1963 air cleaner wing nut, #117204, #219281, or both?

[David L.]

The 1963 Corvette AIM lists GM # 117204 as the part number for the air cleaner wing nut. GM # 117204 is a chrome plated "forged" type wing nut based on my research. The 219281 wing nut is a chrome plated stamped steel wing nut and first listed in the 1964 Corvette AIM. There is no part number change from the 117204 to the 219281 wing nut in the revision box in either the 1963 or the 1964 Corvette AIM.

The 1963 Chevrolet Passenger car used two different wing nuts (not chrome plated) on the assembly line according to the AIM. GM # 148312 was replaced with GM # 9418699 on Feb. 12, 1963, but the actual assembly line change could have been a month or two later.

The 9418699 wing nut is the same as a 219281 wing nut EXCEPT that it is not chrome plated.

For those who have very original 1963 Corvettes:
Did "early" 1963 Corvettes use the chrome plated "forged" type wing nut (GM # 117204) and "late" 1963 Corvettes use the chrome plated stamped steel wing nut (GM # 219281).

Dave

[Timothy B.]

Re: 1963 air cleaner wing nut, #117204, #219281, or both?

Back to the top as I have the same question..

[Jack P.]

Re: 1963 air cleaner wing nut, #117204, #219281, or both?

This post caught my interest. I think my nut is an original 66 wing nut.

Many of the posts give wall thickness size and tooling marks. It seems that some nuts that were used in 60-62 passenger cars, unchromed, were plated and used on corvettes , GM just changed numbers and vendors etc, etc, etc,

The NCRS site seems down, so I thought I would let you all look at my nut.

I have owned the car for 42 years now, an I am the second owner. I don't believe the nut has ever been away from the top and I know the top has not been away from me.

What do you think of it, compared to the repros or do I have a 43 year old service nut, or original ?

Jack

[Timothy B.]

Re: 1963 air cleaner wing nut, #117204, #219281, or both?

Jack,


That looks like the real deal 219281 wingnut to me, it's the 1963 wignut that I question.

[David L.]

Re: 1963 air cleaner wing nut, #117204, #219281, or both?

Jack,

I would say that the wing nut in your photos is an original (GM # 219281) but the issue in this thread is whether or not the the chrome plated stamped steel 219281 wing nut was original equipment on the 1963 Corvette as the 1963 assembly manual lists GM # 117204 which is a chrome plated "forged" wing nut. The 1962 Corvettes AIM lists the 117204 wing nut as well.

Dave

[Ronald L.]

Re: 1963 air cleaner wing nut, #117204, #219281, or both?

Any others out there with data on the '63 wing nut?

If you read the print for the 219281, it was not designed, not quoted, not sourced, no prototypes, not lab tested for production, until the back half of 1962...all this means it could not have been ready for start of 1963 production. Remember a supplier is not shipping parts anywhere for free.

Is the '63 JG aligned the 117204 was the wing nut used in 1963 and earlier?

[Tom R.]

Re: 1963 air cleaner wing nut, #117204, #219281, or both?

Is the '63 JG aligned the 117204 was the wing nut used in 1963 and earlier?

The wing nut is described as flash-chromed where "Flash chrome is a rougher appearance than cosmetic chrome; it is a quick chrome plating over nickel without the fill of pits, and the sanding and polishing used on cosmetic trim parts such as bumpers, door handles and moldings."

From the JG:
wingnut.JPG

[Gary C.]

Re: 1963 air cleaner wing nut, #117204, #219281, or both?

117204 blue print attached
117204 Wing Nut, FI-Carb 53-7 Chrome Plated OneFourth by20.jpg

[David L.]

Re: 1963 air cleaner wing nut, #117204, #219281, or both?

Gary, Thanks for the 117204 shop drawing.
I have a collection of at least 30 or 40 GM air cleaner wing nuts that I collected from Chevrolet and other GM models in the salvage yards back in the 1980's and 1990's. My non-chromed stamped steel wing nut from a 1963 Chevrolet 6 cyl. has much fatter "ears" then the non-chromed stamped steel wing nut from a 1963 Buick Skylark. I assume maybe different manufacturers. My 1963 Chevrolet Assembly Manual shows that the 9418699 wing nut replaced the 148312 wing nut on 2/12/63 for both the 6 cyl. and V8 engines as per the revision record.
Dave

[Gary C.]

Re: 1963 air cleaner wing nut, #117204, #219281, or both?

David,

Wingnut the same dimensions as 117204 was used on the 1956 T-Bird factory dress up kit. When the T-Bird guy in Wichita KS IIRC, reproduced them, the top of the ears weren't tall enough. Go figure

Gary
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