63 Upper Steering Wheel Bearing Confusion

[Richard M.]

Getting ready to put the cluster back in and the steering column, etc. I got new upper and lower bearings for the column, and the upper has me confused.

As you see in the first 2 photos, the left side is the original larger diameter than the repro on the right side. I don't think the horn contact will reach the repro. It's much smaller diameter. Also, the terminal on the repro is male, however on the original it's female.

Thinking I got the wrong one from my supplier, I took a ride to Ecklers yesterday morning to get the right one, along with some other stuff I needed. They have a photo of their part online of what looked original(photo3), but they had the same thing as my repro on the shelf, and all others were the same in their bin.

http://www.ecklers.com/product.asp?pf_id=A3285&dept_id=1716

Bags were clearly marked 63. I went back to the counter and we looked up the 53-62 bearing(photo4), and it was the same shape, except for the terminal, which was a bullet type.

http://www.ecklers.com/product.asp?pf_id=A8662&dept_id=1716

Has anyone else seen this?

Rich

[Bob S.]

Re: 63 Upper Steering Wheel Bearing Confusion

Rich,
Just went out and looked at the one out of my '59 and it looks like the one on the right in photos 1 and 2.
This car has been dismantled for over 20 years and had 64k miles on it when it went down so I am assuming it is original.
Sully

[Richard M.]

Re: 63 Upper Steering Wheel Bearing Confusion

Thanks Bob......You are helping my cause.

I think the manufacturer of these things had a batch assembled incorrectly, using the 53-62 bearing with the wire for 63. Then bagged them up with the wrong ingredients and marked them "63". Seems odd that 2 suppliers have the same incorrectly bagged parts.

Ecklers is going to call me up when they get the info about this confusion. I'll also be contacting Zip to see what they say.

I'm still unsure about the wire terminal on the 63 repro(the one that looks correct). My original is female with a plastic holder, yet their photos show the male terminal????

So.....as usual, I always seem to find these oddities.

Rich

[Timothy B.]

Re: 63 Upper Steering Wheel Bearing Confusion

Rich,

Hold out for a original part, they show up on ebay every now and then for around 30. I passed on one a month or so ago and for two years at Carlisle the same guy had one (the same one). Nothing like NOS parts, repro stuff is junk in my opinion!!

[Stuart F.]

Re: 63 Upper Steering Wheel Bearing Confusion

Richard;

At least hold out for a couple weeks until the Winter meet. If you don't find one there, at least you'll be able to chat with some vendors face to face, and perhaps show them pictures or parts.

I'll be there at my Son's 78 P.C. in the Sportsman lot (?).

Stu Fox

[Bob R.]

Re: 63 Upper Steering Wheel Bearing Confusion

I ordered the upper bearing from LIC and they sent me something similar but different it had a brown wire on it. LIC said it was a functional replacment for the original. I returned it and found an NOS one on ebay for about $25.00. This is a common part and was used for many years in a variety of Chevrolet's so you should be able to find an original.

[Richard M.]

Re: 63 Upper Steering Wheel Bearing Confusion

Stu & Tim....That's a good idea. I think I'll just put the original back in for now as it's not that hard to replace it later. It's a little loose but it works ok.

Thanks,
Rich
p.s. procrastinating won't work. I guess I'll have to put this thing back together now.

[Timothy B.]

Re: 63 Upper Steering Wheel Bearing Confusion

Rich, I will keep a eye open for a NOS part for your car.

[Paul Y.]

Re: 63 Upper Steering Wheel Bearing Confusion

Rich, Would it be of benefit for me to post a photo of a NOS one for you? Paul

[Richard M.]

Re: 63 Upper Steering Wheel Bearing Confusion

Rich, Would it be of benefit for me to post a photo of a NOS one for you? Paul

Sure...... when you get a chance. I'm also interested in the connector. Is it male or female?

Thanks,
Rich
p.s. I haven't heard from any of the vendors yet.

[Paul Y.]

Re: 63 Upper Steering Wheel Bearing Confusion

Rich, The connector is a flat blade style. The second photo that you posted from the right side is the correct one. I would check your Chevy dealer with a computer for other dealers inventory.

[Bob J.]

Re: 63 Upper Steering Wheel Bearing Confusion

I believe the wire color was black on original units and green on ones sold through parts. Bob

[Richard M.]

Re: 63 Upper Steering Wheel Bearing Confusion

Paul, Thanks for the pics.....Ok, the bearing looks right, but the connector????

I'm at odds why this connector is a female, and the harness plug connector is male. It sure looks like original stuff to me. The connector has a round clip/clamp that fits over the left air vent cable to keep it in place.

Still confused,
Rich

[Richard M.]

Re: 63 Upper Steering Wheel Bearing Confusion

......here are the pics of the connectors. Pic 1 left is the bearing wire, right is the harness receptacle.

Also just saw on pg B7 in section 12 of the AIM that the connector on the bearing wire appears to be female and has a separate connector body 2962793. But on 1-28-63 they made a note to use 6" of tape instead of clip pt# 376482, which may be my clip that attaches to the air vent cable. This car was completed Feb 27.

Rich
p.s. yes Bob this has a black wire.

[Bob J.]

Re: 63 Upper Steering Wheel Bearing Confusion

......here are the pics of the connectors. Pic 1 left is the bearing wire, right is the harness receptacle.

Also just saw on pg B7 in section 12 of the AIM that the connector on the bearing wire appears to be female and has a separate connector body 2962793. But on 1-28-63 they made a note to use 6" of tape instead of clip pt# 376482, which may be my clip that attaches to the air vent cable. This car was completed Feb 27.

Rich
p.s. yes Bob this has a black wire.

Rich,
your wire connector is correct,its the far left one in your row of pictures. To remove the bearing and wire you have to remove the plastic connector from the terminal on the black horn wire and then pull the wire up through the housing.
Your car would have the horn wire taped to the column with black electrical tape. Early cars had the metal clip that attached to a hole in the mast jacket tube. Bob