Please Help Identify this Jack

[Christopher K.]

I've done a little research but I'm still confused. The date code on the rivet leads me to believe it is a '76 jack, 23rd week. Also, according to the article by Tom Russo, '76 jacks do not show a supplier logo on the bottom as '78 jacks do.

What's confusing is it has an additional date code stamped on the frame, "2 A". Does anyone know what this refers to, and does anyone have a jack dated in a similar manner?

Thanks for the help,
Chris

[David L.]

Re: Please Help Identify this Jack

Chris,

Back on Feb. 5, 1980, when I was just a "rookie" I bought a 3958710 jack from Dobles Chevrolet in Manchester, NH, for $24.94 (list was $33.25). It was "narrow" type like your jack BUT had a date code "9C21" (March 21, 1979) stamped on the "solid block" near the hex end of the long bolt.

The "2A" stamping on your jack is similar to how they dated jacks on mid to late production 1967 Corvettes ("7D" = April 1967). I would say your "2A" jack is dated either January 1972 or January 1982. However, I believe that 1972 Corvette jacks were the "wide" type but they may have been two different vendors at that time.

The thread listed below might be helpful.

Dave

https://www.forums.ncrs.org/showthread.php?p=551823&uid=5265#poststop

[Joe R.]

Re: Please Help Identify this Jack

Sorry but that is not a Corvette Jack. Don't know what it is but it's not a Corvette animal. Any year, any time, any way!

JR

[David L.]

Re: Please Help Identify this Jack

Joe,

It may not be an ORIGINAL Corvette jack but I would say it is at least a SERVICE Corvette jack as it looks similar to the 3958710 service jack that I once owned. The jack on Ebay in the link below looks exactly like my 3958710 service jack with the date code stamped on the "solid block".

Dave

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1978-1979-1980-1981-1982-Corvette-Jack-/120769709074?pt=Vintage_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item1c1e6f8412

[Christopher K.]

Re: Please Help Identify this Jack

Thanks Dave for the info and links.

Here's the link to Tom's article that I referenced -

http://www.hunt4cleanair.net/Articles/jackdatecodes.pdf

I'm still wondering about the 2 A

Chris

[David L.]

Re: Please Help Identify this Jack

Chris,

Thanks for link to Tom Russo's article. I have never seen the article. It's nice to see the research of others. Many restorers just follow the crowd and "ASSUME" or make blunt statements without any backup data.

Dave

[Joe R.]

Re: Please Help Identify this Jack

Chris,

Thanks for link to Tom Russo's article. I have never seen the article. It's nice to see the research of others. Many restorers just follow the crowd and "ASSUME" or make blunt statements without any backup data.

Dave

Dave,

You might want to check out "The Corvette Restorer Magazine" Volume Eleven-Number Three Winter 1985.

That article on page 32 might give you more insight on mid year jacks!

The "Research" and article was based on several hundred owners of original mid year Corvettes.

JR

[David L.]

Re: Please Help Identify this Jack

JR,

I've seen the article as I have been a NCRS member since 1980. What does that article have to do with jacks for Corvettes that were made in the 1970's?

Dave

[David L.]

Re: Please Help Identify this Jack

Chris,

I just got a reply about the jack currently on Ebay shown in my post 08/31/2011 @ 4:27 PM. The date code on the "block" is "0G04" (1980, July 4th). It seems odd that the jack was made on a national holiday.

Dave

[Terry M.]

Re: Please Help Identify this Jack

JR,

I've seen the article as I have been a NCRS member since 1980. What does that article have to do with jacks for Corvettes that were made in the 1970's?

Dave

If that article it the one I think it is -- authored by John Amgwert -- the photo of a jack dated 9 M is very familiar. It is the jack from my January 29th 1970. I can even tell you when and where the photo was taken. So there is a connection at least to the early 1970s.

I can also tell you that along about 1973 or so the font of the stamped date code changed to larger than is shown in that picture. Location stayed the same, just the size changed. Most importantly the manufacturer remained AUSCO as evidenced by the A stamped on the top plate.

Following that there were other changes to the location and size of the date code, and I am not sure that there was not another supplier mixed in to confuse things more. I will, however, leave details of the newer than 1972 jacks to others with a greater interest and access to those Corvettes.

[Christopher K.]

Re: Please Help Identify this Jack

Dave,

I agree, that seems very strange... maybe it's really a C.

It has a white label as it should, can't tell if the lettering is blue

Chris

[Tom R.]

Re: Please Help Identify this Jack

I can also tell you that along about 1973 or so the font of the stamped date code changed to larger than is shown in that picture. Location stayed the same, just the size changed. Most importantly the manufacturer remained AUSCO as evidenced by the A stamped on the top plate.

Following that there were other changes to the location and size of the date code, and I am not sure that there was not another supplier mixed in to confuse things more. I will, however, leave details of the newer than 1972 jacks to others with a greater interest and access to those Corvettes.

Stant Manufacturing Productions (SMP) was a supplier for late model C3 jacks and will have an SMP stamped in the metal on the bottom side. The logo SMP will be centered. Having said that, I can't sure for sure that all 76-77 jacks had the smp but by 78, they were all stamped with smp.

As stated above, during this period the date code was stamped onto the rivet as shown in the image above and typically reconcile with a trim date code and other assembly date codes. So Pace Car VIN 2324 with H05 has a jack date code of 812 while VIN 2152 carried a jack date code of 810.

[Terry W.]

Re: Please Help Identify this Jack

I've done a little research but I'm still confused. The date code on the rivet leads me to believe it is a '76 jack, 23rd week. Also, according to the article by Tom Russo, '76 jacks do not show a supplier logo on the bottom as '78 jacks do.

What's confusing is it has an additional date code stamped on the frame, "2 A". Does anyone know what this refers to, and does anyone have a jack dated in a similar manner?

Thanks for the help,
Chris

this thread shows date codes on a 67 jack ,as shown on your jack

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c1-and-c2-corvettes/2900937-need-info-on-66-jack-and-handle.html

[David L.]

Re: Please Help Identify this Jack

Stant Manufacturing Productions (SMP) was a supplier for late model C3 jacks and will have an SMP stamped in the metal on the bottom side. The logo SMP will be centered. Having said that, I can't sure for sure that all 76-77 jacks had the smp but by 78, they were all stamped with smp.

Tom,
Over the past 20+ years I have collected about 50 or more post type bumper jacks from the various Chevrolet & GM models. Many of the mid to late 1970's Camaro and Firebird jacks are stamped "SMP". I guess the Stant company made more then just gas caps and radiator caps. BTW, the Walker Manufacturing Company (mufflers) also made post type bumper jacks for the 69 and 70 Camaros that were made in Van Nuys, CA. The 67-73 Camaros made in Norwood were issued jacks made by the Universal Tool Co. ("UN" stamping).
Dave

[Christopher K.]

Re: Please Help Identify this Jack

Thanks to everyone for the various informative answers.

The date on the rivet and the narrow style fit the profile for a '76 jack, but the date on the frame follows the '67 through '75 dating method.

Perhaps it was a transition period between '75 and '76 dating procedures. But then the "2 A" would represent Jan '72 (wide style) or Jan '82 (dates were stamped on crossmember).

Then again, maybe it's a service replacement.....

Chris