70-72 cloth bag contents

[Mike E.]

I had the privilege to examine two very late production 1971 LT-1 convertibles yesterday. One has 14k miles, the other 18k, both in the hands of the second owner. In each case the first owner was not an NCRS guy or really into the hobby.
We looked in the cloth bag on the 18k mile blue/blue convertible, and the seat shims and spacers were there, along with a 1" long piece of vacuum tubing, 1/8" diameter. We said "what the heck is this?"
The owner of the 14k orange/black coupe said "Am I supposed to have a bag like that, too?" We looked in his storage compartment, and there was the bag with its full complement of shims and spacers. AND with a 1" piece of 1/8" vauum hose.
We compared the two. Both are machine cut. Both have exactly the same manufacturer's rib pattern for identification (5 ribs, as I recall). Both have both ends cut at about an 80 degree cut to the ends rather than a perfect 90 degree cut.
Does anyone know what these were for, and why they were in the bag? What was their function? These were both GM-included, in my opinion.

[Jim T.]

Re: 70-72 cloth bag contents

Mike, I am the original owner of a 70 350/300 coupe built in July and still have my bag wtih the spacers and seat shims. It has been over 39 years since I opened my 70's bag, I don't remember seeing the vacuum hose back in 70.
It is interesting that a 1" length of hose was in both of the 71 LT1's bag.

[Chuck S.]

Re: 70-72 cloth bag contents

I had the privilege to examine two very late production 1971 LT-1 convertibles yesterday. One has 14k miles, the other 18k, both in the hands of the second owner. In each case the first owner was not an NCRS guy or really into the hobby.
We looked in the cloth bag on the 18k mile blue/blue convertible, and the seat shims and spacers were there, along with a 1" long piece of vacuum tubing, 1/8" diameter. We said "what the heck is this?"
The owner of the 14k orange/black coupe said "Am I supposed to have a bag like that, too?" We looked in his storage compartment, and there was the bag with its full complement of shims and spacers. AND with a 1" piece of 1/8" vauum hose.
We compared the two. Both are machine cut. Both have exactly the same manufacturer's rib pattern for identification (5 ribs, as I recall). Both have both ends cut at about an 80 degree cut to the ends rather than a perfect 90 degree cut.
Does anyone know what these were for, and why they were in the bag? What was their function? These were both GM-included, in my opinion.

I have no first-hand knowledge of any cloth bag contents, but typically the only use for such a short length of rubber tubing was as a flexible "coupling" between two metal tubes, e.g. between a metal tube nipple on a carburetor base and the metal vacuum advance tube to the distributor. This is not suggested as the only possible application, only as an example. While such tube couplings can be essential, they were normally trouble-free for years, and the owner was not usually supplied with an emergency spare.

[Paul O.]

Re: 70-72 cloth bag contents

Mike the only thing that could think of it may have placed there to reduce the spacers rattling sound. Maybe try shaking the bag slightly with the hose out and then with the hose in place and hear it the sound is reduced. Just a thought. Paul 18046

[Kevin G.]

Re: 70-72 cloth bag contents

Mike,

Sorry, I can't help on the tube but
did you happen to count the shims and washers? Were there the same amounts of shims and washers in each bag, if so how many of each?

Thanks,

Kevin

[Edward J.]

Re: 70-72 cloth bag contents

Mike, I found the same piece of one inch hose in my storage compatment next to my jack when cleaning out the compartment area , I don't have the shims or bag, but the hose I keep. not knowing what is for. its as you discribe angle cut w/ribs.

[Sal C.]

Re: 70-72 cloth bag contents

Kevin,

You should have 4 rectangular spacers for under the base of the seat back release and 8 round spacers for under the bumper stops.

[Sal C.]

Re: 70-72 cloth bag contents

I can hear everybody cutting wiper hose as we speak!

[Dave S.]

Re: 70-72 cloth bag contents

I can hear everybody cutting wiper hose as we speak!

Sal,
Cutting wiper hose will be a huge waste of time. We all know what was in the shim bags and it wasn't wiper hose.

[Patrick H.]

Re: 70-72 cloth bag contents

I'll be looking for the wiper hose in those bags when I judge at Bloomington next year.

Patrick

[Alan S.]

Re: 70-72 cloth bag contents

Hi,
I think it's interesting that there's just one piece of tubing. If it was to be used with the seat shims in some way I imagine there'd be two, one per seat or four, one per shim set. So?
Regards,
Alan

[Reba W.]

Re: 70-72 cloth bag contents

Cannot imagine what this is, but keep us informed. I have never seen such in judging, and in many cases don't even see the shims and washers.

Sal, you or someone should tell Paragon what constitutes a set. They are selling reproduction sets of 4 and 4.

BTW--It is amazing how many of these are presented for judging still in the divided plastic bag from Paragon. (Sw one like that this weekend.) Some folks even leave the Paragon label and part number on.

[Jack H.]

Re: 70-72 cloth bag contents

That's not uncommon (leaving vendor packaging intact)... We see it frequently in other areas of judging (Mech, Chassis, Etc.) where this/that part is 'wearing' its GM service label!

But, the owners come to understand after the first deduction(s) on configuration. If more would join and get active at the Chapter level and have their cars judged there before moving on to Regional meets, the incidence rate would decrease...