Conclusion

[Jeff B.]

I have a 63 SWC, White with Red interior. Serial #107817. It has power windows, power steering, power brakes, wood wheel, wonder bar am radio, and air conditioning. After receiving my vol II corvette restoration manuel I have matched all part numbers I have to the ones listen in their book. Compressor is right with build date of January, correct evaporator, radiator hose, air cleaner, dashboard, duct woork, alternator, carburator vaccum, compressor mounting bracket, tinted windows with air conditioning decal, yellow tape coil springs nand the half vent in passenger floor area. The problem comes with the vin tag. It has been rivited on. This indicates to me that the dashboard was replaced with another one and the parts have probably been replaced with the one from a donor car. Never the less this car meets all of the requuirement of a 63 with A/C. The engine, transmission, rearend, and carb are all numbers matching to vin number. Very interesting. Someone went above and beyond to make this car as accurate as possible. What do you think?

[Rob V.]

Re: Conclusion

Hi Jeff-- Sounds like you have a great car! I am uncertain exactly which restoration book that you have; however, according to Noland Adams, The Complete Corvette Restoration & Technical Guide - Vol. 2, 1963 through 1967 pages 53-54, "Serial Plate Attaching Methods," there are "...two possible explanations for legitimately riveted 1963 and 1964 serial number plates [to] exist. On occasion, serial plates were Pop-riveted in place when the welds failed to hold. Also, beginning in early 1963, Chevrolet dealers were instructed to metal-stamp each car's delivery date on its trim tag or serial plate. ...When the delivery date was stamped on the serial number plate, care had to be taken not to stamp it on the edge, because the welds securing the plate could be broken off. This would require riveting the serial number plate to keep it in place...". This quote was an excerpt from the nine (9) paragraphs on the subject in the referenced book. (Please see/review entire section in book). Hope this helps! Best Regards. Rob V+11

[Loren L.]

Re: Conclusion

A "great car" except that it should not have A/C or the "wood wheel". Most dealers never even bothered with the Date of Delivery stamp, but I have no idea how hard it would have to be struck in order to break spotwelds. Start looking for other clues as to VINs on the frame, late production features, not to mention a qualified individual to evaluate the stamps on the car. Any chance that you bought this car at auction? All that is needed for the A/C pieces is the availability of a '63 psgr car with A/C. Good luck.

[Gary C.]

Re: Conclusion

Hi Jeff. The 63 corvette has numerous one year only, unique C60 parts. Explaining all of em here would be difficult at best. Have the car looked at by someone that knows that all the fine details, for example the 63 corvette a/c compressor bracket is not the same as the passenger car bracket (or 64 corvette brackets), someone like that will be able to tell pretty quickly if the C60 was installed in St. Louis. Jan is a little early for the usual 63 with air.

[Edward J.]

Re: Conclusion

Jeff, maybe take a few pic.s of VIN tag and trim tag and maybe some Pics of the A/C compressor and bracket, and post them. there are some really knowledgable guys here.I Have heard that the VIN tags did fall off on 63's. Take a good look under the dash area for signs of tampering. 63 A/C cars I believe came really late, there are a few guys here that post with 63 A/C cars.

[David L.]

Re: Conclusion

As Gary mentioned the 63 Corvette AC brackets and support are not the same on the 63 Chevrolet. I have both a 63 Corvette AIM and a 63 Chevrolet AIM and based on the drawings and part numbers it is clear that the brackets and support are different.

[Robert K.]

Re: Conclusion

I've only seen one AC 63 SWC in my life. As I recall it had the serial number stamped on the compressor, is that correct?

[Monte M.]

Re: Conclusion

As far as the vin tag being riveted, it very common the the 63 vin tag spot welds did not hold. The other issues are one thing, but personally, I would not worry about the vin tag being riveted.

I personally know of quite a few 63 vin tags that have come off over the years. Two of the 63's I have owned over the years have had one of the spots weld come loose. This is why I asked so many owner what their experience is.

If the body number and the rest of the information on the trim tag seems correct it would make me think about the options and not worry about the tags.

[Jeff B.]

ac2.jpgac1.jpgac3.jpgac4.jpg

ac5.jpgac6.jpgac7.jpgac8.jpg

ac9.jpgThese are not the best. I can retake the one that may help. Let me know what you think of these.

[David L.]

Re: Conclusion

The photo on the top is from the 63 Corvette AIM, UPC C60.
The photo on the bottom if from the 63 Chevrolet AIM, UPC C60.

[Dino L.]

Re: Conclusion

The VIN Plate and Trim plates are attached to the Z bar...The dash can be removed and not effect any of that........AC cars are difficult to counterfit without donor corvette cars......check your radio speaker and the clock retainer and bulb retainer assembly to the AIM....it also looks like you have the special hood release bracket....it is longer on AC models, check for spacers or weld marks......compare the C60 AIM carefully against each component and you will convince yourself for originality, especially the fiberglass factory cut outs.

[John H.]

Re: Conclusion

That car is about 5,000 units too early to have factory-installed A/C.

[Loren L.]

Re: Conclusion

It is also about 4,000 units too early to have the second (inboard) location for the headlight opening switch, a change necessitated by the addition of A/C; further, if it is/was a true factory A/C car, the RH side kickpad will not have a hole or a screw in it at the top - because it cannot be installed when the ducting is in place.

[Bob H.]

Re: Conclusion

Jeff

As Loren pointed out, it should not have a wood wheel or even a simulated wood wheel. It would have been red on your car.

[Jeff B.]

Re: Conclusion

I am removing the engine and transmission and comparing all part numbers to the AIM as well as the restoration guide (Nolan Adams) and the judging book. There are differences in part number when using all three manuals. For instance the 53 amp alternator on my car has a built date of 8 Jan 63. The AIM shows the unit with the fan and pully have on mine. The restoration guide says the pully and a wobble plate between fan and pully is used. Which of these manuals has prioriy? I am documenting all of the part numbers I note in the judging book with a statement if they differ from the AIM with refference to page number. If this car is not factory air is is almost perfect. Please dot tell me it is absolutly not. That is a rather limited way of thinking. They had to practice somehow. I have been told that no history exists as to what they did or didn't do. Thanks for your help