'63 Glove box door assembly question
 

Hey, guys.

I have a spank-new Trim Parts repro glove box door for my '63. Nice piece. I could use a sanity check about the proper assembly sequence.

The assembly illustration that accompanied this new door does not agree with the illustration in the TSB that Frankie was kind enough to forward to me recently, and I'll bet he's aware of this.

The Trim Parts illustration shows the hinge leaf under the bottom flange of the door, with the reinforcement above the flange of the door, such that the door is sandwiched between the two, and the reinforcement and the screw heads would end up inside of the compartment when the door is closed.

The TSB shows the stack-up the other way around, with the reinforcement under the door's flange, and the hinge leaf on top of the door, such that the reinforcement and screw heads would be outside of the compartment.

I'm 99.9% certain that the TSB is correct, and that Trim Parts botched their illustration. Theirs seems nonsensical to me for multiple reasons.

TIA for any guidance.

Live well,

SJW

While not a '63, if I remember my '65 and the AIM all was aligned with the TSB.

Pending experts - my vote TSB which is later than the '62 AIM/ manual

I know Frankie has been down this road with his SWC, so hoping he'll pop in with confirmation.

Live well,

SJW

Yes in the case of the 63 follow the TSB guidance; that was drawn up by engineers at GM and not some parts jockey at a repro vendor....

The reinforcement bar is pretty crucial to prevent cracking the glove box face; especially where that hooked spring meets that part. And the reprors are EXPENSIVE and couldn't be found for a while until Trim Parts started making them once more.

Thanks for confirming, Frank.

I've been waiting for new grommets and hinge screws to arrive. The later-model door I removed used flat-head screws in counter-sunk holes. This repro '63 door wants pan-head screws to bear against that flat reinforcement plate. The old grommets were about shot.

Do you happen to know what's unique about the glove box door lock retainer on '63s?

Live well,

SJW

IIRC (as usual with 63's) there were early glove box door locks and later ones....one or the other had a larger bezel IIRC. I'll be futzing around the garage this pm and I'll check the Judging Guide.

Thanks, Frank. I'm keenly interested in anything you might know about the retainer for the glove box lock on '63s. Seems they're different than other years, which should surprise nobody. But, I don't know what the differences are, or what it should look like.

I'm guessing that the edges of the retainer that bear on rear face of the plastic door are flat on '63s (because the door's plastic), whereas those edges on the one used on the metal doors are stepped. Photo below of the retainer that was on the later C2 door that was on this car (photo is with the lock and retainer on the new repro '63 door from Trim Parts).

Live well,

SJW

Hmmm.....my Judging Guides have been loaned out - BUT, if you don't mind that OTHER forum ask "63 driver" about the locks. He is Harry Sadlock and has two 63's one a rare factory A/C car and what he doesn't know ain't worth knowing ! Also, his email is:
Harry Sadlock <[email protected]>

Thanks for the reply, Frank. I'll drop Harry an email. I am still active on that other forum, so maybe I'll post a query there as well. I'll also see if the Noland Adams book has any info about this.

:cert:

Live well,

SJW

I've been in touch with Harry, who responded promptly with some valuable knowledge, advice and photos.

Thanks again, Frank!

Harry, whom I've met is one of those unassuming guys that knows more than almost anybody about the 63's.

[rant] Certainly more than that presumptious NCRS National 63/64 Judging Team Lead - whose name shall not be mentioned. [/rant]

A quick thanks to Frank and Harry for the advice about this item. This new door looks SO much better than the '66-'67 door I removed.

Live well,

SJW

Here's the one I removed.

Live well,

SJW

It took a bit of hunting around online, but I was able to locate a lock retainer for the '63 door, in stock at Corvette Pacifica. It's the one on the left, next to the wrong one ('64 - '67) which I had temporarily installed on the new '63 door, in the first photo below. Second and third photos are the correct retainer installed on the '63 door.

Thanks for the help, guys. :cert:

Live well,

SJW

Nice find. Fortunately, my car already had the right one.