Hello again, it's been a while since my last post, but progress was slow on my 63 Cutlass restoration. .. It's speeding up now!
(Photos coming soon.)

My questions are as follows;

1. What differential fluid do I use? According to my vin #, I have a limited slip differential, and the book says I need a special GM fluid, part # 531536? I can't find any info on it, or any comparable fluid.

2. The car's original fuel pump is still attached, but the previous owner bypassed it and installed a noisy elec. fuel pump, ( looks like it's been on there a while). It seems to work ok, but are there quieter pumps available? Or, Assuming the old mechanical one is bad, replace it with the same?

3. The car has drum brakes all around, but only the rear ones are self adjusting. The fronts have no self adjusting hardware. Does anyone know if this is the way it came from the factory? Is this format acceptable?

4. Finally, Is there any way to install shoulder belts, front, and hopefully back as well.
The cutlass is a 2 door post, but the post is quite skinny, and I don't know that it would support an aftermarket belt mount?

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks,

 

Just get regular gear oil and the appropriate limited slip additive. It doesn't need to be GM brand additive.

GMAdditive.jpg

An electric pump will be noisy. You can mount them in rubber to quiet them, but this is why modern EFI cars put the pump in the tank. Replacement mechanical pumps are readily available and easy to change on that car.

I thought the 63s had self adjusters all the way around. Someone may have installed 62 front brakes on your car for some reason? In any case, so long as you regularly check the drag of the front brakes yourself and adjust as needed, they are fine. The self adjusters don't contribute to stopping ability, just pedal travel.

While these cars do have factory-installed hard points for seat belts, there are no similar anchor points for shoulder belts. Your only option is to weld in aftermarket anchor points. This requires some interior disassembly, along with repainting the interior paint that will burn off from the welding. These aftermarket anchor points are typically a nut welded to a large steel plate that distributes the load over the adjacent metal structure.

By the way, while I'm in favor of shoulder belts (and will be installing them in my 62 when I have the car apart for paint), the reality is that your 63 doesn't have a collapsible steering column, or side guard impact beams in the doors, or built in crumple zones, or even the improved door latches. Obviously it will never be as safe as a new car. You need to assess the risk of driving it, given limited use, typically on days with nice weather.

 

Thanks Joe for the detailed answers.
On top of the seat belts, I hadn't thought about the other safety issues with a car of its age. Its all something to consider.
Much appreciated,