probably some left over after the end of production that went to service parts, and I don't know how long they lasted, but it probably wasn't long... maybe someone knows, and it was a fairly common replacement item for front end accident damage. A lot of '63s have later radiator supports, usually due to accident damage. I'm not sure how long the later supports were available through service parts, but at some point they were all late "FI type" with the engine air inlet opening.

Given your car has what appears to be an original '63 radiator support even though the engine, trans, and FI numbers don't jibe with the VIN/build date, I'd say there's a decent chance it was actually built with the L-84 FI engine.

Duke

[Todd L.]

Re: 63 Fuel injection build date

That's great detail and history, thanks so much for sharing Dan!

[Todd L.]

Re: 63 Fuel injection build date

Thanks for the detail Duke! I tend to agree, the previous owner of 23 years said the guy he bought it from pulled the 327 out and replaced it with a 350, because it was cool to do that back then, lol. It looks like I just need to find the correct drive line (minus rear end) and the car should be back to what it came with originally. Let the treasure hunt begin!

[Don H.]

Re: 63 Fuel injection build date

The strap type bracket retaining the round rod that crisscrosses the rad support for strength (at the end of red arrow) is '63 only and was simplified for subsequent years reducing cost.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]103519[/ATTACH]

Dan, double check that. The strap lower retainer was present thru 64 and I believe also into early 65 production. Your 64s don't have it? Mine does.

[Mike M.]

Re: 63 Fuel injection build date

straps were present on original c-2 core supports. early repos didn't. mike

[Mark S.]

Re: 63 Fuel injection build date

My July built 65 FI has them.

[Joseph S.]

Re: 63 Fuel injection build date

Yes! The corner reinforcements are there.

[Brian T.]

Re: 63 Fuel injection build date

The service part radiator support for 1963-1965 usage (3858963) was a 64-65 type, with the hole for the S-tube, and without the straps ar the corners. That was the clue that they had been replaced for years until the reproductions appeared. I have had many through the years, and none that I recall ever had straps. Maybe that was eliminated in late production cars?