C3 1968 Storage compartments

[Rich G.]

Trying to learn about '68's. My friend has a very original 68 coupe and the jack storage is in the passenger side rear compartment. It has a spring hold down, so it looks like it's meant to be there. The 68-69 TM&JG says the jack is stowed under the rear window storage tray. Also the JG says there is a "removeable fiberboard tray" in the passenger side compartment, which I don't see. Obviously, this could have disapeared over the years, but I am curious about the jack placement. This car was delivered in June of 1968.

Any comments?

Thanks,
Rich Giannotti

[Rich G.]

JG paragraph out of sequence

I think I understand now. In the 68 JG page 18, there is a paragraph titled "Jack and Storage Area". It is following the paragraph about the rear window storage tray. It says "Under the tray...." leading me to think it meant under the rear window tray. This paragraph belongs on page 16 right above the one titled "Center Storage Compartment". There it means "under the tray..." that is in the passenger side storage. Did I answer my own question?

Rich Giannotti

[Joe L.]

Re: C3 1968 Storage compartments

Rich----

The 1968 (and later, for that matter) jack was stored in the passenger side rear compartment bottom. The jack was secured by a spring and "double hook" fastner which attached to "loop" retainers rivetted to the bottom of the jack compartment.

Above the jack was a "slip in" storage compartment. Originals were made of molded fiberboard and had the typical GM "glove box" type black "felt-like" sprayed-on surface coating.

Later in C3 PRODUCTION, the storage compartment became a molded "pressed-wood" type construction with the same sprayed-on liner material. Even later, the storage compartment became plastic with the sprayed on liner. Each successive PRODUCTION version became the SERVICE part for earlier models.

The 68-69 slip-in storage compartment, GM #3918669, was unique in that it was a bit deeper than later "editions". If the jack was not PERFECTLY positioned (and, sometimes, even if it was), the slip-in compartment would bottom out on the jack and not seat correctly on the compartment frame lip. The 70-73 compartment, GM #3963114, was also made of fiberboard, but was a bit shallower to avoid the 68-69 problem. The 74-75 compartment, GM #333578, was the "pressed wood" type with the same general configuration as the earlier. For 76-early 79, the compartment was the plastic version I described of GM #362962.

[Rich G.]

Re: C3 1968 Storage compartments

Thanks Joe! I really appreciate all of your in-depth answers.

Rich Giannotti

[Kevin Whiteley]

Re: C3 1968 Storage compartments

Joe -- after you posted your detailed explanation of the 68 storage tray, I examined mine. Here are my results. It measures approx. 12 5/8" x 10 1/4" (including lip) and is approx. 5" deep. On the bottom is, what appears to be an inked or silk-screened number. It reads "33 1376". There is a space between the 2nd and 3rd digit, and the "1" is slightly askew. This number isn't in your post. What do I have?

[Kevin Whiteley]

Re: C3 1968 Storage compartments

Joe, I forgot to add this to my previous post. I looked up the 68 tray p/n in my AIM (from Mid America) and am not sure if my book is incorrect. I show that 3918669 is the tray "seal", while the actual tray is titled "cover" and is part number 3936303.

[Joe L.]

Re: C3 1968 Storage compartments

Kevin-----

Yes, you're correct. I incorrectly listed the 68-69 compartment as 3918669. That is the p/n for the seal. GM #3936303 is the p/n for the compartment ("cover").

[Reba Whittington]

Re: C3 1968 Storage compartments

Kevin, what you have is a storage tray from a 1976. The numbers translate to March 13, 1976. We think the number that is slightly separate from the rest is an identifying code--probably the shift as we have never seen one higher than 3.
This number sometimes follows the year. Original trays for 1968 were 6 1/2 inches deep.

[Reba Whittington]

Re: JG paragraph out of sequence

You are correct, Rich, the paragraph is misplaced. The JG is arranged to follow the judging sheet sequence. But we have placed the storage tray and jack in the same paragraph when they appear seven items apart on the judging sheet. The description of the tray should be on p. 16.

Thanks for calling this to our attention. We will correct it in the next edition of the 1968-69 JG. In the meantime, all of you using this guide, please note the error in your copy.

I have done enough proofreading to know that it never ends and one never gets all the errors.

[Mike M.]

Re: JG paragraph out of sequence

right on regarding the proofreading and thanks for your major contributions to early shark JG. mike

[Joe L.]

Re: C3 1968 Storage compartments

Kevin----

I agree with Reba. Out of curiosity, what material is this compartment ("cover") that you have made of?

[Kevin Whiteley]

Re: C3 1968 Storage compartments

Reba, Thanks for the decode. Just for clarity, here's how I translate your info on the number "33 1376". The first digit (3) is the shift code. The second digit (3) is March. The third and fourth (13) stand for the 13th day and "76" obviously is the year. I did this because you mention that the one number that is slightly separate may be the shift. In this case, are you referring to the "1" that I described as askew from the rest, or something else. Hope this question is clear.

Joe, the tray is DEFINITELY not plastic. I don't know if I could tell the difference between pressed-wood or fiberboard. Could you explain? If I had to speculate, I would say the tray (or as GM calls it, the cover) is made of fiberboard.

[Joe L.]

Re: C3 1968 Storage compartments

Kevin-----

Fiberboard construction is usually a light tan color with a more-or-less monolithic and even surface color. The "pressed wood" construction that I spoke of is also a tan color, but the surface looks almost like particle board.

[Kevin Whiteley]

Re: C3 1968 Storage compartments

Joe, Sorry to keep on this issue. I examined the tray again. It has the sprayed on felt-type material on the "inside". The "outside" is painted black, but some area's are worn away or scratched. In those areas, it resembles fiberboard. I have seen particle board plywood, and it doesn't match that. However, it seems stiffer than some fiberboard molding I have installed in the house.

There are distinct layers to it which are easily seen while viewing the edge (at the lip).

If you think it's a unique piece, I could send it to you for examination. The question: Why would a 1976 tray be made of 1968 material as you indicated in your first post?

Could it be a reproduction? If this isn't the appropriate forum for an in depth discussion, please contact me off board.

Thanks again.

[Joe L.]

Re: C3 1968 Storage compartments

Kevin-----

I don't think that it's a reproduction; it sounds like it's original.

It may be that these compartments were made of more different materials than we thought. What you have is definitely not a 68-69 unit as the depth of yours rules that out. It may be the 70-73 unit (in which case we're wrong about the date coding) or it may be the 74-76 unit (in which case we may be wrong about all of these being made of the "pressed wood" type material).

The 68-69 compartments were not fully painted black on the outside---just the top 1-2" was painted black. The remainder was natural. I don't know about the 70-73 units.

The 74-76 unit that I have seen was painted about the same as the 68-69 and the remainder of the outside surface was natural and "pressed wood" appearing.

You mentioned that your outside was fully painted. However, in your original post you mentioned that there was an inked or silk-screened number sequence on the bottom. The original 68-69 units that I have seen (and, I expect later units) do have this type of printing and it's black in color against the tan background. If your cover is painted entirely black, is this number sequence printed in some other color?

I'd be interested in hearing from some 70-76 owners with what they believe to be original jack storage compartment slip-in covers. These are easy to remove and inspect.