The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Paint and Body Shop Under bed spare tire holder

The spare tire is located under the bed of my 1948 Chevy 3100. My problem is I do not have a key to release it. I hate to cut it if I don't have to preserve it. I tried a locksmith with no luck. Does anybody have any suggestions, is there a master type key, possibly know the key number, etc..

All of the under bed spare tire holders that I have ever seen were bolted. Someone may have used a padlock of some kind for security. If it is a pad lock just cut it and buy another with the key.

I am referring to the lock on the J hook. I can find a new J hook easily if I have to cut it and a replacement nut but the nut requires the original facrtory spare tire lock (which I have no key for). I don't want to buy a complete aftermarket holder, $300, just to get a new j hook and key lock.

I have one of these VERY VERY hard to find locks that were made specially for the 47-55 under bed spare tire carrier. The key is the same type as the ignition and glovebox. Try another locksmith, then another until you get the guy who knows what to do. Do not mess up that lock!! Its like gold. I'm not sure $1000 would be enough to sell it.

Those who had them back in the day hated them to a purple passion. Why? Imagine a rear flat. Not only can you not get to the spare tire, but now you have a lock that has had mud and crud slinged all over it for years. By the time you have lost your head, over-handed the spare tire carrier lock out into the field, tossed the spare tire carrier in the ditch and threw the bad tire in the bed, you never looked back. So, if you can find them, its with a metal detector in the field, or ebay or the like and I havent seen them in years.

Home page here has a pic of what he is talking about:

www.devestechnet.com

Does your key have any kind of number on it or something to give a locksmith a clue?

no. but its the same key stock that was used for the ignition and glove box. If they say they can do your ignition or glove box, they can do your carrier lock. No numbers on the key, but you are welcome to take that high rez picture to them so they can see its the very same.

There is a very large spectrum of locksmith out there. Some are very very good and think of their job as more detective work. Others need a manual and don't care. Try about 4 other locksmiths before you give up, THEN think twice. Its just a standard late 40's early 50's lock. Look for an older locksmith.

I agree with Deve, SAVE that lock, they are very rare. I've
been looking for one for ten years and never have run
across one.
You're thinking in the right direction as far as cutting the
J-hook. That's easy to duplicate and no one would know the
difference, even the nut can be duplicated but the lock is
really special. If it's a daily driver and your worried about
getting crap kicked up in it, I'd just coat it with a good
heavy coat of grease once in a while. That would keep the
dirt and water out of it, just wipe it if you needed to
open it.

J-hook pattern:
http://www.pbase.com/dennygraham/image/159630923
dg

In case someone wants to join the hunt for the lock, the same lock assembly was supposedly used from 1941-1950.

No under-bed spare lock (that I can find a part number for) was used from 1951-1955 (there was a 53-55 bed-side tire carrier lock - scarcer than the earlier under-bed lock).

Deve, which high res picture are you referring to?

Try to PM this member

https://www.stovebolt.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showprofile&User=1667

He might have an idea

Tim, do you have a picture or illustration of the side mount
lock? I don't have any accessory sales literature for the
later trucks.
Every time I spot a different lock design for a hitch bolt I
buy it. I must have six or eight around here. Been looking
for one that I could scavenge the locking tumbler out of that
would work the same as the original under bed accessory. I've
looked into machining the lock housing out of a solid block
to look like the original one but can't find a tumbler that
would work the same as the GM one.
I've also got side mounts on both trucks and would like to
see a lock that was meant for them.
tks
DG

The picture on the main page of the website. It shows two keys and they can see its the same as your ignition and glovebox.

http://devestechnet.com

Right click and "Save As"

http://devestechnet.com/Images/Restorations/SpareTireLock/SpareTireLock1lg.jpg

Not much of a cut to that key


I wonder if they were all the same?

Also, I checked today for numbers on those keys. There are none. The text in the spot where you would think they go say something about cutting out the center. So no help there.

For Denny & Others,

Illustration of 53/54-63 side-mount spare-tire lock.

Those key are ladies in waiting Gus, blanks just waiting to be assigned.

Thanks Tim, that's the catalyst I needed. That is obviously
for a GMC and no doubt the same as the Chevy, but where did
you get that from???? I see the heading says 'classified'?

Now that I see it, that side mount lock could easily be
reproduced using one of the 5/8" dog bone locking trailer
hitch pin tumblers. Just need to pick one with key's similar
to the GM Briggs key. The housing, nut and nut retainer could
easily be made to look just like an original one. The cover
could be whittled out of an aluminum chunk in the band saw and
finish machined in the Bridgeport or maybe Cast? In fact that
part is the perfect project for the five gallon aluminum
furnace that I've been waiting to put together and try my
hand at aluminum/zinc casting. The lock housing is a simple
machining project to accept the donor tumbler and I've already
whipped up some nuts similar to those for my under bed carrier.
Thanks, just what I need, another project, well that's
what I get for askin'!

Denny G