Correct Finish for Tire Jack?

[Roger D.]

I am restoring the jack for my '72 350/200. My copy of the '70-72 Technical Inf. manual & Judging Guide does not state what the correct finish is for this item. Can someone let me know the correct finish, e.g., flat/semi gloss/other black?

Thanks in advance!!!

[Joe L.]

Re: Correct Finish for Tire Jack?

I am restoring the jack for my '72 350/200. My copy of the '70-72 Technical Inf. manual & Judging Guide does not state what the correct finish is for this item. Can someone let me know the correct finish, e.g., flat/semi gloss/other black?

Thanks in advance!!!

Roger-----


Semi-gloss black.

[Terry M.]

Re: Correct Finish for Tire Jack?

There is actually two different shades of black on the jack from my 1970. The unthreaded part of the screw shaft is a slightly different shade than the body of the jack.

[Harmon C.]

Re: Correct Finish for Tire Jack?

I think their may be some unpainted parts. My 73 jack is not all black so you may need more information.

[Chuck S.]

Re: Correct Finish for Tire Jack?

This additional detail has been debated before without resolution to my knowledge. This could be the reason the TIM&JG doesn't give more detail, but typically the judging guides don't give a lot of minute detail.

Some have said that the jack was dip painted after assembly and the screw threads only appear to be natural because the paint has dissolved from the assembly grease and use. BUT...My observations are the thrust bearing is also natural (or zinc plated?)...this would say that the components were first painted and then assembled.

Terry's comments about two different gloss levels appear to confirm, at least in his case (early 70) and mine (very late 70), that the jack was assembled AFTER separate dip painting of the scissors and the screw. I suppose some members could have jacks with painted screw threads...variation from the standard way of doing things, such as full dipping of screw shafts, just "happens" during manufacturing. If variation from the norm happens only rarely, it's called an "anomaly"...if it happens more often, it's called "confusing" and raises heck with the TIM&JG editorial team.

As I recall, there is an "upset" pressed into the screw shaft to prevent disassembly during use...if the area of the upset was dip painted, deformation of the screw shaft with a press would have flaked most of the paint off locally.

[Harmon C.]

Re: Correct Finish for Tire Jack?

I agree with Chuck that I think the bearing was unpainted on lots of jacks.

[Roger D.]

Re: Correct Finish for Tire Jack?

Thanks everyone. Mine was somewhat rusty especially at the base and looked like it had never been out of the storage compartment. I removed all the paint before I realized I had not note if it was flat or semi gloss. I know that the threads were not painted but pretty sure that the thrust bearing (I assume you mean the part directly behind the drive nut) was painted also.

[Terry M.]

Re: Correct Finish for Tire Jack?

Good memory Chuck -- I do vaguely recall the earlier discussion.

FWIW My best recollection is that the thrust bearing on mine is unpainted.

Weren't we going to have a jack tech session at one of the meets? Can we do that this summer? Are most of us going to St. Charles? Chuck? Joe?

[Joe L.]

Re: Correct Finish for Tire Jack?

Good memory Chuck -- I do vaguely recall the earlier discussion.

FWIW My best recollection is that the thrust bearing on mine is unpainted.

Weren't we going to have a jack tech session at one of the meets? Can we do that this summer? Are most of us going to St. Charles? Chuck? Joe?

Terry-----


I'm sorry I'll not be there. I think I'm going to be taking a sort of "sabbatical" from Corvette shows/events this year. I might go to one, but that's about it.

[Terry M.]

Re: Correct Finish for Tire Jack?

The more I think about the more I am remembering dragging the jack to some meet years ago. Oh well.

We will miss you Joe -- I deliberately didn't say which St. Charles to leave the possibilities open.

[Jim T.]

Re: Correct Finish for Tire Jack?

My 70's jack came in my July built car. Stamped on the jack is "0 E". The screw has paint down to the threads, the threads are coated with grease. I greased the threads because of frequent use of the jack.
The thrust bearing is not painted.
My 70's jack has not been cleaned since new. The cradle and the base appear to have more sheen to the black paint than the scissor pieces. The craddle and base are of a smoother metal finish, so this may make the paint appear different.
The cradle has a big "A" stamping on one end.

[Roger D.]

Re: Correct Finish for Tire Jack?

I forgot my brother had one. He showed me the one from his '69 coupe this afternoon. He's another new 1st time C3 owner and we pulled his out of the compartment and looked. Every part of his is the same semi-gloss black except for the screw threads, i.e., the thrust bearing is also painted. Oh well looks like some more "variation" like Chuck was mentioning.

[Chuck S.]

Re: Correct Finish for Tire Jack?

Good memory Chuck -- I do vaguely recall the earlier discussion.

FWIW My best recollection is that the thrust bearing on mine is unpainted.

Weren't we going to have a jack tech session at one of the meets? Can we do that this summer? Are most of us going to St. Charles? Chuck? Joe?

Unfortunately, Terry, I won't be at St Charles. No matter...I pretty well exhausted my knowledge above. Our summer travel will be limited to a trip to the Hilton Head, SC area to see my wife's new grandson...it's her first grandbaby, not counting mine.

Jim, my July 70 car got a jack dated "0 G", but my build date was G30. As for the gloss appearing different on the base and cradle, check the assembly rivets...unless they are natural, it would be nearly impossible to peen those rivets without severely distressing the paint coating. I suspect it is the metal surface texture that makes the gloss appear different...the manufacturer would want to minimize the paint steps.

[Robert C.]

Re: Correct Finish for Tire Jack?

Thanks everyone. Mine was somewhat rusty especially at the base and looked like it had never been out of the storage compartment. I removed all the paint before I realized I had not note if it was flat or semi gloss. I know that the threads were not painted but pretty sure that the thrust bearing (I assume you mean the part directly behind the drive nut) was painted also.

Roger, What about the date stamp?

[Roger D.]

Re: Correct Finish for Tire Jack?

Bob:

Trim tag on car is B09 (so that is September 9th?) Also my Jack has a 1J (That's also September as didn't they skip the letter "i"?). Also has the letter "A" stamped into it.

Roger