63 ground straps

[Rainer S.]

Had a couple ground straps missing on my 63 , at the Michigan event.
Have installed them now, but I have a question.
When I received the ground straps from Paragon, it listed the locations, but did not spell-out where the (2) narrow, 1/4" X 5" once go, there is no clear description, cartoons show the wide once only...


Rainer

[Rick A.]

Re: 63 ground straps

do you have straps on the muffler hangers at the rear where the tips connect?

[Bob R.]

Re: 63 ground straps

Those straps either go on the rear exhaust hangers as mentioned above or the center cross member to the exhaust pipes. If you check the AIM and look in the radio section it should show all the ground straps.

[Rainer S.]

Re: 63 ground straps

Yes, Bob and Rick, that's were they go. Didn't have them installed at the rear muffler bracket, had them installed at the cross member bracket.
I thoght I had vovered the rear area also, but they were missing. Will be installed shortly.
Thanks, again.

Rainer

[Michael H.]

Re: 63 ground straps

Yes, Bob and Rick, that's were they go. Didn't have them installed at the rear muffler bracket, had them installed at the cross member bracket.
I thoght I had vovered the rear area also, but they were missing. Will be installed shortly.
Thanks, again.

Rainer

I don't think braided straps were used at the muffler hanger on 63's. I know the 63 AIM shows the strap and part number but this was something that apparently never actually occured at the assembly plant.
It seems ALL 63's, even those without radios, were assembled with the type of muffler hanger that had the brass sheet between upper and lower sections.

[Bob J.]

Re: 63 ground straps

I don't think braided straps were used at the muffler hanger on 63's. I know the 63 AIM shows the strap and part number but this was something that apparently never actually occured at the assembly plant.
It seems ALL 63's, even those without radios, were assembled with the type of muffler hanger that had the brass sheet between upper and lower sections.

I agree with you 100% Michael

[Rainer S.]

Re: 63 ground straps

That explains, why I didn't loose points, for not having the straps on the rear hangers. (They do have the brass sheet, bridging over the rubber plate).
I lost points only for not having a strap at the RH engine mount, which I since installed. I looked at the pic's in Adam's book, after I read Rick and Bob's suggestions. I will leave them off. Maybe they are used on other year's applications...

Rainer

[Stuart F.]

Re: 63 ground straps

I believe the brass plate type hanger was changed some time mid-year as mine had braided straps on the originals. When I replaced them in the mid 1990's, they sent me the ones with the brass plates. I found them difficult to adjust and were the source of vibration transmittal. I asked the vendor about them and was told that that was all they had listed for 1963, but advised me to modify them by cutting away the brass and replacing it with braided straps - which I did. I can sure tell the difference and whether right or wrong to the judges, I'll stick with the braids. They allow me to get my pipes up as high as possible and NO vibrations. I still have both my original hangers - junk though they may be. I believe I'm on my 3 rd set of pipes - these latest ones are aluminuzed and have been on since about 1992. Still look good and fit great!

And oh ya! I still use the galvanized heat shields inside the rear valance on each.

Stu Fox

[Michael H.]

Re: 63 ground straps

I believe the brass plate type hanger was changed some time mid-year as mine had braided straps on the originals.

That's very interesting Stu. I have a lot of untouched original cars on file all the way through the 63 model year that had the brass sheet style hanger.
If your car had the strap style muffler hangers, then I guess they did make a brief appearance at some point in the year.
I know of several late cars, including one that I owned with all original exhaust front to back (#19,746) that had the brass sheet style hangers. Another in the 20xxx VIN range that also had it's complete original system, including the brass sheet style hangers.

I would really like to have a pic of your original hangers with the straps. What month was your car assembled?

[John D.]

Re: 63 ground straps

19426 had brass sheet style hangers.

[Stuart F.]

Re: 63 ground straps

Jon and Michael;

You just might have me on this one. As it seems the concensus is pretty strong that 63's had the brass plate ground rear hangers through my serial number #19,147, I've gone back and researched my records from way back. I believe there may be a possibility that mine were changed once before I replaced the exhaust system in whole;

I returned to conus in January 1965, and left again in January 1967 for contract work in SEA. During mid 1965, I blew an off ramp corner and slid off the road backwards. I recall I broke the rear spring, as well as a strut and bent up a trailing arm, and damaged the exhaust system. The car was towed to our local Chevy dealer who did the repair work which was paid for by my insurance. I have located the original receipt for the repair work, but it is hard to read after this many years. I do not see any specific item for replacement of the rear hangers, but I suppose it could have been done then. I replaced the entire exhaust system in 1972 myself and the hangers I took off then (and reused) were the braided strap type (which I still have). The system I took off and the one I used to replace it were not one piece welded - that I recall.

So, with this reasonable doubt, I can not claim an exception to the consensus. Thanks for pointing this out. Once in awhile it helps clarify the memory by going back and re-establishing what took place. That old paper work really helps. Glad I kept it through many moves.

Stu Fox