The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk hole below radio speaker on right?

I have a 53 Chevy 3600 and have always wondered what the stamped hole is below and to the right of the radio speaker. The Factory Assembly manual seems to indicate that it was the throttle cable hole for RD trucks. Does it have some sort of cover/plug in LD trucks or was that where the cigarette lighter option went?

TIA

I think it's for the cigarette lighter option as it's almost directly below the ash tray.

I have a metal plug that was in that hole that snaps in with some fingers around the edge. I think that some of the vendors sell those. Here's one but I think it's too big for that particular hole. Same style though.

That looks very similar to plugs used for holes in metal electrical boxes. Maybe your local hardware store would have one that fits.
Samantha

Standard size electrical knock out holes are 7/8", 1-1/8", 1-3/8" (for 1/2", 3/4" & 1" conduit).

Mike B

That particular hole is 7/8" diameter.

Kevin, did you read the Cali disclaimer on that? Where will we go next?

Woodcmiami Mine has a cigarette lighter in it,where I charge my phone. Lighter socket was a perfect fit.

Yeah, that's on EVERYTHING now.

I read somewhere that was for a defroster cable option.

Like others, I put a 12V power point (cigarette lighter receptacle) in mine.

You could put about anything you wanted in that hole. Could be used for the defroster control on a fresh air heater, although those usually mount in a smaller hole in a bracket under the edge of the dash.

Definitely! Would make for a clean install to run it through there though. But, then you lose a convenient power point location.

I tried to find that reference - but who knows, after so many years.

Is this the hole? Mine has an insert with a chromed rim. Like others have said, must have been the cigarette lighter hole. I'm guessing there might have been a cap on it w/o the chrome insert if original owner didn't pay for the $2.20 option (1948).

Wally Plug your phone charger in,or inverter so you can run your computer !!

Back in the 50's, stovebolt drivers in the world were versatile.
They could steer, shift gears, roll down window, scratch head, carry on a conversation and operate a cigarette lighter whether they drive on the left or the right hand side of the road.
The location of the cigarette lighter didn't matter as long as you could reach it with a free hand.
If your lady was with you, she could light the cigarette for you, but you had to remember to first roll up the window to stop the wind.
The fine hot tobacco ashes, that manage to stick to the end of a cigarette lighter, could fall, burn a hole and ruin a pretty dress.
Definitely not cool on a date.

It would be interesting see how today's young generation "texters" would cope driving a stovebolt (not loaning my truck to find out).
The first thing they would want to know is, what's a cigarette lighter?

Buoymaker, you forgot to add in roll down the window and stick their left arm out to signal a turn.

Nowadays, with all the "driver assist" features on cars, no one knows how to drive anymore.

I have a voltmeter / usb / inside temp gauge plugged into mine. The voltmeter is useful; last month it let me know that the generator was dying before I ran my battery down.

https://www.amazon.com/RKURCK-Universal-Cigarette-Thermometer-Temperature/dp/B07GDHQR8Q/ref=sr_1_6?crid=2X05P4XQRLA1Q&keywords=cigar+lighter+voltage+meter&qid=1661273897&sprefix=cigar+lighter+volta%2Caps%2C154&sr=8-6

Gord, your link didn't work for me so I looked it up and think I have a good link to it here...

https://www.amazon.com/RKURCK-Universal-Cigarette-Thermometer-Temperature/dp/B07GDHQR8Q?th=1

Mike B

That is really cool! Now I want to install my new cigarette lighter I bought last year!

Thanks, Mike.

But you'd have to be able to do the F=C*((9/5)+32) conversion in your head.

There are Fahrenheit versions available.

Ya, unfortunately it appears to only register in centigrade.

Ok, here's the Fahrenheit/Volt meter and it's cheaper!

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00SXZDKT...mFtZT1zcF9kZXRhaWw&smid=AFHAE9RJVUMB

Mike B

Yeah it is actually more below the ash tray. I was just wondering what filled that hole when it shipped from the factory. Was it a painted plug similar to what covers electrical knockouts? Actually a 12V power point to plug in a USB charger is a good idea.

Go back and read post #2 in the thread. They came with a plug from the factory.

For those of us that don’t smoke, they also have this. Temperture/ 36 watt USB Charger

The best part is you don’t need large gauge wires feeding it.

This is a spot to put your cigar/ cigarette element, this was standard for these year trucks.

“Nowadays, with all the "driver assist" features on cars, no one knows how to drive anymore.”

This statement is so true.

Woodcmiami Mine had a a nice knockout reusable painted cap,the hole was a perfect fit for lighter socket so you can run your laptop or charge your phone.First saw car phone when 007 had it in 1965,we have come a long way since that !!