The 1963 Corvette marked a new direction for America’s sports car, with a striking design, gorgeous rear split-window, and a selection of four capable V8’s. For the performance fan, the 1963 Vette represented a significant leap in ability, and for today’s collector, the same can be said of desirability.
1963 Corvette Powertrain Specifications
| Order Code | Standard | L75 | L76 | L84 |
| Engine Manufacturing Location | Flint, Michigan | Flint, Michigan | Flint, Michigan | Flint, Michigan |
| Type | 90 degree V, Valve-In-Head | 90 degree V, Valve-In-Head | 90 degree V, Valve-In-Head | 90 degree V, Valve-In-Head |
| Cylinders | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 |
| Displacement (cid) | 327 | 327 | 327 | 327 |
| Fuel Induction System | Carburetor | Carburetor | Carburetor | Fuel Injection |
| Horsepower | 250 @ 4,400 | 300 @ 5,000 | 340 @ 6,000 | 360 @ 6,000 |
| Torque | 350 @ 2,800 | 360 @ 3,200 | 344 @ 4,000 | 352 @ 4,000 |
| Bore x Stroke (in.) | 4.00 x 3.25 | 4.00 x 3.25 | 4.00 x 3.25 | 4.00 x 3.25 |
| Compression Ratio | 10.5:1 | 10.5:1 | 11.25:1 | 11.25:1 |
| Firing Order | 1-8-4-3-6-5-7-2 | 1-8-7-2-6-5-4-3 | 1-8-7-2-6-5-4-3 | 1-8-7-2-6-5-4-3 |
| Cylinder Number System (Left) | 1-3-5-7 | 1-3-5-7 | 1-3-5-7 | 1-3-5-7 |
| Cylinder Number System (Right) | 2-4-6-8 | 2-4-6-8 | 2-4-6-8 | 2-4-6-8 |
| Recommended Fuel | Premium | Premium | Premium | Premium |
Manual Transmission / Gear Ratios
Gear Ratios |
3 Speed | 4-Speed (RPO M20) (for 250HP and 300HP engines) |
4-Speed (RPO M20) (for 340HP and 360HP engines) |
| 1st Gear | 2.47:1 | 2.54:1 | 2.20:1 |
| 2nd Gear | 1.53:1 | 1.89:1 | 1.64:1 |
| 3rd Gear | 1.00:1 | 1.51:1 | 1.31:1 |
| 4th Gear | N.A | 1.00:1 | 1.00:1 |
| Reverse | 2.80:1 | 2.61:1 | 2.26:1 |
| Clutch | |
| Model & Type | Chevrolet, single disk, dry plate, centrifugally assisted |
| Effective Plate Pressure (lbs) | 2300 – 2600 |
| Lining Area (sq. in) | 90.7 |
Powerglide Automatic Transmission (RPO M35) Gear Ratios
| Gear Ratios | |
| Drive | 1.76 and 1.00:1 |
| Low | 1.76:1 |
| Reverse | 1.76:1 |
1963 Corvette Exterior Dimensions
Hard Top Dimensions
| Exterior Dimensions (Hardtop) | Interior Dimensions (Hardtop) | ||
| Wheelbase: | 98.0 Inches | Headroom: | 36.9 Inches |
| Overall Length: | 175.3 Inches | Shoulder Room: | 48.2 Inches |
| Total Body Width: | 69.6 Inches | Hip Room: | 52.4 Inches |
| Overall Height: | 49.3 Inches | Leg Room: | 41.6 Inches |
| Front Track Width: | 56.3 Inches | ||
| Rear Track Width: | 57.0 Inches | ||
| Min. Ground Clearance | 5.0 Inches | ||
Soft Top Dimensions
| Exterior Dimensions (Soft Top) | Interior Dimensions (Soft Top) | ||
| Wheelbase: | 98.0 Inches | Headroom: | 38.1 Inches |
