[C2] 63 Split window ridge offset
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 624
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From: Melbourne, Fla. 6 months- New Middletown, Ohio 6 months
63 Split window ridge offset
I was looking at a 63 split window recently and I noticed that the raised ridge on the top was not centered between the rear windows. I understand that with the rear windows being curved that they are pretty much limited to how they can set into the body.
This coupe was supposed to be early production since it had the "tool trays" under the font seats. Now is the ridge being off center on this coupe something that was not uncommon on early production 63's?
I am sure that there are people on this site that would know the answer so let me thank you in advance.
This coupe was supposed to be early production since it had the "tool trays" under the font seats. Now is the ridge being off center on this coupe something that was not uncommon on early production 63's?
I am sure that there are people on this site that would know the answer so let me thank you in advance.
Last edited by Red 71; Aug 17, 2016 at 12:51 PM.
Safety Car
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From: Horsham Pa
C2 of Year Finalist (appearance mods) 2019
Are you are talking about the ridge that runs from the front to the back of the car? If so, it is in the center of the windshield and in the center of the rear windows to the center of the rear tail light panel. If not some one did some poor body work.
Race Director
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AFAIK the ridge was not "placed" by workers (which would allow for variance from car to ca)r, but pulled from a mold with the whole top, or at least the rear section. So all SWCs would have identically centered split ridges. Sounds to me like an imperfect "repair" done at some point after the car was sold.
Team Owner
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From: Washington Michigan
AFAIK the ridge was not "placed" by workers (which would allow for variance from car to ca)r, but pulled from a mold with the whole top, or at least the rear section. So all SWCs would have identically centered split ridges. Sounds to me like an imperfect "repair" done at some point after the car was sold.
Le Mans Master
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From: The Golden Triangle, Florida
2024 C2 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2023 C2 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
St. Jude Donor '20 thru '25
Maybe the car is a '64 - '67 with a really bad reverse-engineered job to a '63.
Steve
Steve
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From: Central Arkansas
65 Pro Vette probably nailed it - poor body work. That ridge is gradual enough that careless sanding on one side can actually shift the crest of the ridge to the side. Same with the belt line and all other character lines on fiberglass. When I prepped my car for paint I would guide coat the ridge, belt line, tops ridge of fenders, etc and sand one side up to the edge. The guide coat remaining on the other side of the peak presented a clear contract by which the straightness or curve of the peak could be judged for conformity and uniformity. Then work the other side up to the line until there was a almost paper thin line of guide coat left that should look perfectly contoured - or I got to do it all over again. It sort of amazed me how easily you could adjust the contour and sharpen them up with careful cross hatch sanding at 45 degrees towards the peak. I suspect someone sort of ham-fisted did some body work on that car.
Last edited by DansYellow66; Aug 17, 2016 at 06:23 PM.
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Sep 2002
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From: Melbourne, Fla. 6 months- New Middletown, Ohio 6 months
DansYellow66, I think you nailed it. The fiberglass back then was not the best and if someone sprayed heavy coats of Fiberfill or something like it and didn't pay attention to what they were doing in the sanding, being off center could happen real easily.
I forgot to mention that back in the late 80's the car did have a body off restoration so what you said could make sense.
Thanks for the replies.
I forgot to mention that back in the late 80's the car did have a body off restoration so what you said could make sense.
Thanks for the replies.
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 1,391
Likes: 196
From: Santa Monica CA
C2 of Year Finalist (stock) 2019
2018 C2 of Year Finalist
I was looking at a 63 split window recently and I noticed that the raised ridge on the top was not centered between the rear windows. I understand that with the rear windows being curved that they are pretty much limited to how they can set into the body.
This coupe was supposed to be early production since it had the "tool trays" under the font seats. Now is the ridge being off center on this coupe something that was not uncommon on early production 63's?
I am sure that there are people on this site that would know the answer so let me thank you in advance.
This coupe was supposed to be early production since it had the "tool trays" under the font seats. Now is the ridge being off center on this coupe something that was not uncommon on early production 63's?
I am sure that there are people on this site that would know the answer so let me thank you in advance.
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From: Jeffersonville Indiana 812-288-7103
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15
Years ago we had a 63 in our shop that had the split bar removed and had a 64-67 rear glass in the car. Possibly someone removed the bar at some point in time and then replaced it? Just a hunch..