1963 corvette instrument cluster screws

[Timothy B.]

Is there anyone with a early 63 corvette that can post a picture of the sheet metal screws and retainers used to secure the instrument cluster to dash. The screws pictured may be the correct but I am not sure. I also don't know when the change over to glove box screws was.

Thanks for the help in advance, Tim

[Michael H.]

Re: 1963 corvette instrument cluster screws

Is there anyone with a early 63 corvette that can post a picture of the sheet metal screws and retainers used to secure the instrument cluster to dash. The screws pictured may be the correct but I am not sure. I also don't know when the change over to glove box screws was.

Thanks for the help in advance, Tim

Tim,

The screws that you have in the pic would be the correct ones for the cluster on an early 63. The plating on these was black.
At a guess, I would say the black sheet metal style screws were used for at least the first two months of production.

Later in 63 production, (and through the end of 67 production) a screw with machine thread replaced the black screws. The color of the later style machine thread screw was brown. (unfortunately, I have absolutely no idea what kind of coating or plating is brown)

[Stuart F.]

Re: 1963 corvette instrument cluster screws

I held back on this as I have not had any idea what was used on early 63's, and found it hard to imagine they used that type of screw as the ones in mine and as described by Michael are far more substantial. The cluster is, after all, fairly heavy. Learn something every day about 63's.

Stu Fox

[Richard M.]

Re: 1963 corvette instrument cluster screws

I held back on this as I have not had any idea what was used on early 63's, and found it hard to imagine they used that type of screw as the ones in mine and as described by Michael are far more substantial. The cluster is, after all, fairly heavy. Learn something every day about 63's.

Stu Fox

Heavy is right Stu.....I put mine on the scale today. It came in at just under 12 lbs!

Rich
p.s. Our 63 sn 9664 uses the machine screw type screw to hold it in.

[Michael G.]

Re: 1963 corvette instrument cluster screws

Many times, in decorative applications, GM used screws made of 302 stainless, with a black oxide finish. Black oxide sometimes appears "dark brown" with time, supposedly due to slight rusting. These screws may be slightly magnetic, but not like a normal screw, so you can test for this type of screw with a magnet. I hope that helps.

Mike

[Timothy B.]

Re: 1963 corvette instrument cluster screws

Thanks for all the reply's to this post. It's my understanding the early cars had this screw and I would like to know what the J nut looked like as I am sure I have it with the parts somewhere. It's also my understanding the glove box screws are the same as later 63-67 cars with machine thread, is this correct??

I think I am going to install them back where they belong but I want to be correct before I unhook oil pressure line to move cluster..

Thanks for any help, Tim

[Richard M.]

Re: 1963 corvette instrument cluster screws

Tim,

So you know what not to look for in the pile.....Here's the machine screw type J-nut. It's 1/4-20 thread. This glovebox uses the same thread machine screw, but it's a phillips with integrated flat area as part of the head.

Rich
p.s. yes oil pressure line is a treat on these.

[Michael H.]

Re: 1963 corvette instrument cluster screws

It's my understanding the early cars had this screw and I would like to know what the J nut looked like as I am sure I have it with the parts somewhere. It's also my understanding the glove box screws are the same as later 63-67 cars with machine thread, is this correct??

I think I am going to install them back where they belong but I want to be correct before I unhook oil pressure line to move cluster..

Tim, that's correct. As I stated above, early production cars used a black plated sheet metal style thread screw, part number 9418514. (the screws in your picture)
These were used with nut 3797428.
I think both of these parts were also used in other locations in the car but I don't remember where.

Later in production, both the screw and nut were changed.
The screw became a 1/4-20 thread with a brown plating, part number 9419300. (it's coating wasn't rust)
The nut changed to 3831934 with 1/4-20 thread. (same as a radiator grille nut?)

I don't think the later brown machine thread 9419300 screw was used anywhere else in the car.

[Stuart F.]

