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[C2] 1963 corvette split

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Old May 23, 2016 | 01:43 PM
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Default 1963 corvette split

hi, I just bought a 1963 Corvette coupe, 340HP and I don't have much knowledge on this car.
1) what type of oil does it need? does it need regular unleaded fuel or mid grade?
2) if i add in power steering, does it affect the value?

Thanks
John
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Last edited by bighusky; May 23, 2016 at 02:10 PM.
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Old May 23, 2016 | 01:49 PM
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Congratulations! Very nice.
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Old May 23, 2016 | 01:54 PM
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Thanks
John
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Old May 23, 2016 | 02:16 PM
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No problem being 0.030 over. With it being a 340 HP car, the most important is the block. If it is the original drivetrain, awesome car! Regardless it is a great car but the 340 hp is the one people want.

As for power steering, If you plan on selling anytime, I would keep original. If is is a non-numbers matching or you just plan on driving forever and do not have selling in your mind at all, put on the car what you want to.

As for the fuel grade, you may want to see in the documentation if the valve seats etc were changed to accept unleaded.

again, AWESOME car!

Last edited by TNVettGuy; May 23, 2016 at 02:18 PM.
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Old May 23, 2016 | 02:40 PM
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Shell Rotella 15W40 diesel oil and premium unleaded gas. Beautiful car...hope you enjoy many miles with her. Oh, and the power steering, go for it!!
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Old May 23, 2016 | 02:44 PM
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Originally Posted by TNVettGuy
No problem being 0.030 over. With it being a 340 HP car, the most important is the block. If it is the original drivetrain, awesome car! Regardless it is a great car but the 340 hp is the one people want.

As for power steering, If you plan on selling anytime, I would keep original. If is is a non-numbers matching or you just plan on driving forever and do not have selling in your mind at all, put on the car what you want to.

As for the fuel grade, you may want to see in the documentation if the valve seats etc were changed to accept unleaded.

again, AWESOME car!
Thanks. Appreciate your advise.
What oil should I use?
It is a matching engine. I try to keep as long as I can until I cannot afford it.
Thanks,
John
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Old May 23, 2016 | 02:46 PM
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Originally Posted by leif.anderson93
Shell Rotella 15W40 diesel oil and premium unleaded gas. Beautiful car...hope you enjoy many miles with her. Oh, and the power steering, go for it!!
Thanks Leif.
John
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Old May 23, 2016 | 02:49 PM
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Sharp looking SWC, how about more pics of your new Coupe? Also, maybe think about filling out your profile, at least the general area you're located, you might find other Forum Members are neighbors. As for the power steering, if the 63 340 oil pan is the same as the solid lifter 64-65 pan, it holds an additional quart of oil and projects forward quite a bit so that for those other two years, you couldn't have power steering due to interference with that pan. I suspect that might be the same for your setup but not sure.
Mike T - Prescott AZ
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Old May 23, 2016 | 03:09 PM
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Originally Posted by Vet65te
Sharp looking SWC, how about more pics of your new Coupe? Also, maybe think about filling out your profile, at least the general area you're located, you might find other Forum Members are neighbors. As for the power steering, if the 63 340 oil pan is the same as the solid lifter 64-65 pan, it holds an additional quart of oil and projects forward quite a bit so that for those other two years, you couldn't have power steering due to interference with that pan. I suspect that might be the same for your setup but not sure.
Mike T - Prescott AZ
Thanks Mike.
I live up north in Canada. We have a Western Corvette here in town and I will ivate them when weather permits.
John
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Old May 23, 2016 | 03:30 PM
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Originally Posted by leif.anderson93
Shell Rotella 15W40 diesel oil and premium unleaded gas. Beautiful car...hope you enjoy many miles with her. Oh, and the power steering, go for it!!
if it still has the original compression ratio, on the fuel choice.

the oil choice is also a correct choice, although it doesn't have to be Rotella.
Bill
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Old May 23, 2016 | 04:23 PM
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Read up on putting a Borgeson conversion on it. I have one waiting for mine, many here say it is the best money they have spent on a car they intend to drive.

Uses your manual steering linkage. Restore your car back to original with only the shaft being permanently modified.