| Overall Length: | 175.3 Inches | Shoulder Room: | 48.2 Inches |
| Total Body Width: | 69.6 Inches | Hip Room: | 52.4 Inches |
| Overall Height: | 49.8 Inches | Leg Room: | 41.6 Inches |
| Front Track Width: | 56.3 Inches | ||
| Rear Track Width: | 57.0 Inches | ||
| Min. Ground Clearance | 5.0 Inches | ||
Coupe Dimensions
| Exterior Dimensions (Coupe) | Interior Dimensions (Coupe) | ||
| Wheelbase: | 98.0 Inches | Headroom: | 37.0 Inches |
| Overall Length: | 175.3 Inches | Shoulder Room: | 48.2 Inches |
| Total Body Width: | 69.6 Inches | Hip Room: | 52.4 Inches |
| Overall Height: | 49.3 Inches | Leg Room: | 41.6 Inches |
| Front Track Width: | 56.3 Inches | ||
| Rear Track Width: | 57.0 Inches | ||
| Min. Ground Clearance | 5.0 Inches | ||
Capacities
| Capacities | |
| Passenger Capacity | 2 – Driver & Passenger |
| Curb Weight (lbs) | 3,037 |
| – Convertible | 3,043 |
| – Convertible (with hardtop) | 3,015 |
| Interior Passenger Volume (cu. ft) | – |
| Interior Trunk Volume (cu. ft) | – |
| – Convertible | 8.4 |
| – Coupe | 10.5 |
| Engine Oil Capacity (qts.): | 20 (36 with RPO N03) |
| – 250HP and 300HP engines | 4 (capacity of crankcase less filter – refill) |
| – 340HP and 360HP engines | 5 (capacity of crankcase less filter – refill) |
| Coolant capacity without heater (qts.) | 15.5 |
| Battery: | 12 volt, 61AH, Delco-Remy |
1963 Corvette Brakes, Wheels, & Suspension Specifications
Suspension – Front
Type and Description: Independent, each steering knuckle spherically-jointed to frame-hinged upper and lower control arms. Frame-secured coil spring and shock absorber (inside coil spring) attached to each lower control arm. Front end stability achieved with stabilizer bar hinged to frame front crossmember and each lower control arm. Front end dive when braking controlled by mounting angle of upper control arms.
| Front Coil Springs | |
| Make & Type | Steel Alloy |
| Coil Design Height (in.) | 8.56 x 3.80 |
| Spring Rate (lb. per in.) | 260 lb. per in. |
| Rate at Wheel (lb. per in.) | 80.5 lb. per in. |
| Design Load | 1340 lb. @ 8.56 in. |
| Shock Absorbers | |
| Make & Type | Direct, double-acting, hydraulic; freon filled envelope in reservoir |
| Piston diameter | 1.00 |
| Piston travel | 5.25 |
| Front Stabilizer Bar | |
| Type | Link |
| Material | Hot rolled steel |
| Diameter | 0.6875 |
Suspension – Back
Type and Description: Full independant with frame-anchored differential. Locus of each wheel established by 3 links: universally-jointed axle drive shaft and adjacent strut, and torque control arm pivoted at frame side rail. Vertical suspension loads taken by shock absorbers and transversely-positioned leaf spring. Built-in camber adjustment at struts.