Re: 1963 corvette instrument cluster screws

Tim;

On the oil pressure line, I know we went over this a month or so ago when I was reconnecting mine, do you have the hole through the E-Brake handle mounting bracket? (I hope so). Even with the hole, and the bracket loose from the cluster, it still can be a bear to get lined up right. You'll need an "S" bend in the line - but then you know about all this as I probably learned it from you. I just recalled it as it was fresh in my mind, and I'm damned happy how well mine turned out - with the help and guidance from my friends on the board.

Stu Fox

[Harry S.]

Re: 1963 corvette instrument cluster screws

If you putting in a new oil pressure line, might I suggest you seat the new line in the oil pressure gauge at your work bench. Trying to seat a new steel line while laying on your back, looking into an area with little light might cause you more pain then you need!

[Timothy B.]

Re: 1963 corvette instrument cluster screws

The emeryency brake bracket does not have the hole, interesting little bend there in the line. I will try to locate other places the j nuts and screws are used and post a picture of screw and nut FWIW. Looks like I need to locate one more screw because I can only find four.

Mike, I thought the later 9419300 screw was the same as glove box?? I have not checked my book yet. Thanks everyone for there help.

[Michael H.]

Re: 1963 corvette instrument cluster screws

I will try to locate other places the j nuts and screws are used and post a picture of screw and nut FWIW. Looks like I need to locate one more screw because I can only find four.

Mike, I thought the later 9419300 screw was the same as glove box?? I have not checked my book yet. Thanks everyone for there help.

As far as I know, the 9419300 screw was unique to the inst housing, at least for Corvette. I can't think of any other location that these were used. It may have been used in other locations in pass car though.
As described earlier by Richard Mozzetta, the I.P. compt screws were 1/4-20 but had a round head with integral washer. Not the same as the inst housing screw.

I mentioned the odd brown color of the plating for the 2nd design screw on this board a few years ago. It looks almost like old rust but it's not. John Hinckley went out to his garage and looked at the screws in his 67 and agreed, they were the same odd brown color. Unlike the black color of the 1st design screw used for the first few months of 63.

Isn't there a way to search the AIM for a part number if the pages have been transfered to a CD?

[Timothy B.]

Re: 1963 corvette instrument cluster screws

Mike, Now I remember, the screws have to be different on the glove box because of the flat washer. My car is a second week November 1962 build and I need to determine change over to newer style screw. I think my car used these first design screws unless they are left over from something else. Anyone have a serial # around 03000 they can report on cluster screws.

I can almost remember needing to find the newer style nuts and that is because I only had enough for glove box and I did not realize this car used sheet metal screws on the I/C, everything was in a box!

Thanks for the help, Tim

[Michael H.]

Re: 1963 corvette instrument cluster screws

Mike, Now I remember, the screws have to be different on the glove box because of the flat washer. My car is a second week November 1962 build and I need to determine change over to newer style screw. I think my car used these first design screws unless they are left over from something else. Anyone have a serial # around 03000 they can report on cluster screws.

I can almost remember needing to find the newer style nuts and that is because I only had enough for glove box and I did not realize this car used sheet metal screws on the I/C, everything was in a box!

Thanks for the help, Tim

Yup, now ya got it. My guess is the car probably had the 1st design screws/nuts in the inst housing if it was an early November 62 build.
The AIM calls for the change way back in late Aug of 62 (AIM section 12, sheet B8) but it actually occured on the assy line a few months later.

It just occured to me.... There MAY be a way to tell which screws/nuts your car had. I've never looked to see if there was a difference/change but the size of the hole in the fiberglass dash panel tab may have been increased for the larger 1/4" size of the 9419300?? Just a guess. See if a 1/4" bolt fits in the hole.

[Richard M.]

Re: 1963 corvette instrument cluster screws

Isn't there a way to search the AIM for a part number if the pages have been transfered to a CD?

Michael, When the AIM pictures get converted to pdf format, it is just a graphic image...including the text which cannot be searched. New documents typically have the graphic and with separate text added in it then can be searched.

Rich