VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND EARLIER 1937-1945 bumper jack

I never seen the correct jack for a 38 coupe. Does this jack look anything like a 38 jack?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-All...ries&hash=item4601097862&vxp=mtr

I need a jack from that time period.

Nope, not that one. The one you are looking for has a large pointed bolt to hold the jack in place under the bumper braces.

large pointed bolt? I guess I don't understand that. Does this bolt fit into something under the bumper or are you saying it goes into the ground to help support the jack itself?

There are grooves in the jack lifting arm that the bumper braces fit into and the bolt is used to keep the arm from slipping off the brace.

Mercy! I thought the 1938 still carried the screw jack with the folding handle. I had no idea that the modern era (cira 1941) bumper jack had come to replace the antiquated screw type. My, my!

From the ancient appearance of the 1938 (shoe box), the screw type would seem more in keeping with the style and better suited for jacking it up. but I suppose the knee action shocks made the bumper jack necessary before its time. Go figure.

BTW: Steve: I hope you find the correct one for your car. In the meantime you can elect to carry a screw type (as I do ) or a nice small aluminum floor jack or a long pole (lever) and a hunk of tree trunk (fulcrum) which may be the most frequent and popular sort of jack used over there. You know.
Charlie

BTW2: A picture of the 1938 jack would be an interesting item to view. Would too! I'm a little skeptical there even is such a critter.

I'll go out & snap a picture of the jack that came with my '38. I always assumed it was original to the car. It looks nothing like the one in the link Steve posted. The part that does the jacking is friction operated and it has a small hook that fits under the bumper. It would not work with a highly curved bumper. It looks like it's made for my car. We'll see when I post the pics a bit later.

Thanks

the picture of the jack you referenced looks like a jack I bought in the early 60's from Western Auto, only difference, mine was blue instead of red. It was kinda universal bumper jack for the time.

Here's the jack that was in my '38. The hook that goes under the bumper turns on the shaft and would be on the other side when using the jack.

Okay I see what chipper was talking about now. I've never seen a jack like that. Thanks for the photo.

Not the correct jack Tiny. Sorry

The jack you have is the accessory friction jack. Its kind of any up-grade that Chevrolet sold. The original jack is a ratcheting type. The jack is placed on the bumper bracket rather than on the bumper bar.

1935 was the first year a Chevrolet came with a bumper jack.

Do fog light brackets interfere with the operation of the original type jack?

If anyone would like to share some close-up, detailed photos of the ratcheting type jack that Chevgene spoke of I'd appreciate it (a photo at a distance won't help me). I have one, but it looks like someone did some custom work on it to get it to work but I'm not 100% sure of what it should really look like in the ratchet area..also the end of my ratchet shaft is cylindrical at the bottom...is that correct? thx. Billu38

So while it's not the 'original' jack it was sold as an upgrade by the dealer then. Cool, better than Western Auto I suppose.

I guess you better sell that to me. Smiles

The fog lamps do not get in the way of the jack.

Billu38 - can you send me a picture of your jack?

Photos from Dave39md. Any thoughts about the correctness?

Thanks Steve..looks pretty much like the one I have except for missing screw....and I think the handle used is the lug wrench if I remember correctly...mine has a spring attached to the arm that holds the handle back to the body to help it wratchet...I think somebody added the spring but not sure..thx...comments welcomed..Billu38

Steve,
Looks about right except for the missing bolt. The starting crank is the jack handle. Some called these jacks widow makers because of the small base and tendency to slip out from under the bumper brace if wheels were not chocked and/or ground soft.

Thanks. At least I know what I'm looking for, if I ever see one on Ebay.

Any ideas on how the 38 jack is different from the 39?

Not really. Did they change EVERY year?

I have yet to see a genuine, bone-fide and certified 1938 bumper jack.

Let's just all agree that they don't exist. As in extinct, lost, gone the way of the Dodo, scrapped, (pick one).

Oh yeah, some will claim that they either have seen one or have one. The have one's don't know how to submit a picture. How convenient.

Charlie

BTW: I'm just a-funnin' with ya!

The 1939 jack noes not have the set screw (locking screw) on the perch that goes under the bumper brackets.