I have searched the Archives for a photo of a 1966 Corvette Spare tire Lock. Having read that it was unique to one year (1966), can someone post a photo of this Lock? Thank you in advance, Regards, Nick
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Re: 1966 Spare Tire Lock Photo request
Nick:
Here is a link to Gary Beaupre's website.
He has helped me a number of times with spare tire locks.
Best comparison for spare tire locks I have seen yet.
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Re: 1966 Spare Tire Lock Photo request
The attached photo shows you what a correct '66 spare tire lock looks like. Things to note are the 3/8" diameter weep hole (larger than previous years); not painted; small stainless steel bezel (smaller than later years) with the lock release pin located just at the bezel periphery, half-in, half-out.
Gary
66 spare tire lock 800x600.jpgComment
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Re: 1966 Spare Tire Lock Photo request
Gary,
I did some research on the spare tire locks back in the 1980's as shown in the top photo below but that was about 30 years ago. I have always thought that the 65 and 66 spare tire locks were the same. The lock pictured below has a 11/32" hole on the top and a 5/16" hole on the side which I believe is correct for a 65 or 66 - but maybe not.
Dave
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Re: 1966 Spare Tire Lock Photo request
David,When I was first learning about spare tire lock some years ago I thought as you did, but that turns out to be inconsistent with my observations and those of other lock savvy people based on a number of original '65s over the past 8 to 10 years. I believe part way thru the '65 model year there was a change in the AIM, but, evidently, GM inventory of the '64 lock satisfied demand for the '65 model year. So, the '66 tire lock is a one-year only item, and being unpainted, it is very difficult to find in good, non-scratched, non-dented, noon-corroded condition.GaryComment
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Re: 1966 Spare Tire Lock Photo request
David,
On the '66 tire locks I have easy access to measure, the top side hole is 0.375" and the hole on the front end, near the bottom is 0.318".
GaryComment
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Re: 1966 Spare Tire Lock Photo request
What an Education, Thank you all for taking the time to reply to my request. Regards, NickComment
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Re: 1966 Spare Tire Lock Photo request
Gary -- any comment on the shape of the tip on the part that goes into the groove on the lid bolt? ie. flat tip or cut at an angle ?
Also, were the spare tire locks on certain Corvair (station wagons ?) the same as for the Corvettes ?Comment
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Re: 1966 Spare Tire Lock Photo request
Wayne,
I think I own two or three Corvette C2-era spare tire locks where the pin that captures the head of the tire lock bolt is beveled at 45 degrees. At least one of those is an early '63 Corvette lock with the anti-rattle pad still attached. I also think that I recall seeing the same style pin in an article in a older issue of the Restorer. But based on percentages of locks I've owned, I would say the style with the beveled pin represents maybe 2% to 4% of C2-era tire locks. I do think those locks are original and legitimate Corvette tire locks, although maybe only existing during the C2-era, as I said.
Regarding Corvair locks, I think there were several styles of locks that were Corvair-only items. And I'm sure that some Corvair owners purchased Corvette tire locks as service replacements, since they are functionally interchangeable. I also have some GM tire locks that take the Grv 15 key that look to be from the 1950s or perhaps even earlier and those would also function for Corvette, but I'm guessing they predate by some years the introduction of the Corvette tire ock in 1963.
GaryComment
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