New 63SWC owner with many questions

[Christopher P.]

Good afternoon. I have recently purchased a 63SWC that is a former NCRS Top Flight car. I am working on the final details to correct the minor issues pointed out on the judging sheets. I do have several questions and need clarification on a few points.
First, can someone please describe for me or post a photo of the correct screw/bolt located behind the seat in the side panel which holds down the corner of the carpet.
Second, please clarify the correct paint arrangement for the upper A-arm. End bolts and nuts should be semi-gloss black because painted at same time as A-arm but nuts holding shims should be unpainted??
Finally, should all tire weights including the one on the spare be "micro"?
Thanks in advance and I'm happy to be a new NCRS and forum member.

[Michael G.]

Re: New 63SWC owner with many questions

Chris, I'm not sure about the side panel attachment, but here's a pic of the correct A-arm and attachments

Screen Shot 2014-04-13 at 3.08.58 PM.jpg

Wheel weights should be Micro and should have only inch markings, no metric.

[Harry S.]

Re: New 63SWC owner with many questions

Good afternoon. I have recently purchased a 63SWC that is a former NCRS Top Flight car. I am working on the final details to correct the minor issues pointed out on the judging sheets. I do have several questions and need clarification on a few points.
First, can someone please describe for me or post a photo of the correct screw/bolt located behind the seat in the side panel which holds down the corner of the carpet. There was no screw in a 63 it was glued down
Second, please clarify the correct paint arrangement for the upper A-arm. End bolts and nuts should be semi-gloss black because painted at same time as A-arm but nuts holding shims should be unpainted?? If it's the one I'm thinking of, they are glossy black.
Finally, should all tire weights including the one on the spare be "micro? YES and mounted on the inside
Thanks in advance and I'm happy to be a new NCRS and forum member.

I'll answer a few in BOLD

[Christopher P.]

Re: New 63SWC owner with many questions

I have had a great time using the search feature; over 200 pages of threads with keyword 1963. Great info but still a few questions particular to my car.

Please see the photo below. This screw is immediately behind the front seat and appears as if it should penetrate the carpet edge also, but mine does not. Correct to leave carpet edge free or should the screw pass through the carpet (there appears to be a hole there for this but I don't know why it wouldn't be passing through if it was supposed to...).


The previous owner of my car was told that the radio bezel should not be present because of the early build date of the car. I have not tried to remove it; does anyone know if it just slides in and out of the hole or does the panel and radio have to be removed? I didn't want to try to pry it off and bend an edge if there was a screw/attachment somewhere that must be removed.


Should floor mats be in or out during Bloomington Gold and NCRS judging?

Should a license plate be attached for judging? I have correct frames but since the car would not have been delivered with an actual plate attached, I don't know if a plate should be in place. If not, should an empty frame be present?

Should the NCRS decal on my vent window be removed for Bloomington Gold judging? No state inspection sticker either?

Thanks, CP

[Timothy B.]

Re: New 63SWC owner with many questions

Christopher,

With a vinyl covered dash the bezel is used, I don't think you should remove it. The early dash had a painted center and the radio hole cut out did not have the bezel.

[Harry S.]

Re: New 63SWC owner with many questions

Chris, the answer is glue it down over the screw that is already there.

[Christopher P.]

Re: New 63SWC owner with many questions

Thanks for the vinyl dash/bezel info. I like the bezel and unless easy to remove and necessary to avoid deduction, I would rather leave it.

Please describe for me what a correct clutch rod looks like. A photo of mine is posted below. Should I respray it silver?

[Harry S.]

Re: New 63SWC owner with many questions

Chris, do you have a copy of the 63/64 Judging Guide and the Judging Reference Manual? Both of these will help guide you through the technical questions and the judging process.

[Christopher P.]

Re: New 63SWC owner with many questions

Harry,
Thanks for the carpet glue down info. I will do that.
I do have the Judging Guide (4th edition) and thought I had read it cover to cover but now I do see the info for the clutch rod. Black phosphate steel is correct so I have work to do there.

I just ordered the 6th edition of the 63/64 Judging Guide as well as the Judging Reference Manual. Will the Judging Reference Manual manual contain info concerning presentation of the car for judging such as floor mats, license plates, etc as I have seen no information for those details in my 4th edition 63/64 Judging Guide.

[Michael G.]

Re: New 63SWC owner with many questions

Chris, presentation is not complex. The morning of judging, after the operations check, after the car is in its judging position:
1. take all loose items out of the interior, including floor mats. Leave the original document envelope in the glove box.
2. Place the jack and lug wrench behind the car.
3. Lower the spare tire and set it next to the jack, with the lock.
4. Open the hood and remove the top ignition shield and air cleaner (not fuelies) and place them next to the spare.
5. place fender protectors on fenders.
6. locate inspection documents package and be ready to give the appropriate sheet to each judging team.
7. Get a pencil and paper to make notes and record the point loss for each section after you sign off, so you can calculate your score, as no one else will have this total immediately.
8. Relax

[John D.]

Re: New 63SWC owner with many questions

Chris, When asking '63 questions we need to know what the approx serial number of the car is. Month of production. If engine question the engine build date is helpful.
It's a tough year for sure.
For example: Is your car close to Vin 3200 or so? As mentioned by Tim if you car is supposed to have the vinyl around the radio bezel then don't do a thing.

Clutch rod question. Notice the threaded end of your clutch rod. Appears to be black or blackened. I think the clutch rod is black phosphate. Definitely not silver paint.
Good luck, John

P.S. THe clutch rod is held in position with two thin jam nuts. Yours are two different finishes. I don't know the correct finish. I might guess they are zincad. Maybe others will tell you what is correct.

[Gary B.]

Re: New 63SWC owner with many questions

...Finally, should all tire weights including the one on the spare be "micro"?

The answer is no. In an article in the Restorer from some years ago I reported that, based on my research, there were five vendors who supplied GM with wheel weights during the C2 era. (I believe some of those vendors supplied the same weights during the C1 and C3 eras as well). Bada was one supplier and Bada made the Micro logo wheel weights. But that leaves four other vendors who supplied wheel weights with four other shapes and logos. Images for some of those other four varieties are included in my Restorer article. So, weights definitely do not have to be Micro weights to be correct. Having said that, in my experience Micro weights of the correct (bird-wing) configuration and ounce sizes (multiples of half or full ounce, from 0.5 to 2.5) do show up as NOS and used examples on ebay. You can expect to pay at least $10 or more per weight for NOS examples, when you do find them.

Gary

[Christopher P.]

Re: New 63SWC owner with many questions

Thank you again for the replies. I have ordered a new, correct clutch rod. I was also going to try to remove the silver paint from the original one and clean it up.
My car is #7421 with a Jan 23rd birthday.
Are Restorer articles archived online somewhere? If so, please point me their way.
Chris

[Harry S.]

Re: New 63SWC owner with many questions

Thank you again for the replies. I have ordered a new, correct clutch rod. I was also going to try to remove the silver paint from the original one and clean it up.
My car is #7421 with a Jan 23rd birthday.
Are Restorer articles archived online somewhere? If so, please point me their way.
Chris

https://www.ncrs.org/shop/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=22&products_id=105&zenid=6b3af95fff5e31b32453d68b31a101c8

[Bob J.]

Re: New 63SWC owner with many questions

You might want to order a lower clutch linkage spring, that goes from the fork to the cross shaft, while you're ordering,Christopher.