61 jack and trunk

[Gordon W.]

I have had my 61 less than 2 weeks so I'm still learning and have a LOT more to learn about this car and C1s in general.

Here is a picture of my jack handle. It's old and crusty looking enough to make me believe it's original and it just looks like it was painted black by a previous owner with a brush and can. But I'm guessing the handle is bent and that it should have a true 90* bend in it to conform to the impression in the trunk?

IMG_20120712_141059.jpg


Next, the jack itself has some touched of red paint on it. That's not normal, is it? I'm not sure if someone painted it red earlier in its life or if it is overspray. Also, I could find no stampings or any #s on the jack at all.

IMG_20120712_140426.jpg

This is what the tip of the jack handle looks like. I experimented with trying to expand the scissors jack and I can't see lifting a car with this thing. Is the end of this considerably worn?

IMG_20120712_140356.jpg


Here is the trunk mat. I remember reading something about the mat in the JG but my copy and all my manuals are locked up in a trailer at the moment while our garage floor is being refinished. (I took these pictures at my dad's house - that's his 68 Z/28). The trunk mat looks aged. Can it be identified as original from these 2 pictures?

trunkmat.jpg

[Larry C.]

Re: 61 jack and trunk

Gordon,

The jack does not appear to be correct. An original 1961 jack, same for 1956 - 1961, would have a cast iron base with "SJ4653" cast into the bottom side of base. Your jackl handle is slightly bent and should conform to the shape molded into the trunk. The end of the jack handle does not appear correct, maybe because the jack is not correct. The floor mat appears correct although I did not confirm the part # molded into the mat.

Larry

[John F.]

Re: 61 jack and trunk

The mat with embossed part number is a replacement. The originals had the part number stamped in ink. None of your jack parts look correct to me. Might be from a passenger car or pickup.

[Jeff C.]

Re: 61 jack and trunk

Gordon,
The judging manual for 1961 will answer many of your questions. Not trying to discourage you from asking questions on the TBD.
Jeff

[Gordon W.]

Re: 61 jack and trunk

Thanks guys. Yes, I have the judging manual but it's locked in storage for at least the next 3 days while my garage is being refinished.

Disappointed that the jack is not correct, but it is what it is. Not a big deal, it gives me a new part to hunt.

[David L.]

Re: 61 jack and trunk

Gordon,

Several years ago I had a few 61-62 Corvette lug wrenches. As I remember they had a special "hooked" end that made it easier to remove hub caps. I still have about 80 to 90 GM lug wrenches (for 3/4" hex lug nuts) from junk yards and swap meets made by various vendors that I have collected over the past 30 years. Many of my lug wrenches have a forged "O" (for Otterburn) on the lug head. The Otterburn Company is still in business as my original 98 S10 lug wrench has a forged "O" on the lug head but the interior angle is about 90 degrees. I do not have any more 61-62 Corvette lug wrenches but I might have a lug wrench that may fit better in the specially molded channel in your car. I think that the correct dimensions for the 61-62 Corvette lug wrench might be as follows but I might be wrong:

short part about 4"
long part about 17 5/8"
diagonal about 19 1/2" (direct measurement, end to end)
interior angle about 112 degrees

Maybe other owners with original 61-62 Corvette lug wrenches can comment on the measurements. You can always buy a repro if you can live with a fake part.

I have never seen a lug wrench like yours with a curve instead of a angle.

Dave

[Henry F.]

Re: 61 jack and trunk

You need a fat wallet before you start looking for a real jack!

[Mike E.]

Re: 61 jack and trunk

Gordon,
All three components you have are incorrect replacements, unfortunately.
Mike

[David L.]

Re: 61 jack and trunk

Gordon.

You might find the link below of interest

Dave

https://www.forums.ncrs.org/showthre...826#post590826

[Gordon W.]

Re: 61 jack and trunk

Hmm, maybe that's why I see some red on this jack. Maybe it was also a Western Auto jack at some point.

I didn't realize you had to open the jack up to see the stamp, I was looking on the bottom. I'll have to expand it and see if I might get lucky.

$1,000 for a jack is pricey no doubt but doesn't shock me since I can believe many of them were left on roadsides over the years.

[David L.]

Re: 61 jack and trunk

Gordon,

The NOS red "Western Auto" jack that I bought at a swap meet many years ago had a cast iron base with the casting number "SJ4653" and was identical to the 53-61 Corvette jacks. During that time period I assume Western Auto bought their jacks from the same vendor that made the 53-61 Corvette jacks but in later years the jack vendor made the base out of stamped steel to cut costs. Every time I see a jack like yours at a swap meet I think that I have found a "gold nugget" until I look at the base.

Dave

[Christopher R.]

Re: 61 jack and trunk

A genuine '61 jack will cost you a fortune. There is a jack made by Norco that costs about $25, and is very similar appearing to the '61 jack. It is red, and can be found at http://www.jackxchange.com/products/82002C.cfm. That's what i have in my '62, and it works great. Fits in the same space as the original. While it'll never be mistaken on the judging field for an original, if you paint it black, it'll look close. I'll bet that's what you have.

That Norco jack comes with its own handle. But it'll also accept the stock Chevrolet '62 handle that is currently reproduced. The correct '62 handle looks like the one you pictured. Yes, it should be bent to fit in the cutout. The end of your handle looks like it was cut up to fit the jack. Doesn't look good. A good looking one that'll fit the cutout and work with your jack is reproduced and sold by all the usual Corvette parts vendors. Not expensive.

Your tire iron/lug wrench is wrong. They are hard to find. I have about 3 incorrect ones. The correct one ought to pretty much fill the cutout; have a curved tang at the end; and, have an "O" embossed on the socket end. Search the archives for dimensions. There's a short one (with the "O" and the tang) which is obviously wrong. The right one almost fills the cutout.

I'd recommend you keep the jack; buy a repro '62 handle to fit; and, search the swap meets for a tire iron. (If you two correct tire irons, please buy them both and email me.)

[David L.]

Re: 61 jack and trunk

Gordon,

Enclosed is a photo of my collection of 86 lug wrenches. I collected all these lug wrenches while searching for the correct lug wrench for my 70 Camaro SS project. The most that I ever paid for one was $1. There might be one that might fit better in the channel in your trunk. If interested, send me a PM with the dimensions and measured angle that you need. I sold all my 61-62 Corvette/62-63 Chevrolet lug wrenches (GM # 3788336) with the special hooked end several years ago.

Dave

[Gordon W.]

Re: 61 jack and trunk

Oh my gosh! What a collection!

I will measure and get back to you, Dave. Thank you. My car is currently at my father's house so it will be late tomorrow before I can measure.

[David L.]

Re: 61 jack and trunk

Gordon,

At lunch time today I measured very carefully and drew a "quick and dirty" full scale drawing w/AutoCad of one of my lug wrenches (swap meet purchase) that might fit in the channel in your 61 Corvette trunk.
If you can't read the dimensions they are as follows:

4 1/8", 17 5/8", 116 degree angle, R = 1" and R = 1 9/16", 19 3/4" diagonal, 9/16" dia., no markings on lug head (3/4" hex) 1 1/8" O.D.
Using a little high school math and assuming the 4 1/8", 17 5/8", and 116 degree angle dimensions the diagonal calculates as 19.78", close enough to 19 3/4".

I overlaid the lug wrench on top of my drawing and it matched up perfectly. I wonder if this lug wrench is correct for 1955-1960 Corvettes (GM # 3710686). Noland Adam's book (pages 90 & 152) describes the 3710686 lug wrench as 17.64", 4", and 1.12" O.D. lug head. I don't where he got this information.

Dave