63 Steering Gear "Check-Lube" Survey

[Joel T.]

Re: 63 Steering Gear "Check-Lube" Survey

Michael;

I really hate to upset the apple cart, but my original 19,147 built 09 July does NOT have the CHECK LUBE on it, and the P/NO. does not have a -3 after it either.

I don't know if it makes any difference, but mine was ordered with the "Quick Ratio" steering. I don't see an order code for that anywhere on the window sticker or factory paper work, so I wonder if that is a moot point. The only reference I have to it is the dealer offer letter respoding to my inquiry. Perhaps someone can clarify this too; was that a dealer tie rod adjustment or was it done at the factory?

Stu Fox

Stu;

If you look at the steering knuckles (as I recall.. I'm doing this from memory).. there are two places where the tie rods can connect.. one is standard steering the other is the "quick" option. You can swap it back and forth by moving the tie rod ends but I suspect it will require a realignment of the front end.

Others probably have more information...

Joel

[Bob R.]

Re: 63 Steering Gear "Check-Lube" Survey

My car is mid May 15xxx I'll check it this evening.

[Kenneth S.]

Re: 63 Steering Gear "Check-Lube" Survey

My April 18 build does not have the Check Lube. After the part (casting) number is the number 11.

[Sander B.]

Re: 63 Steering Gear "Check-Lube" Survey

Mine does have the ''check lube''

built date may 25

[Stuart F.]

Re: 63 Steering Gear "Check-Lube" Survey

It is a little fuzzy in my memory as to how the quick ratio was specified or accomplished. I recall my buddy, who was an SCCA license holder, advised and counseled me to be certain I specified the quick steering. I know, it is only a tie rod position adjustment, and yes it would require re-aligment if it were changed from one position to the other. As we know, the C-1's had a bracket and clamp type arrangement that had to be added to attain the quicker ratio, so it followed that many expected it to be available with the newer 63 design as well. I have lived with the "truck like" steering for all these years, but others I have driven w/o the quicker ratio didn't seem all that much better - so I never changed it.

I have checked my dealer paper work and do not see any reference to they having made the change themselves, so I assume it came from the factory that way.

We run into something new on these suckers all the time it seems.

Stu Fox

[Eric V.]

Re: 63 Steering Gear "Check-Lube" Survey

My car was assembled the last week of Feb '63 - it does not have Check Lube on the steering box cover.

E. Vrem

[Duke W.]

Re: 63 Steering Gear "Check-Lube" Survey

The steering arms have two holes for the tie rods that result in different overall ratios. Cars with manual steering used the mounting that yielded an overall ratio of about 19.6:1 and power steering equipped cars used the holes that yielded about 16:1 overall.

With either manual or power steering the steering gear itself was the same part.

The procedure to obtain the "fast" ratio with manual steering cars is described in the 1963 Corvette Shop Manual.

No "check lube" on my March-built car just under sequence number 11,000.

As with many running changes, its likely that there was a period where cars could get either the "old" or "new" steering gear with the "check lube" cover.

Duke

[Mike M.]

Re: 63 Steering Gear "Check-Lube" Survey

vin 20301, 28K original miles, has check lube. mike

[Tom H.]

Re: 63 Steering Gear "Check-Lube" Survey

As I mentioned before. My Jan coupe has no check lube, but it does have # 5666723 with what appears to be a 13 behind it.

[Sydney G.]

Re: 63 Steering Gear "Check-Lube" Survey

Hi Michael,

My May 15th #15,240 coupe does NOT have the Check Lube, just part #566?723.

Syd

[Bill C.]

Re: 63 Steering Gear "Check-Lube" Survey

Hi Michael
I have a Sept. 3rd week '62 build car.
The cover only has the casting number on it.
It would be good if we can confirm the
approx. change over date.

Bill

[Joe L.]

Re: 63 Steering Gear "Check-Lube" Survey

As I mentioned before. My Jan coupe has no check lube, but it does have # 5666723 with what appears to be a 13 behind it.

Tom-----


I feel pretty confident that the "dash number" suffix to the casting number represents a pattern number. These covers were a sand casting and required patterns to make the sand mold. At some point, I expect that the existing patterns were either modified to include the "check lube" script and/or when new patterns were introduced the "check lube" script was included. In any event, I'm sure that all this did not happen "at once", so there was very likely a "phase-in" period in which some covers had the "check lube" and others did not depending upon the pattern the cover was produced from.

[Michael G.]

Re: 63 Steering Gear "Check-Lube" Survey

Hi Michael,

April 23, #13696. no "CHECK LUBE"

Mike

[Martin M.]

Re: 63 Steering Gear "Check-Lube" Survey

Serial # 8105 has nothing on the box, NADA. My other 2 are on lifts with stuff under, can't get at them.
Marty

[Bob R.]

Re: 63 Steering Gear "Check-Lube" Survey

No check lube stamp on my 15138 car May 14th. I did notice that the casting number is in a slightly different location then on the cars with the check lube lettering.