VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND EARLIER 1929-1932 spare tire locks 32 4 door sedan

Guys,

I'm trying to figure out a few items on these locks. One is, I don't have a key to them and if I did I doubt they would work, which leads me to next question? How do you get the cores out and is there a replacement for them. Perhaps I should have reversed that order of questions. Just so I'm clear these are the two spare tire locking arms on the confederate special. They go on the lower part of the wheel when setting in the fender. I'm sure you know what I'm talking about. I hope you guys can help me out again. Thanks so much for the help..

Steve

Is this the type you have?

The lock depicted in the photo is for 1931. 1932 uses a different type of sidemount lock.

I've got the same problem on my 31. On one of the locks, I tried drilling out the pin that looks like it holds the lock in. Still can't get the lock out.

Even if you got a key made (I did) the chances of the lock mechanism functioning for any length of time is slim.

The lock has a tab on the end of it that moves a piston (for lack of a better word). Over time that piston rusts in the cylinder that it slides in. That puts strain on the tab on the lock. Mine failed after about 30 or so lock / unlocks after I got the key made and the piston out. The one for the other side is frozen. No matter how much PB Blaster and/or heat that I use will free it.

The locks I was referencing is the picture provided JD. So if thats for a 31 what does the lock look like for the 32? It appears they were added as several other compoants that were not correct. This have been eliminated.

Also JD just to confirm the other hardware is correct right? I purchased that from the FS. Mines was in just to bad of shape to continue to use.

Thanks ,

Steve

If you mean the sidemount rod and brace shown in the photo...........yes.

Thank you. So the locks are really not necessary just nice to have if they can be found. i well can't tell what they look like. I'm going to Hersey Park next week to the car show. maybe I might get lucky and find a set.

Thanks again JD,

Steve

The tire locks were a dealer added Chevrolet accessory and they did not come with the car from the factory.

Good luck with your search.

I have a pair I purchased off ebay, complete side mount set with lock for 34-35 standards. Was fun getting everything apart, good thing i have oxy acy set. The locks I took to a locksmith to see if they can get the square pin loosened enough so they will slide back and forth. Steady stream of PB blaster is at work.

I don't want to wreck them, so told locksmith tapping on pins is okay, hard banging is verboten. Be nice to have them work, not the end of the world if they don't.

Good luck on your search at Hershey

mike Lynch

That is the type of tire locks on my '32 and, according to the provenance, I have no reason to think they aren't original to the car.

I have no doubt that the tire locks could be original to your car since they were dealer installed accessories and the dealer would install what the customer wanted.......or what they had in stock at the time. Usually the customer didn't care if the accessory was 1931 or 1932 as long as it fit on his vehicle and it was what he wanted. However, the tire locks featured are 1931 and they are shown in the 1931 accessory catalog. The 1932 accessory catalog has the 1932 tire locks and they are completely different.

Throughout the years it was fairly common for a dealer to install earlier accessories on the current model vehicle if that is what the customer wanted or if the earlier accessory was the only one they had in stock. And, the dealer would also sell aftermarket accessories and install them on the car even though the item was not a genuine Chevrolet accessory. For example, I have an all original 1932 Chevrolet Special Sedan and I am the second owner. It was sold in my town new and I purchased the car from the original owner. The correct trunk for my car is the Chevrolet accessory extension trunk and rack. However, the original owner had the Chevrolet dealer install an aftermarket Kari-Keen trunk and rack on the car when it was sold new because that was the only trunk that the dealer had in stock at that time.

Even though the 1931 accesssory tire locks that are on your '32 most likely were installed on the car new, if the car were judged in the VCCA points would probably be deducted since the tire locks are not the correct 1932 accessory. The same would be true for the Kari-Keen trunk that was installed on my car when new as well.