EbVette
09-09-2004, 05:14 AM
Several have email'ed me and I have talked to several members asking about the status of the 63. Thanks so much for the interest and here is the latest.
JIM B...feel free to extract this and put it in newsletter if you wish, as members have asked to to keep writing this for them.
By no means have I been sitting still with this restro just because I could not make Carlisle. Instead I have taken the opportunity to even improve the final product. On 25 August, Wednesday the week of Carlsile, I got the seat assemblies out of the 63 put them in the truck and had a pre-arranged appointment with Al Knoch's crew to do the entire seats over. Got there about 7:30 AM, and they took my seats immediately.
One thing that was great at Al Knoch's area this year was the display of all the seats from every year, including the seat frames and associated hardware. I had to check the 63 seats, and to my AMAZEMENT, I have all the correct slides and hardware for the 63. Many 63's have the later slides on them and the seats are not correct, but mine had the correct 63 hardware. You can not purchase the original seat hardware for the 63, it is very unique to ONLY the 63, as you can adjust the height of the seat up or down by adjusting bolts on four legs that attach to the slide....for once something that I don't have to search for, buy and then replace. My seats are totally STOCK.
I watched them as they tore down the seats, and then we found the burlap, hardware, seat foam was ORIGINAL, with a date stamped on the seat foam. The date was 1-14-63, the day the seats were put together. I had no idea the seat foam had time dates on them. This makes sense as I know my car was finished on 24 January 1963. I met Al who is a businessman's businessman, met Dale and Melonie, all were very nice people who I enjoyed talking too. During this restoration, I have purchased all my interior from Al and have talked to these people on the telephone several times. I was told the 63 seat was one of the hardest to reupholster and it would take several hours to complete the task. The main reason its difficult is the way it tappers on the top of the seat, unlike the 64 which does not, and it has a vinyl back, after 64 the backs were plastic, so putting the seat cover on straight and even is important.
Finally after 6 hours both seat were finished and they turned out perfect. They gave me the old seat covers, foam and burlap so I could keep them. So if anybody needs a good set of seatcovers, no wear on them at all, I will sell them to you cheap. They are correct and in good shape...both seats $30.00 plus postage. They are the black vinyl.
Anyhow, after the seat covers I managed to find a seat of mint 63 seatbelts the complete assemblies, a great set of 63 exhaust bezels, and a set of new coupe SS door trim. This completes what I needed for the 63.
In the meantime, I have sold my "bolt on knockoff wheels and the radial tires. I decided to go with the original Firestone 670X15 4 Ply white wall with the wheel covers. The 63 never came with knock off wheels, even though they were offered as an option, the wheels had a problem holding air, so Chevrolet gave people vouchers and when the problem was solved they picked up the wheels at the parts department at their dealership. NO dealer ordered 63 Corvette came from the factory with Knockoff wheels in 63. The problem was fixed in 64, and very few original owners got the knockoff wheel for the 63. It was not until recently that people have put the reproduction wheels on their cars. FYI only three of the pilot cars had Knockoffs and the spinners had only two bars, not three. The three bar was the final design and that is what came with the wheels. In addition, I really don't car for the knockoff wheels on the 63, the 63 wheel cover is on on the prettiest every made and is a very complicated design. So since
I had the original set of wheelcovers I decided to go all the way stock. I also managed to find another pair from a person who had them in storage for 38 years. I sent both sets of wheels to Krisler (a person I met a while back who repairs wheels) to do them over, removing the dings and dents, and repolished. I have received some of the back, they are show condition now. I have two complete sets of 63 wheelcovers. The best set will be for show only, the second set will be for street use. Krisler does an excellent job.
The rest of the time we have been priming, sanding, priming, sanding, sealing, sanding, and cleaning the body.
Last week, after Carlise, John removed the headlights, doors, rear facia, hood, and other smaller pieces, front window vents, primed, sealed, sanded and painted.
As of today at 10:30 AM the basecoat was mixed and the spraygun loaded and the painting of the body has started. So folks, as of today the car is being painted...by 5:00 PM this afternoon I got a report from John telling me this is the best car he has ever done and the paint is spectacular...not just good, but the best he has seen. (I am sure he tells that to all his customers). I hope to get down to John's Friday and take some photos
I will follow up with photos later this week-end. What is that bright light at the end of the tunnel......oh its getting brighter and brighter.
It appears I just might make Ocean City..... [:D] but still say a few prayers that everything goes along with no more problems. I think there are no more problems left....NOT. One thing I learned during this whole experience is, expect problems.
Well say a prayer anyhow. I attended the Sterling Show, saw Marsha's beautiful C6....got a nice sunburn, and just mellowed out and people watched the whole day. Several NVCC Members came by to say hi, and asked me to update...so you have it.
