63 SS Nova COPO ???????

[Verne_Frantz]

[ QUOTE ]
I have the info from the trim tag. What am I looking for?

Bob

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JAYR, It would help to know the build date of the body (upper left hand corner) and a ACC codes.
Hopefully others who are inquiring will be able to provide casting # and date from the block.

Verne

[Verne_Frantz]

[ QUOTE ]
Vin 304370141309

A Sept engine and March build....possible but doubtful?.

If the seller truly bought his own story, wouldn't you think he'd be happy to state how he arrived at such a conclusion also back up his claims w/ castings and stampings in the ad...not say 'he believes' and mention things like how it's been 'thoroughly inspected' (by his own people)?.

Also if truly belived, why goof it up w/ added accessories and disc brakes during resto?.

If he'd skipped the Copo story the car may've even sold by now...or reached more than the 20 thou it did on eBay?.

I vote !!!

This gem aside, what year was the Copo process first known to have been used anyway?.


~ Pete

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Pete,
I agree; that VIN would be a mid-March Oakland build.
I have '58 COPOs on record. As for when they began that process, my files don't include any cars prior to '58..

Verne

BTW, The Oakland plant also built trucks that year, so there would be plenty of 283s around. It's doubtful a Sept engine would find it's way in a March car.

[Paul_S]

Well, Chevy II/Nova did not use style numbers to designate V8 cars until '65. If that is a Nova block it will be a flint casting/assembly. I have seen the RPO in the '63 assembly manual for V8s and yes, it lists 4-spd also. I don't remember it off the top of my head right now though. -I'll have to look. My bet is that it's just a very nice SS that had its L6 swapped for a '64 Nova 283. Any accessories listed on the data plate will not draw a conclusion to it being a V8 car unless it's coded for a 4-spd.

[wagonman]

[ QUOTE ]
Mark,
'63 283s were commonly available with 3-spds so the hole for the Z-bar pivot should be on all of them.
As for COPO, a look at the cowl tag should provide an answer.

Verne

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yes but a #194 casting early 63 nova 283 would have a chevyII specific clutch pivot hole location.............

all other 283 blocks are different!!!

[wagonman]

quite simply put..

there are zero 63 chevyII's with a factory installed V8

also vin's were not installed on 1963 chevyII power plants...

just engine suffix code and assy date...

[wagonman]

yeah......what frame?

[wagonman]

nice car though.................

[JayR]

[ QUOTE ]
JAYR, It would help to know the build date of the body (upper left hand corner) and a ACC codes.
Hopefully others who are inquiring will be able to provide casting # and date from the block.
Verne

[/ QUOTE ]

Trim Tag Info:

03C

STYLE 63-0437 BODY OA15227

TRIM 7-702 13 PAINT 922

ACC W P X M35 2455

Bob

[x Baldwin Motion]

[ QUOTE ]
quite simply put..

there are zero 63 chevyII's with a factory installed V8

also vin's were not installed on 1963 chevyII power plants...

just engine suffix code and assy date...

[/ QUOTE ]


couldn't you get a trim tag and build sheet for this?

[Verne_Frantz]

Bob,
It is not common at all to see a number like the 2455 on the ACC line. It is not a typical cryptic option code. From my experience with these cars, I"d say that is a COPO or F&SO order number.

As I stated before, information compiled by CHEVROLET CORP indicates 3 V8 '63 Chevy-IIs were factory built. Those are real documents.

Verne