68-69 Window Storage Tray Hinge Application

[Chris L.]

I have an early 1969 which did not have a window storage tray when I acquired it.

The window tray I purchased has the spring loaded hinges which I understood were for 1968-69 years. However, after installing it, the tray hinge rotates upward enough that it hits the top of the interior so that the leading edge of the tray overshoots the tray clip by probably 1".

I am wondering is the placement of the screw holes for the hinges in production changed sometime which precludes the "spring hinge" window trays from working on some 1969 models.

Any experience and feedback would be appreciated.

Chris

[Terry M.]

[Chris L.]

Re: 68-69 Window Storage Tray Hinge Application

Terry,

Thanks for the feedback. I am aware the 70 model storage trays switched from fiberboard to fiberglass and were shaped differently. I guess a better question I should be asking on my 69 is did they use the "springed" hinges on all the 68-69 model years, or was there perhaps a mid year change in 69 to the NON spring type hinge type used on 1970 on?

Chris

[Terry M.]

Re: 68-69 Window Storage Tray Hinge Application

Terry,

Thanks for the feedback. I am aware the 70 model storage trays switched from fiberboard to fiberglass and were shaped differently. I guess a better question I should be asking on my 69 is did they use the "springed" hinges on all the 68-69 model years, or was there perhaps a mid year change in 69 to the NON spring type hinge type used on 1970 on?

Chris

Chris

The fiberglass style came into production mid to late 1970. My early 1970 has a fiberboard tray and no spring hinges. I believe there were changes in the way in which the back window was retained in the tray even during the fiberboard run. Mine has a clip toward the rear of the car to retain the top of the window, and two rotating retainers to catch the "teeth" that are the bottom of the window. The tray is formed with a depression to hold the window.

I am not able to describe in detail what the configuration of your tray should be, but if your 1969 is a late production the chances of our trays being the same are good. Good enough to hang you hat on??? We really need a 1969 owner with a serial number or build date close to yours who believes the interior, or at least their storage tray, is reasonably original.

[Jeffrey S.]

Re: 68-69 Window Storage Tray Hinge Application

My early '69 (Oct. '68 VIN 5854) has the original tray. It does not have spring hinges on the tray but has spring hinges on the rear compartment doors.
Jeff

[Chris L.]

Re: 68-69 Window Storage Tray Hinge Application

Thanks, I am new to reading VIN, but if it is the last 4 digits, my car would be 3264 with a retail purchase date by the dealer of 10-8-68. I am guessing the cut off for the tray spring type hinges must have been before mine too.

[Terry M.]

Re: 68-69 Window Storage Tray Hinge Application

Jeff's car is fairly close to yours. Much closer than mine is. For early C3s we usually date the cars for judging purposes by the date on the trim tag. That is the stainless steel tag just above the upper hinge on the driver's door opening. Right after the word CHEVROLET at the top of that tag will be a letter and two numbers. The letter is the month of production. A= August 1968, B= September 1968, C = October 1968 and so on. Jeff's car is dated C 25 (Friday, October 25). Chris, yours will be either B 30 (Monday September 30) or C01 (Tuesday October 1). While this is not the date the car left St Louis, it is close enough for government work, as the expression goes.

You and Jeff may wish to compare notes on the details of the rear window storage tray, unless and until someone with a coupe with a serial number/build date closer to you speaks up.

[Chris L.]

Re: 68-69 Window Storage Tray Hinge Application

Terry, Thanks, I just checked and my trim tag is stamped "C01" so a 10/1/68. Thanks for the info. This is a special car as my dad purchased it new and handed it on to me 2 years ago and am honored to carry it on in the family.

[Terry M.]

Re: 68-69 Window Storage Tray Hinge Application

Terry, Thanks, I just checked and my trim tag is stamped "C01" so a 10/1/68. Thanks for the info. This is a special car as my dad purchased it new and handed it on to me 2 years ago and am honored to carry it on in the family.

A wonderful story Chris. Take good care of it.

[Mark F.]

Re: 68-69 Window Storage Tray Hinge Application

I know you are talking about early 69's, but I have a late 68 build (August 68) and the hinges have the springs. Just some more info to digest.

Mark

[Chris L.]

Re: 68-69 Window Storage Tray Hinge Application

Thanks Mark. I am thinking that the location of the hinge screws must have changed when they changed the storage tray hinge type. As the spring hinge type has a longer swing which causes the tray to hit the top of the interior deck before being able to be latched. I thought I may have not installed it correctly, but there is really only one option. Thanks.

[Terry M.]

Re: 68-69 Window Storage Tray Hinge Application

Thanks Mark. I am thinking that the location of the hinge screws must have changed when they changed the storage tray hinge type. As the spring hinge type has a longer swing which causes the tray to hit the top of the interior deck before being able to be latched. I thought I may have not installed it correctly, but there is really only one option. Thanks.

Chris, do you have a page from the 1969 AIM? I could look up the equivalent page from 1968 and send it to you. Might take me a week or two. The only scanner I have access to is at work and I am doing 2 days a week on alternate weeks so far. I am working this week, but today is my last day.

[Chris L.]

Re: 68-69 Window Storage Tray Hinge Application

Thanks Terry. I looked it up last night in the 1969 AIM last night. It only shows a non spring hinged version of the window tray being used. So, not sure if or when the 68 model spring hinged window tray was decommissioned, but definitely looks like it is not designed for the 69 model I have.

[Terry M.]

Re: 68-69 Window Storage Tray Hinge Application

It is wise not to rely on the illustrations in the AIM for details such as this. The revision block is more accurate in showing part number change points. Very often the part number changed, with an associated configuration change to the part, but the drawing remained constant.

A good example of that are the radiator hose clamps. In late 1969 they changed to the worm or aircraft type. Earlier they were tower clamp style. Even though the part number changed and the revision block shows that part number change and the date it was made in the AIM, the drawing never changed. In fact the 1970 AIM still shows the tower clamp in the drawing although the part number had been changed in the 1969 AIM. To the assembly line personnel the part number change was all that mattered; the illustration meant little.

[Jim T.]

Re: 68-69 Window Storage Tray Hinge Application

Chris

The fiberglass style came into production mid to late 1970. My early 1970 has a fiberboard tray and no spring hinges. I believe there were changes in the way in which the back window was retained in the tray even during the fiberboard run. Mine has a clip toward the rear of the car to retain the top of the window, and two rotating retainers to catch the "teeth" that are the bottom of the window. The tray is formed with a depression to hold the window.

I am not able to describe in detail what the configuration of your tray should be, but if your 1969 is a late production the chances of our trays being the same are good. Good enough to hang you hat on??? We really need a 1969 owner with a serial number or build date close to yours who believes the interior, or at least their storage tray, is reasonably original.

Terry my July built original owner 1970 coupe did not come with a fiberglass style tray. It has the original fiberboard tray. Has no spring hinges.