Andrea....I think I will need that trailer...email me or call me at home....Regards....
I will post some photos asap...
JIM B...feel free to extract this and put it in newsletter if you wish, as members have asked to to keep writing this for them.
By no means have I been sitting still with this restro just because I could not make Carlisle. Instead I have taken the opportunity to even improve the final product. On 25 August, Wednesday the week of Carlsile, I got the seat assemblies out of the 63 put them in the truck and had a pre-arranged appointment with Al Knoch's crew to do the entire seats over. Got there about 7:30 AM, and they took my seats immediately.
One thing that was great at Al Knoch's area this year was the display of all the seats from every year, including the seat frames and associated hardware. I had to check the 63 seats, and to my AMAZEMENT, I have all the correct slides and hardware for the 63. Many 63's have the later slides on them and the seats are not correct, but mine had the correct 63 hardware. You can not purchase the original seat hardware for the 63, it is very unique to ONLY the 63, as you can adjust the height of the seat up or down by adjusting bolts on four legs that attach to the slide....for once something that I don't have to search for, buy and then replace. My seats are totally STOCK.
I watched them as they tore down the seats, and then we found the burlap, hardware, seat foam was ORIGINAL, with a date stamped on the seat foam. The date was 1-14-63, the day the seats were put together. I had no idea the seat foam had time dates on them. This makes sense as I know my car was finished on 24 January 1963. I met Al who is a businessman's businessman, met Dale and Melonie, all were very nice people who I enjoyed talking too. During this restoration, I have purchased all my interior from Al and have talked to these people on the telephone several times. I was told the 63 seat was one of the hardest to reupholster and it would take several hours to complete the task. The main reason its difficult is the way it tappers on the top of the seat, unlike the 64 which does not, and it has a vinyl back, after 64 the backs were plastic, so putting the seat cover on straight and even is important.
Finally after 6 hours both seat were finished and they turned out perfect. They gave me the old seat covers, foam and burlap so I could keep them. So if anybody needs a good set of seatcovers, no wear on them at all, I will sell them to you cheap. They are correct and in good shape...both seats $30.00 plus postage. They are the black vinyl.
Anyhow, after the seat covers I managed to find a seat of mint 63 seatbelts the complete assemblies, a great set of 63 exhaust bezels, and a set of new coupe SS door trim. This completes what I needed for the 63.
In the meantime, I have sold my "bolt on knockoff wheels and the radial tires. I decided to go with the original Firestone 670X15 4 Ply white wall with the wheel covers. The 63 never came with knock off wheels, even though they were offered as an option, the wheels had a problem holding air, so Chevrolet gave people vouchers and when the problem was solved they picked up the wheels at the parts department at their dealership. NO dealer ordered 63 Corvette came from the factory with Knockoff wheels in 63. The problem was fixed in 64, and very few original owners got the knockoff wheel for the 63. It was not until recently that people have put the reproduction wheels on their cars. FYI only three of the pilot cars had Knockoffs and the spinners had only two bars, not three. The three bar was the final design and that is what came with the wheels. In addition, I really don't car for the knockoff wheels on the 63, the 63 wheel cover is on on the prettiest every made and is a very complicated design. So since
I had the original set of wheelcovers I decided to go all the way stock. I also managed to find another pair from a person who had them in storage for 38 years. I sent both sets of wheels to Krisler (a person I met a while back who repairs wheels) to do them over, removing the dings and dents, and repolished. I have received some of the back, they are show condition now. I have two complete sets of 63 wheelcovers. The best set will be for show only, the second set will be for street use. Krisler does an excellent job.
The rest of the time we have been priming, sanding, priming, sanding, sealing, sanding, and cleaning the body.
Last week, after Carlise, John removed the headlights, doors, rear facia, hood, and other smaller pieces, front window vents, primed, sealed, sanded and painted.
As of today at 10:30 AM the basecoat was mixed and the spraygun loaded and the painting of the body has started. So folks, as of today the car is being painted...by 5:00 PM this afternoon I got a report from John telling me this is the best car he has ever done and the paint is spectacular...not just good, but the best he has seen. (I am sure he tells that to all his customers). I hope to get down to John's Friday and take some photos
I will follow up with photos later this week-end. What is that bright light at the end of the tunnel......oh its getting brighter and brighter.
It appears I just might make Ocean City..... [:D] but still say a few prayers that everything goes along with no more problems. I think there are no more problems left....NOT. One thing I learned during this whole experience is, expect problems.
Well say a prayer anyhow. I attended the Sterling Show, saw Marsha's beautiful C6....got a nice sunburn, and just mellowed out and people watched the whole day. Several NVCC Members came by to say hi, and asked me to update...so you have it.
Andrea....I think I will need that trailer...email me or call me at home....Regards....
I will post some photos asap...