1963 - Handwritten Number Under Dash

[Norm B.]

Noticed this when I had my cluster out this past summer. Can anyone tell me what it represents?

Norm

[Michael H.]

Re: 1963 - Handwritten Number Under Dash

Possibly the Job Number?

[Timothy B.]

Re: 1963 - Handwritten Number Under Dash

Norm,

Are the attaching screws that hold the cluster to the dash sheet metal screws.

The later screws are 1/4" but the early cars are sheet metal, can you post a picture of the screw, I want to check and compare to mine.

[Norm B.]

Re: 1963 - Handwritten Number Under Dash

Hi Tim,

I seem to recall your car was built a week or two after mine. Unfortunately mine is in winter storage and is difficult to access due to distance so can't pull a screw and take a picture for you until Spring. I will try to remember when April rolls around.

From what I remember the screws were sheet metal, Phillips head, and were what I call "Oval head" in shape. I am guessing about a 3/8" #8 screw in terms of size. I have had the cluster out twice now and reused the screws I took out both times, but bear in mind that this cluster was out at least once before I did it as there was evidence of work being done on the speedo back in the 60's.

Not sure what you mean by 1/4". Are you talking a 1/4" machine screw? That seems pretty heavy to me.

Norm

[John H.]

Re: 1963 - Handwritten Number Under Dash

Not sure what you mean by 1/4". Are you talking a 1/4" machine screw? That seems pretty heavy to me.

Norm

Norm -

Later 63's and all subsequent midyears used 1/4"-20 Phillips-head machine screws, and larger/heavier machine-thread U-nuts.

[Michael H.]

Re: 1963 - Handwritten Number Under Dash

Norm -

Later 63's and all subsequent midyears used 1/4"-20 Phillips-head machine screws, and larger/heavier machine-thread U-nuts.

Yup, the tapping screws on early 63's were replaced with machine thread screws a few months into production. Both had a phillips head but the tapping screws on early 63's were black while the machine screws were plated tan/grey.

[Norm B.]

Re: 1963 - Handwritten Number Under Dash

I am 99% sure mine has the black tapping screws but will check when I get it back out of storage. It is a resonably early car (Oct. 29 build).

Getting back to the original question; anyone know what the handwritten number represents, or is Michael already correct in that it is the job number?

Norm

[Michael H.]

Re: 1963 - Handwritten Number Under Dash

Noticed this when I had my cluster out this past summer. Can anyone tell me what it represents?

Norm

If the number is 134, it would be a job number. The same number that would be hand written in several locations on body panels and on the end of an engine cylinder head. If it's 734, I don't know what it is. Job numbers in the plant ran 0 through 500.

[Wayne W.]

Re: 1963 - Handwritten Number Under Dash

That's clearly a 7. The parts manufacturer marked their parts with a sequential number. They are found all around the car on fiberglass parts. My opinion, it is just that, internal accounting for the fiberglass part.