Welcome to the forum, it's a pretty car. I'm sure a lot of us would enjoy seeing more of it and hearing how you came to select it and what your plans are.
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Old May 23, 2016 | 04:59 PM
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Since it appears you have afforded the car, you should not have trouble owning it, unless it has hidden issues and you are not mechanically adept at working on it. The worst thing you can do to the car is, not drive it frequently. If you do, you develop a trust in the car too take you places. Get with the other Vette owners up there and enjoy. Beautiful car. I had one just like it 15 years ago. Dennis
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Old May 23, 2016 | 05:55 PM
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Originally Posted by bighusky
Thanks. Appreciate your advise.
What oil should I use?
It is a matching engine. I try to keep as long as I can until I cannot afford it.
Thanks,
John
I would go with 10W30 Rotella. Heavier oil is not necessary, or recommended.
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Old May 23, 2016 | 05:58 PM
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The stock PS is a great choice as well. I agree on the oil and gas though
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Old May 23, 2016 | 06:06 PM
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Originally Posted by Bluestripe67
Since it appears you have afforded the car, you should not have trouble owning it, unless it has hidden issues and you are not mechanically adept at working on it. The worst thing you can do to the car is, not drive it frequently. If you do, you develop a trust in the car too take you places. Get with the other Vette owners up there and enjoy. Beautiful car. I had one just like it 15 years ago. Dennis
Hi Dennis, the car doesn't have any issues as I am aware of. I just want to make sure I use the right oil and fuel and drive once a while on the weekend.
Without PS, it will be a little hard for me to maneuver into my garage. ( I am not a big guy).
I will not drive this car a lot as our winter is brutal here but I will enjoy as much as I can.
Thanks,
John
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Old May 23, 2016 | 06:12 PM
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Originally Posted by Vet65te
Sharp looking SWC, how about more pics of your new Coupe? Also, maybe think about filling out your profile, at least the general area you're located, you might find other Forum Members are neighbors. As for the power steering, if the 63 340 oil pan is the same as the solid lifter 64-65 pan, it holds an additional quart of oil and projects forward quite a bit so that for those other two years, you couldn't have power steering due to interference with that pan. I suspect that might be the same for your setup but not sure.
Mike T - Prescott AZ
Same windage tray pan 63-65 soild lifters. not sure if you can just change the pan. Think you can. the extended rods to mount the tray might have to be changed as well for the no sp hi perf pan to fit.
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Old May 23, 2016 | 06:29 PM
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Originally Posted by ChattanoogaJSB
Read up on putting a Borgeson conversion on it. I have one waiting for mine, many here say it is the best money they have spent on a car they intend to drive.

Uses your manual steering linkage. Restore your car back to original with only the shaft being permanently modified.

Welcome to the forum, it's a pretty car. I'm sure a lot of us would enjoy seeing more of it and hearing how you came to select it and what your plans are.
Thanks Chat.

I was looking to get a 67 convertible but I saw this 63 split and I just went and bought it. I did not know much about this year vette and so I did not know it didn't have PS or pb. The only option it has is PW.
Will drive without PS and see if I can handle it for now.
I am planning to keep and enjoy for a while.

One question, since our winter here is brutal sometimes ( in Alberta, Canada), does it need a heated garage if it is parked during the winter months?
Thanks,
John
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Old May 23, 2016 | 06:37 PM
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Originally Posted by bighusky
Thanks Chat.

I was looking to get a 67 convertible but I saw this 63 split and I just went and bought it. I did not know much about this year vette and so I did not know it didn't have PS or pb. The only option it has is PW.
Will drive without PS and see if I can handle it for now.
I am planning to keep and enjoy for a while.

One question, since our winter here is brutal sometimes ( in Alberta, Canada), does it need a heated garage if it is parked during the winter months?
Thanks,
John

these cars with manual steering is not that bad if you have good tires with proper air pressure. of course proper alignment helps too. You will just learn to get the car moving before turning the wheel
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Old May 23, 2016 | 06:38 PM
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Very nice ride , good luck !
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Old May 23, 2016 | 07:01 PM
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Gorgeous car, easily my favourite colour on '63s.
As far as parking for the winter, I've always kept mine in unheated storage with no problems. I just fill the gas tank, disconnect the battery, put the cover on it and lock it away till April.
Many Petro-Can and Husky stations in Alberta offer 94 octane. I use this whenever possible.
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