63 L84 Engine chrome

[Michael G.]

Re: 63 L84 Engine chrome

Thanks for the pic, Bob. Was that wire clip just used in early 63 production?

[Bob B.]

Re: 63 L84 Engine chrome

Thanks for the pic, Bob. Was that wire clip just used in early 63 production?

Mike what I have been told you are correct. The change to a flat clip took place sometime at the end of 62 (Nov-Dec) and on what vin no one knows for sure. Bob

[Michael G.]

Re: 63 L84 Engine chrome

My FI unit is #1567, the 567th unit built; the car was a late November build. Given the build date, it seems like there may be some question as to whether or not the sheet metal clip is correct.

John D rebuilt the unit after the car acheived Duntov in its last judging. I doubt he would have changed the clip then, but maybe he can comment again here.

[John D.]

Re: 63 L84 Engine chrome

Well JD now I am confused(again). You have a Sept. 62 baseplate with a winters mark in the front of the plenum? Is that "typical"?
Can we then estimate the August 62 baseplates had the winters mark in the middle.?
Bill

Bill, Here is some good info for you. August 16, 1962 FI baseplate snow flake location.
The snowflake is NOT in the center next to the casting number. It's toward the front as typical.
In conclusion I am of the opinion that your 63 appears to have the correct baseplate.
The earliest baseplate I looked at in recent years is 8-8-62 and it also had the snowflake near the front.

So Bill if it were my car I wouldn't touch what you have.
Sorry it took so long. I knew I had the August 62 baseplate but couldn't find it as "someone" hid it from me. JD

[Bob B.]

Re: 63 L84 Engine chrome

This is about as early as you can get. Here's a really early 63 with the Winters in the middle from April 24, 1962.

Mike I looked at my Sept 27 built car vin #618 with FI unit #1145 and it don't have the bosses that I outlined on your real early manifold. Thought I would just send this to show some of the running changes that take place. Bob

[Bill C.]

Re: 63 L84 Engine chrome

JD; you and many others on this TDB have been very helpful. This board is a valuable resource. I am surprised more members don't use it.
Bill

[Michael G.]

Re: 63 L84 Engine chrome

Thanks Bob,

My baseplate is from one of the first twenty cars, I just thought it would show an example of a center snowflake.

It would be nice if all these changes were well documented, but having spent untold numbers of hours in GM plants, I know that the objective many times was to get the car out the door and worry about paperwork later.

I've seen many instances where the plant changed something unilaterally, then the "official" authorization caught up much later. I suspect that most of the "chrome" changes during early 63 preceded the official January change date. They probably were implemented when the first chromed parts arrived on the line piecemeal. They may even have gone back and forth. Note that Nolan's book says very early cars should have chrome balance tubes, bare fuel lines, and black oil filler tube and cap. Your very early car has cad balance tubes, I saw an untouched early that had brushed tubes. Late 1962 must have been fairly wild time in the St. Louis assembly plant, think you can make case for about any combination.

[Bob B.]

Re: 63 L84 Engine chrome

[quote=Michael Garver (49693);513929]Thanks Bob,

My baseplate is from one of the first twenty cars, I just thought it would show an example of a center snowflake.

It would be nice if all these changes were well documented, but having spent untold numbers of hours in GM plants, I know that the objective many times was to get the car out the door and worry about paperwork later.

I've seen many instances where the plant changed something unilaterally, then the "official" authorization caught up much later. I suspect that most of the "chrome" changes during early 63 preceded the official January change date. They probably were implemented when the first chromed parts arrived on the line piecemeal. They may even have gone back and forth. Note that Nolan's book says very early cars should have chrome balance tubes, bare fuel lines, and black oil filler tube and cap. Your very early car has cad balance tubes, I saw an untouched early that had brushed tubes. Late 1962 must have been fairly wild time in the St. Louis assembly plant, think you can a make case for about any combination.[/quote]
Amen!!!!!!!!!!!! Thank you Mike, end of conversation. By the way what is your vin and build date on your car for the FI unit # 1567? Bob

[Michael G.]

Re: 63 L84 Engine chrome

Bob, the blue car is #3922 with FI unit #1567. The birthday calculator says November 28, 1962, but documentation I got with the car says November 30. I've ordered shipping info from NCRS, so I'll soon know which day it is.

[Michael H.]

Re: 63 L84 Engine chrome

Mike I have vin 618 Sept. build and this a shot of the wire clip. Bob

Hey... that picture looks familiar !! Here's a shot of the same car from the other side. This car was at the 1980 or 81 NCRS event at the "Wisconsin Dells". (unrestored silver blue conv, as I recall)

Second picture is another wire style clip from a car in the 2000 VIN range.