Spare Tire Locks

[Wayne M.]

Re: Spare Tire Locks

Pete --- then we have to add the lock pin configuration to the mix. Circular cylinder w/flat tip versus circular cylinder with flat bevel on the tip.

[Gary B.]

Re: Spare Tire Locks

Pete --- then we have to add the lock pin configuration to the mix. Circular cylinder w/flat tip versus circular cylinder with flat bevel on the tip.

Wayne,

Definitely both pin end geometries should be recognized as existing. Based on my observations, the 45 degree bevel end is much less common, but I think I have two of that type in my collection.

Gary

[Michael J.]

Re: Spare Tire Locks

Interesting thread Pete. As you know me, I will always quote from the '63-'64 TIM&JG, since judges use it many times (and I have no other knowledge that would supersede it), and that says: "Later 1963 and all 1964 model spare tire locks had 1/4" drain holes drilled into the casing for water drainage" And: "1963 spare tire locks to approx. VIN 10800 (March 15, 1963), have a rubber anti-vobration pad on the underside but no molded black rubber boot. After approx. that VIN in 1963, and all of 1964 the lock assembly has no anti-vibration pad but is covered by a tight fitting black rubber boot which has a slotted access hole for the insertion of the key".

So I guess since Feb. is past half way into the model year assembly, it should be a "later" '63, right?

BTW, thanks again for the tanker parts, more needed soon.

[Gary B.]

Re: Spare Tire Locks

Pete --- then we have to add the lock pin configuration to the mix. Circular cylinder w/flat tip versus circular cylinder with flat bevel on the tip.

Wayne,

Since you clearly have been looking at the pin end geometry, have you kept track of a prevalence rate based on your observations?

I have two locks with the 45 deg bevel in my collection at the moment, a post-early-63 thru 65 lock with the 1/4" weep hole, and a '66 lock with the 3/8" weep hole. I have never seen the 45 deg bevel on a '67 or later tire lock. Have you? My estimate of the prevalence of the 45 deg beveled pin end s 3% based on a reasonably large sample size. Pete, do you have a prevalence estimate?

Gary

[Gary B.]

Re: Spare Tire Locks

Interesting thread Pete. As you know me, I will always quote from the '63-'64 TIM&JG, since judges use it many times (and I have no other knowledge that would supersede it), and that says: "Later 1963 and all 1964 model spare tire locks had 1/4" drain holes drilled into the casing for water drainage" And: "1963 spare tire locks to approx. VIN 10800 (March 15, 1963), have a rubber anti-vobration pad on the underside but no molded black rubber boot. After approx. that VIN in 1963, and all of 1964 the lock assembly has no anti-vibration pad but is covered by a tight fitting black rubber boot which has a slotted access hole for the insertion of the key".

So I guess since Feb. is past half way into the model year assembly, it should be a "later" '63, right?

BTW, thanks again for the tanker parts, more needed soon.

Michael,

For the first appearance of the 1/4" weep hole tire lock I would use the admittedly awkward phrase "post-early-'63 model year". That doesn't pin it down more than what is known. But "later 1963" is not accurate based on my understanding of what that phrase means and what I've seen.

Gary

[Peter L.]

Re: Spare Tire Locks

Wayne - OMG Pete

[Michael J.]

Re: Spare Tire Locks

Michael,

For the first appearance of the 1/4" weep hole tire lock I would use the admittedly awkward phrase "post-early-'63 model year". That doesn't pin it down more than what is known. But "later 1963" is not accurate based on my understanding of what that phrase means and what I've seen.

Gary

OK, so what approx. month would you use as the break-over point?

[Gary B.]

Re: Spare Tire Locks

Michael,

With the firm admission that I have very little research to back it up, I consider Jan 1 a reasonable change-over date.

Gary

[Michael J.]

Re: Spare Tire Locks

Sounds reasonable to me. Considering the vague wording in the TIM&JG, it would be up to the judge to prove that not to be the case.

[Peter L.]

Re: Spare Tire Locks

Mike - We don't have a lot of data points based on original cars but the information points to the spare tire locks w/ the 1/4" dia drain hole starting to show up on Corvettes that were built in the Jan 1963 time frame as Gary mentioned. I suspect what ended up on the cars, e.g. w/ or w/o the drain hole, depended on how deeply they dug into the bin where the lock & key sets were at that time. Pete

[Michael J.]

Re: Spare Tire Locks

Thanks Pete, that sounds reasonable. In fact, as I have been researching the rarer items such as FI components, F40 suspension, and metallic brakes on the '63-'65 cars, it seems the last in-first out methods of inventory depletion for batched, stacked or binned components looks pretty common.

[Michael G.]

Re: Spare Tire Locks

I have a November, 62 post-very-early-yet-not-quite-late-early-or mid-model-year original part with a weep hole. If anybody cares...or can comprehend this gibberish

[Gary B.]

Re: Spare Tire Locks

Thanks Pete, that sounds reasonable. In fact, as I have been researching the rarer items such as FI components, F40 suspension, and metallic brakes on the '63-'65 cars, it seems the last in-first out methods of inventory depletion for batched, stacked or binned components looks pretty common.

Michael,

For some items, last-in/first-out wasn't typical, if I understand what you mean by that For example, the retainer cups at the ends of the main leaf of the rear spring and the T-arms changed designs in July or Aug of 1966. Starting then the cups with the steep peripheral lip came into existence. But based on my research the cups with the shallow lip continued to appear on '67 model year car thru Dec and into January, so 4 or 5 months into the new model year, although the AIM called for the steep lipped cups from the start of the '67 model year. Obviously GM used up existing inventory on the production line and when the shallow lip cups were gone, the steep lip cups started being used. So GM didn't simply fill up the bins with steep cups in July of 1966 when the steep cups came into existence, thereby covering up the older, shallow lip cups. The two styles were kept completely segregated until the older shallow cups were all gone and then the switch-over to the newer style took place. Now I don't think those cups were actually installed on the Corvette assembly, so my example might not apply to typical production line parts.

Gary

[Michael J.]

Re: Spare Tire Locks

I agree on common items, I was specifically speaking of items that were used on less than 100 or less than 1000 cars or so a year. A bin full of F-40 shocks, batch made at maybe 30-40 each, could be placed in a bin where the bottom most ones were not used until all the ones on top (last in) were.

[Gary B.]

Re: Spare Tire Locks

I have a November, 62 post-very-early-yet-not-quite-late-early-or mid-model-year original part with a weep hole. If anybody cares...or can comprehend this gibberish

Michael,

I'll have to send that description to the Ask Marilyn column by the Mensa lady to figure out for me.

Gary