Wheel Wrench Bag

[dagnabbitt]

I am wondering if these spring units that hold the kit in the truck are worth saving, and what year of trucks they were on?

I don't have one on my 68 (or my other trucks either), so were they offered only on certain years, or on certain RPOs?

First two are on a truck at the junkyard, third is a pic of my own truck, which does not even have a provision for it. Thanks!

[damnyankee36]

I guess it's up to you if it's worth keeping. Depends on if you want to equip your truck with the original jack components.

Hmmm, I thought all trucks had the spring. Where would the factory have placed the bag?

The 68 I am building has/had it. It and the jack were removed because speaker enclosures are installed in the corners. It's a custom cab, if that means anything.

[Rust_never_sleeps]

If you look at the Assembly Manual, some got 'em, some don't. I once thought they were only for internal fuel tanks, but now I don't think that's true

At one point, folks looking for authenticity wanted these springs and the foam bags for their tools, not sure if they're in demand anymore

[Steeveedee]

My truck came with one, though it was long gone before I got it. According to some information I found, it also came with a foot pump for filling tires (V60 FOOT TIRE PUMP) as part of the Custom Camper option. Long gone, as well.

[pjmoreland]

My '68 came with that spring in the corner of the cab.

I believe trucks that came with buddy bucket seats had the jack handle and lug wrench stored under the seat. My truck didn't come that way, but I added the hardware shown below. I got it from a '67.

[dagnabbitt]

Seems odd that some trucks got it and some did not.

There must be an explanation: although it often seems like the GM plants did whatever they wanted, it has come up time and time again that they generally did not.

Dealer add-on, maybe? It is just a screw through the pillar after all.

[Steeveedee]

I would have thought that all trucks of this era had a jack and a tire iron.

[Rust_never_sleeps]

Originally Posted by pjmoreland

My '68 came with that spring in the corner of the cab.

I believe trucks that came with buddy bucket seats had the jack handle and lug wrench stored under the seat. My truck didn't come that way, but I added the hardware shown below. I got it from a '67.

Mine's a bench seat 70 with the spring in the corner.
It might have been an adaptation when they stopped making the bench seats that tilted forward, so getting to the jack on the floor became harder

[Steeveedee]

^ That's a good point. It wouldn't have been any fun getting the "drive shaft" for the jack from behind, if the seat back didn't tilt forward. The jack and all were gone by the time I got the truck. I have a star wrench and a floor jack that I brought along when camping with this truck. Now I have a motor home, and AAA's gonna change my flats.

[Ironhorse]

No GM truck authority at all by any means, still learning on these trucks after owing several but......

I believe the '67 year models had a one piece non-folding jack handle which stowed on the floor behind the forward folding bench seat. Held in place by several brackets. In "late" (?) 68 is when the folding jack handle came into use along with the foam accessory bag with the jack being held to the floor pan by a spring attachment.

Again no authority but that's my understanding as to why some trucks have that spring attachment piece and some don't. ???

[dagnabbitt]

Originally Posted by Ironhorse

No GM truck authority at all by any means, still learning on these trucks after owing several but......

I believe the '67 year models had a one piece non-folding jack handle which stowed on the floor behind the forward folding bench seat. Held in place by several brackets. In "late" (?) 68 is when the folding jack handle came into use along with the foam accessory bag with the jack being held to the floor pan by a spring attachment.

Again no authority but that's my understanding as to why some trucks have that spring attachment piece and some don't. ???

I think that's the best explanation to be had, and the most likely. I find all these year end (and mid-year) changes to be really interesting.

My 1968 (blue, pictured above without the hardware) rolled off the line on January 11, 1968. The seat was non-folding but I still agree with your theory.

[Canadian694x4]

Originally Posted by dagnabbitt

I think that's the best explanation to be had, and the most likely. I find all these year end (and mid-year) changes to be really interesting.

My 1968 (blue, pictured above without the hardware) rolled off the line on January 11, 1968. The seat was non-folding but I still agree with your theory.

I believe Canadian trucks took longer to come around to these types of production changes. An example I use is Canadian GMC trucks of the '68 model year can still be found with the small lettered tailgates (thought to be '67 only) whereas state side you will not.

[dagnabbitt]

That is a theory I wholeheartedly agree with, although I would like to see more evidence for it. I actually think the drivetrain of my 68 is leftover from 1960-1966... but that is a long story.

It certainly tracks: in Canada we are lucky if we are only a year or two behind the US.

[Steeveedee]

Engines, too. Canada had 327 engines up into '71 or so. Nothing wrong with that.

[Rust_never_sleeps]

Yah, the General never threw anything away, so whatever was in the factory got bolted into chassis until they ran out, regardless of model year