Seat Shim Cloth Bags

[Kevin G.]

Were there different sizes and threading for the cloth bags for 68/69 vs. 70/72 vs. 73/75? I only have the 70/72 JG available. The JG states that the bag for 70/72 measures 4"x6". I have a bag but it measures approx.4 3/4" x 6 1/2" w/o the red thread. Also included is two shims and four washers. JG states four shims with 8 washers.

Thanks,
Kevin

[Reba W.]

Re: Seat Shim Cloth Bags

Kevin, I would venture that your bag is a repro. We have only found one size in known-original cars. I know one reproducer is incorrectly packaging 1970> shims with only four washers.

1968-69s had only four washers and two shims but they were different from 1970-2.

[Harmon C.]

Re: Seat Shim Cloth Bags

Kevin
With one set missing I would check to see if the shims are installed on one of the seats.
Without the red thread the bag is missing something I have seen on all shim bags. In the 70's this type of bag was used to pack all kinds of small parts before plastic took over so I had a few tucked away. A study of shim bags and shims for the Restorer could be a good new article.

[Kevin G.]

Re: Seat Shim Cloth Bags

Kevin, I would venture that your bag is a repro. We have only found one size in known-original cars. I know one reproducer is incorrectly packaging 1970> shims with only four washers.

1968-69s had only four washers and two shims but they were different from 1970-2.

Reba, I was under the impression that the repoped bag was not the correct size, along with the one or two vendors that shorted the washers. Do you happen to have a set of the 68/69 shims/washers that you could post for comparison? Thanks, Kevin

Kevin
With one set missing I would check to see if the shims are installed on one of the seats.
Without the red thread the bag is missing something I have seen on all shim bags. In the 70's this type of bag was used to pack all kinds of small parts before plastic took over so I had a few tucked away. A study of shim bags and shims for the Restorer could be a good new article.

Lyle, The bag was just purchased and I'm not able to find out if there are any lost shims, your assumption is probably correct however. Really I'm more interested in the bags and there size,and threading. I will snap a few pictures and post them. Perhaps we can lay the ground work for the article on the TDB and gather some good imput. Great idea! Any more info you can supply would be great. Thank you, Kevin

[Pat M.]

Re: Seat Shim Cloth Bags

Hi Kevin. The repo bags I've seen are noticeably smaller than the originals. See the below comparison from the 1970 Corvette Registry website.
I've seen some original bags that simply had stretched a little, and this may be why some are slightly bigger than the JG states.

[Jeffrey S.]

Re: Seat Shim Cloth Bags

Kevin:
The original shim bag from my '69 measures 4 3/4"wide by 6 1/2" high. You can buy white cloth bags from U-Line with a red thread very cheaply (you need to buy a minimum quantity) but they measure 4 1/8" wide by 5 3/4" high and the red thread is much finer. I suspect that these are what the resources tat sell the repros use although I don't know this for sure.
Jeff

[Harmon C.]

Re: Seat Shim Cloth Bags

I measured two bags I have and both are 4 1/2 X 6 1/2 which I think are real from 73's. I would say GM cared less about the details of the bag than we do today. I would check the shims and the washers closer than the bag because their probably are very few points on this item. 4 shims 8 washers 1 bag = 3 points on 73 judging sheets.

[Alan S.]

Re: Seat Shim Cloth Bags

Hi Kevin,
How are you?
I'll relate my tale of woe again, to spiff-up everyone's evening.
In 1971 I threw away my CEC solenoid IN the seat shim bag along with half the shims. The other shims were on the passenger's seat.
I still feel dumb!!!!
Regards,
Alan

[Kenneth T.]

Re: Seat Shim Cloth Bags

Were there different sizes and threading for the cloth bags for 68/69 vs. 70/72 vs. 73/75? I only have the 70/72 JG available. The JG states that the bag for 70/72 measures 4"x6". I have a bag but it measures approx.4 3/4" x 6 1/2" w/o the red thread. Also included is two shims and four washers. JG states four shims with 8 washers.

Thanks,
Kevin

Kevin,

I am the original owner of my 71. My cloth bag is 4"X6", red pull string. I has Four shims and Six washers, could have dropped two below into the jack area,(such a PITA to get out!) I will check. I can send pics if you like.

Ken

[Kevin G.]

Re: Seat Shim Cloth Bags

Hi Kevin,
How are you?
I'll relate my tale of woe again, to spiff-up everyone's evening.
In 1971 I threw away my CEC solenoid IN the seat shim bag along with half the shims. The other shims were on the passenger's seat.
I still feel dumb!!!!
Regards,
Alan

Hi Alan, Well rested would be a good description, and you? Sad tale, have you replaced them?

After a little research and some 69 examples from Mr. Cook.........

Some differences in the bags shims and washers. The bags aren't exactly the same size. The two larger bags are thought to be original with the repo in the center. The rusty bag left (with red thread)measures 4 1/4 x 6 1/2 the repo 4 x 6 and the right (without red thread, actually white with same threading) 4 3/4 x 6 1/2. Shims and washers for these bags appeared the same.

Now, the 69 set of shims and washers are completely different using a thick washer with a smaller hole (repo washer is too thin) the shims are smaller and have in logo but stamped in opposite directions on the repo.



Thanks for checking Jeff and Lyle

Regards,

Kevin
Here's a few pictures to help.

[Kevin G.]

Re: Seat Shim Cloth Bags

Lyle, This one's not about the points is the hunt for the needle in the haystack.

Ken, Sure add some pictures to the post, Thanks

Few more pictures.............

[Harmon C.]

Re: Seat Shim Cloth Bags

I made some shims on a sheet metal shear and they have one rolled edge on the front and one on the back. Originals were stamped and all the edges roll the same way. Installed on the seat the ones I made and phosphated would be very had to tell from originals as all you see is the edge and not much of that.

[Kenneth T.]

Re: Seat Shim Cloth Bags

Lyle, This one's not about the points is the hunt for the needle in the haystack.

Ken, Sure add some pictures to the post, Thanks

Few more pictures.............

Kevin,

Some pics, and by the way thanks for yours of the CEC system.

Ken

It only makes sense that given Four shims with two holes we should have Eight washers, NO?

[Kevin G.]

Re: Seat Shim Cloth Bags

Kevin,

Some pics, and by the way thanks for yours of the CEC system.

Ken

It only makes sense that given Four shims with two holes we should have Eight washers, NO?

Ken Great shots! Thanks for posting them.
Yes, on the washers. It seems that we're coming up with different size bags, from 4 x 6 to 4 3/4 x 6 1/2.

Lyle if you look closely at the 69 set of shims you can see the shear cut repo's vs. the stamped originals

[Paul O.]

Re: Seat Shim Cloth Bags

What some are calling repo bags are not really repo I work for Delta airlines in aircraft maintenance going back 30 years and we have use this bag since I started they hold bolts and nuts when we remove them from what every we are working on and they were used long before I ever got there. We then tie the bag with the string to what ever we are working on just to keep things in order. So I would say that the venders are just buying the bags from a company like McMaster-Carr I think they are in their catalog and selling them to us. They come in a box by the hundreds and there are different sizes. Paul 18046