[63 Gold]

Hi, I have just purchased a '63 SS project. It was last registered in '91. I wouldn't call it a "barn find"...more of a junkyard find where it was in storage along with several others I bought.
I joined this forum to find help in determining, and help in putting it together.
The car is rust free, straight and definitely a 2dr ht SS. It comes with a Mr Goodwrench 350 so I don't know what the original engine was. I will post the Trim Plate, but I need help decoding it.
I bought some old school 8" chrome reversed rims. I hope they fit. I'll find out today.
I'll post some pics. Any help or suggestions are much appreciated.
Thanks,
Bob

 

[62BillT]

Glad to see that you made it over here.

Someone should be jumping in soon to decode your cowl tag for you.

 

[BA.]

Nice lil' pick up there, great to hear it's a solid one.
Look forward to seeing pictures of what you will be doing with it!

 

[63 Gold]

Glad to see that you made it over here.

Someone should be jumping in soon to decode your cowl tag for you.

Thanks, now that I’ve opened the hood I’ve discovered I have PS and PB. Missing PS pump. Has single master cylinder to be replaced with a Wilwood dual MC. The 350 turns, but no Posi a little bit of rust by E brake floor. All windows intact but P window motors in bad shape. If I can get motor to start, I could have this puppy on the road by my birthday May 17.

 

[62BillT]

Wonder why someone put that plate under the carb? Almost looks original with the choke rod cut-out, but I've never seen anything like it.

 

[63 Gold]

Wonder why someone put that plate under the carb? Almost looks original with the choke rod cut-out, but I've never seen anything like it.

I wondered the same thing.

 

[BigDogSS]

That is a carburetor heat shield. The heat shield will help to eliminate fuel boiling and vapor lock caused by heat conducted to the carburetor through the intake manifold. Unusual to see a heat shield for a 2-barrel carburetor.

 

[BigDogSS]

1C = The body build date tells the month and week the body was produced. 1 = January, C = 3rd week, 1963.

63 = Model year --> 1963

1847 = Body style --> Chevrolet Impala 2-door coupe

VN = Assembly plant --> Van Nuys, CA

875 = Interior code --> Red. Material type is: Vinyl (Impala SS coupe) Seat type: Bucket. This is what identifies this car as a true Super Sport. SS cars came with bucket seats ONLY. The standard Impala could NOT be ordered with bucket seats.

S = unknown

920 = Paint code --> Autumn Gold

E = (Accessory Group "1" is implied) --> Tinted glass

2 = Accessory Group "2"

C = Padded dash

M = Powerglide transmission

3 = Accessory Group "3"

Z = Poking around the internet found no consensus. Z could indicate --> Super Sport, or metallic brakes or tilt column

21 = unknown

 

[BigDogSS]

Way cool car!! Unusual combination with the Autumn Gold exterior and Red interior.

 

[62BillT]

That is a carburetor heat shield. The heat shield will help to eliminate fuel boiling and vapor lock caused by heat conducted to the carburetor through the intake manifold. Unusual to see a heat shield for a 2-barrel carburetor.

Interesting. About what year did they start to put them on crates or regular production cars?

(Can you tell I'm from the old school? lol)

 

[BigDogSS]

I don't think they were widely used by the OEM. Most all of the ones I've seen are aftermarket. It looks like they did put them on higher horsepower Corvettes in the mid-60s. And some early 70s Chevelles with emissions.

 

[63 Gold]

1C = The body build date tells the month and week the body was produced. 1 = January, C = 3rd week, 1963.

63 = Model year --> 1963

1847 = Body style --> Chevrolet Impala 2-door coupe

VN = Assembly plant --> Van Nuys, CA

875 = Interior code --> Red. Material type is: Vinyl (Impala SS coupe) Seat type: Bucket. This is what identifies this car as a true Super Sport. SS cars came with bucket seats ONLY. The standard Impala could NOT be ordered with bucket seats.

S = unknown

920 = Paint code --> Autumn Gold

E = (Accessory Group "1" is implied) --> Tinted glass

2 = Accessory Group "2"

C = Padded dash

M = Powerglide transmission

3 = Accessory Group "3"

Z = Poking around the internet found no consensus. Z could indicate --> Super Sport, or metallic brakes or tilt column

21 = unknown

.
No A/C but it does have a power booster with single master cylinder, and power steering. No tilt column. It does have power windows.
Bob

 

[62BillT]

Single Masters was all that was available in '63. The Duals weren't available till '67.

 

[63 Gold]

Single Masters was all that was available in '63. The Duals weren't available till '67.

Yep, my '67 LeMans OHC 6 SPRINT and my '67 Buick Skylark both have duals, which I'm converting to Wilwood front disc brakes...no power assist.
Bob

 

[63 Gold]

The Impala finally made it to my yard this afternoon giving me the best opportunity to inspect what I bought, I am not disappointed. One small section of rust in the area under the brake pedal, I have not given it the ice pick test. but we will be sanding down the entire floor panel including the trunk.
Not sure how much surface rust until we dow a preliminary sanding. If it looks 90% good, I may begin prepping it for priming and then paint...It looks that good. Chrome and stainless will go to D&R Plating in Huntington Beach. Interior may go to a local old school upholsterer doing the upholstery for my Skylark.
Bob