Stupid Question?

[Andice]

Perhaps this subject has been discussed in the past. Or perhaps I am just plain stupid..... But what are the two short, flexible, approx 1 1/2 dia. "tubes" that exit the cab of my '64 SWB Fenderside and head towards the rear of the cab just below the fuel tank?

[markeb01]

I'm not familiar with what you are describing. Can you post a photo?

[Greg63]

His and hers p*ss'er tubes?

[aerotruk63]

Saw something similar on a camper conversion with dual saddle tanks hanging off the frame. Used the regular filler neck but diverted the fuel to each tank. There was no tank in the cab.

[Andice]

Here are two images of the flexible tubes exiting the bottom of my fenderside cab just below each end of the fuel tank. Any ideas about what these tubes are for?

[aerotruk63]

Are they flush with the floor inside of the cab or do they go up higher than the floor? Do they have a markings, like something was attached to them inside the cab?

[markeb01]

They certainly have the appearance of being flexible exhaust tubing, but can't imagine the intended purpose unless it was some type of owner designed drain. Doesn't look like the type of tubing that would be used to carry fuel to a remote tank. Judging by the design of the clamp and condition of the tubes they have been on there a long time. It will be interesting to see if you have the only truck on the planet with these tubes, or if they are left over from some accessory or factory option.

[aerotruk63]

They had a ice chest in the box of the truck. #1 tube was attached to the output of a fan that was plumbed in the ice. The #2 hose returned the warmed up air from the #1 hose, thus cooling the cab. Somewhat like how a Thermador worked but on steroids. Unlike the Cool Pack that hung from the dash, referred to as Crotch Air, the system was known as Butt Air. GM Accessories part # 3866676. The icebox was color coded to the main body color of the truck. Coleman was the supplier of the ice chests.

Conspiracy Theory and Urban Legend!

[aerotruk63]

Dual exhaust ran down the outside of the frame. Two boxed in sections surrounded the exhaust tubes with a perforated inlet. The tubes in the pictures were connected to the outlet of the boxes that allowed the warmed air to supplement the standard heater?

Theory II
Come on, this is turning into a contest!

[blackmopar]

Aerotruk, I challenge your theories on this particular truck, although Ive heard many a tale about Butt Air!
I believe if Andice does a Vin/Title search he will find his truck was at some point owned by a Mr. Marin or a Mr. Chong. These flex tubes were attached to a 'burn box' that sat atop the exhaust Y pipe. Theres a secret compartment in the bed floor, by where you could fill it with local greenery and hotbox on the go - Hey, man you gonna eat that hot dog?

[aerotruk63]

Lmao!

[aerotruk63]

The square nuts on both sides of the support are for the rear seat tracks, so the tubing enters the cab between the seat at the back rest just in front of the fuel tank and the door.

[Andice]

These tubes are not flush with the cab floor. There is an approx 1/4 inch lip.

[aerotruk63]

Has a full bench seat?

[Andice]

Original full bench seat with the original two-toned vinyl.

[aerotruk63]

The guys at the autoparts store all agree, that tubing would not be good for a liquid. So the thought was there was a camper unit in the box and they used the tubing as conduit for air conditioning! Heating anything would have been easier with rubber hose and t's. Is the cab original to the frame?

[Malibob]

Take a pic from inside the cab if you can. This "stupid" question sure has gotten a lot of interest, maybe not so stupid after all.

[aerotruk63]

All the years I've been looking at trucks, different sizes and models, never seen this before! This is a great puzzle. Shall we assume this is a southern truck?

[lakeroadster]

Originally Posted by Greg63

His and hers p*ss'er tubes?

Originally Posted by blackmopar

Aerotruk, I challenge your theories on this particular truck, although Ive heard many a tale about Butt Air!
I believe if Andice does a Vin/Title search he will find his truck was at some point owned by a Mr. Marin or a Mr. Chong. These flex tubes were attached to a 'burn box' that sat atop the exhaust Y pipe. Theres a secret compartment in the bed floor, by where you could fill it with local greenery and hotbox on the go - Hey, man you gonna eat that hot dog?

How about a place to discard that "stash" (brewski's or wacky weed or ??) as you are being pulled over by the police.

All silliness aside, perhaps it was merely a way to get air flow to circulate through the dash / kick panel vents and then out through the vent tubes? The working man's Astro Ventilation?

[Malibob]

Originally Posted by lakeroadster

How about a place to discard that "stash" (brewski's or wacky weed or ??) as you are being pulled over by the police.

All silliness aside, perhaps it was merely a way to get air flow to circulate through the dash / kick panel vents and then out through the vent tubes? The working man's Astro Ventilation?

Von Dutch did that very same thing in one of his custom trucks. Maybe you got yourself a Von Dutch special there.

[aerotruk63]

Quote from Barracuda Magazine

"In front of the passenger's seat is one of the Kenford's more intriguing features -- a brass-topped tube with "Tube Le Dump" engraved on it. This tube is a beer can ejector designed by Dutch for a '66 Olds Toronado he used to drive. The tube leads to the road below, so Von Dutch could get rid of empties without having to toss them out the window while driving."

http://www.barracudamagazine.com/vondutch.htm

[Malibob]

Yeah that is the one! Forgot the names

[Andice]

I can take a shot of the tubes from inside the cab but it may be awhile because my focus is now on assembling the rear half of the truck. I picked up most of my bed panels this afternoon. This truck was originally sold by a GMC dealer in Amarillo, TX and has been in Texas since at least 1977. I would have to assume it has been here since '63 or '64. Thanks for the beer can theory but the tubes are too small in diameter.

[aerotruk63]

If you run some water down the tubes, do they emit any odor?

[Andice]

The tubes are very much under the seat and hard to see from inside the cab. I have poked my finger around and they are not blocked by anything at this time. Could these tubes been a sort of protective sleeve for two fuel lines coming from spare fuel tanks mounted inside or underneath the bed of the truck?