| Rear Leaf Springs | |
| Number of Leaves | 9 |
| Material | Chrome carbon steel |
| Length, width, height | 46.36 x 2.25 x 2.121 |
| Rate at Wheel (lb. per in.) | 80.5 lb. per in. |
| Design Load | 1340 lb. @ 8.56 in. |
| Shock Absorbers | |
| Make & Type | Direct, double acting, hydraulic, freon filled envelope in reservoir |
| Piston diameter | 1.00 |
| Piston travel | 5.00 |
| Rear Strut | |
| Material | Forged Steel |
| Diameter | 0.75 |
Brakes
| Brake Specs | |
| Type: | – |
| – Standard | Duo Servo – 4 Wheel Hydraulic |
| – J50 | Powered Brakes |
| – J65 | Sintered Metallic Brakes |
| Drum diameter, front (in.): | 11 |
| Drum diameter, rear (in.): | 11 |
| Effective area (sq. in.): | – |
| – Standard | 185.2 |
| – Sintered Metallic | 134.9 |
| – Special Performance | 144.9 |
Wheels & Tires
| Wheels & Tires Specs | |
| Wheel Type: | |
| – Standard | Short spoke spider, steel |
| – P48 | Ribbed integral casting, aluminum |
| Wheels, size: | |
| – Standard | 15″ x 5.5K |
| – P48 | 15″ x 6L |
| Tire, size: | |
| – Standard | 6.70 x 15 — 4 Ply Tubeless |
| – P91 | 6.70 x 15 — 4 Ply Blackwall Nylon |
| – P92 | 6.70 x 15 — 4 Ply Whitewall Rayon |
| Inflation (cold) | |
| – Front | 24 lbs. |
| – Rear | 24 lbs. |
Steering
| Steering Specs | |
| Type | Semi-reversible, recirculating ball |
| Make | Saginaw |
| Ratio (Gear) | 16.0:1 |
| Wheel Diameter (in.) | 16 |
| Turns, Stop to Stop | |
| – Standard | 3.4 |
| – Power | 2.92 |
| Turning Diameter (curb to curb) | 39.4 ft. left — 40.4 ft. right (outside front) |
1963 Corvette Performance Results
| Performance Results | Standard | L75 | L76 | L85 |
| 3-Speed Transmission | ||||
| Performance weight (lbs.) | 3335 | 3340 | 3350 | 3350 |
| Pounds/gross horsepower | 13.34 | 11.13 | 9.85 | 9.31 |
| Pounds/cu.in. piston displacement | 10.20 | 10.21 | 10.24 | 10.24 |
| Gross horsepower/cu.in. displacement | .765 | .917 | 1.040 | 1.101 |
| Power displacement (cu.ft./mile) | 241.6 | 241.6 | 241.6 | 241.6 |
| Displacement factor (cu.ft./mile) | 144.9 | 144.7 | 144.2 | 144.2 |
| 0 – 60 mph (seconds) | – | – | – | – |
| Top Speed (mph) | – | – | – | – |
| 4-Speed Transmission | ||||
| Performance weight (lbs.) | 3375 | 3345 | 3350 | 3350 |
| Pounds/gross horsepower | 13.50 | 11.15 | 9.85 | 9.31 |
| Pounds/cu.in. piston displacement | 10.32 | 10.22 | 10.24 | 10.24 |
| Gross horsepower/cu.in. displacement | .764 | .917 | 1.040 | 1.101 |
| Power displacement (cu.ft./mile) | 241.6 | 241.6 | 266.1 | 266.1 |
| Displacement factor (cu.ft./mile) | 143.0 | 144.5 | 158.8 | 158.8 |
| 0 – 60 mph (seconds) | – | 7.2 | – | 5.8 |
| Top Speed (mph) | – | 130 | – | 130 |
| Powerglide Transmission | ||||
| Performance weight (lbs.) | 3375 | 3360 | – | – |
| Pounds/gross horsepower | 13.42 | 11.20 | – | – |
| Pounds/cu.in. piston displacement | 10.26 | 10.28 | – | – |
| Gross horsepower/cu.in. displacement | .765 | .917 | – | – |
| Power displacement (cu.ft./mile) | 241.6 | 241.6 | – | – |
| Displacement factor (cu.ft./mile) | 144.0 | 143.6 | – | – |
| 0 – 60 mph (seconds) | – | – | – | – |
| Top Speed (mph) | – | – | – | – |
The ’63 split window coupe was quite a machine – I had one back in the day. It was great fun coming out of toll booths on the GSP and putting all the slow folk that were in front of you behind you. Mine was a fuelie with 4.11 gears and quite a neck snapper. Had the Sintered Metallics, but they were not up to the performance of the machine.