Cadillac & LaSalle Club Discussion Forum

Cadillac & LaSalle Club Forums => Technical / Authenticity => Topic started by: Caddyholic on August 11, 2024, 08:41:50 AM

Title: Wheel chocks
Post by: Caddyholic on August 11, 2024, 08:41:50 AM
Does anyone know the years that Cadillac put wood wheel chocks in the trunk as part of the jacking system?
Title: Re: Wheel chocks
Post by: Clewisiii on August 11, 2024, 09:49:50 AM
I like pictures. As you know at least confirmed for 61.

Block and other trunk components. 20240811_094718.jpg

I saw David King yesterday and he commented on how many bags I have. Everything needs to he in a bag.
Title: Re: Wheel chocks
Post by: Lexi on August 11, 2024, 11:40:31 AM
Quote from: Caddyholic on August 11, 2024, 08:41:50 AMDoes anyone know the years that Cadillac put wood wheel chocks in the trunk as part of the jacking system?

Would like to know myself. My '56 has a wooden chock. In this or the old Mid-Century Cadillac Forum I thought a member reported that Cadillac used the wooden chocks up until the late 1960s, or to about 1970 - 1972. Can someone confirm? Not sure when their use first started. Some of the original trunk jacking instructions may provide some clues. Clay/Lexi
Title: Re: Wheel chocks
Post by: Roger Zimmermann on August 11, 2024, 01:27:57 PM
Unless I have the exact Cadillac name for that wood block, no chance to find it in the parts list.
Title: Re: Wheel chocks
Post by: Jay Friedman on August 11, 2024, 02:05:12 PM
Roger,

My 1949 has a wheel chock. 

I looked in my 1935-55 Master Parts List but could not find a listing for a wheel chock. 
Title: Re: Wheel chocks
Post by: Caddyholic on August 11, 2024, 02:23:11 PM
Quote from: Jay Friedman on August 11, 2024, 02:05:12 PMRoger,

My 1949 has a wheel chock. 

I looked in my 1935-55 Master Parts List but could not find a listing for a wheel chock. 
bumper,
Quote from: Jay Friedman on August 11, 2024, 02:05:12 PMRoger,

My 1949 has a wheel chock. 

I looked in my 1935-55 Master Parts List but could not find a listing for a wheel chock. 

The jacking instruction call it a wedge block.


Title: Re: Wheel chocks
Post by: Jay Friedman on August 11, 2024, 03:58:08 PM
In my 1935-55 Master Parts List there is an alphabetical index, but I did not see a listing for a wheel chock under "chock", "block", "wheel", "wood" or "wedge".
Title: Re: Wheel chocks
Post by: Big Fins on August 11, 2024, 05:24:42 PM
I had it in both the recent '59 and the '69 FWB. I don't remember the '77 FWB well enough.
Title: Re: Wheel chocks
Post by: The Tassie Devil(le) on August 11, 2024, 07:10:00 PM
The Owners Manual for 1972 shows the chocks when describing how to stow the spare tyre.

Bruce. >:D
Title: Re: Wheel chocks
Post by: "Cadillac Kid" Greg Surfas 15364 on August 11, 2024, 07:20:59 PM
Ditto my 75 and 76
Greg Surfas
Title: Re: Wheel chocks
Post by: Warren Rauch #4286 on August 12, 2024, 09:26:28 AM
 The older end of when wood wedges were used is questionable.
  I checked Owner manuals for 1931,1941,1942 and no mention is made of them. Most jacks were screw and went directly under the axle. Maybe they weren't used.
  For 1946,1947,1948 and 1949 ,The manuals call for blocking the opposite wheel,but don't say how.
  Starting in 1950 ,the directions call for using the wedge provided. I then checked the newest manual I had handy (1969) ,and it still called for the wedges.
  Jay has one for his 1949. So the manuals  may not be telling it all.
I don't have time to check for more,right now.

Warren
Title: Re: Wheel chocks
Post by: Roger Zimmermann on August 12, 2024, 10:38:26 AM
The jack and accessories are in the group 8.820. The wedge should logically be there, but nope!
Title: Re: Wheel chocks
Post by: TJ Hopland on August 12, 2024, 12:11:03 PM
I remember seeing such things in my grandfather's little trunk tool box.  I don't think he ever owned a Cadillac but I know one of his neighbors did.   I always assumed he made them and just had some black paint laying around but maybe the were an official car part.   Neat.
Title: Re: Wheel chocks
Post by: Caddyholic on August 12, 2024, 01:50:57 PM
Quote from: Roger Zimmermann on August 12, 2024, 10:38:26 AMThe jack and accessories are in the group 8.820. The wedge should logically be there, but nope!

When did they quite using bumper jacks? This might coincide with using the wedge?
Title: Re: Wheel chocks
Post by: Roger Zimmermann on August 13, 2024, 02:19:00 AM
Quote from: Caddyholic on August 12, 2024, 01:50:57 PMWhen did they quite using bumper jacks? This might coincide with using the wedge?
That's a possibility which makes sense.
Title: Re: Wheel chocks
Post by: The Tassie Devil(le) on August 13, 2024, 03:08:48 AM
The thing about Bumper Bar Jacks is that one doesn't have to get down and dirty in ones Sunday Best to position a jack under the suspension to change a tyre.

Plus, when losing Rear Wheel Spats, and a greater clearance for the back wheel to be removed means that there is no requirement to raise the back of the car so high to get the rear wheel off.

But, don't forget that with the advent of plastic Bumper Bars, the demise of the Bumper Jack swiftly came, and the scissors jacks that fit into recesses under the front and rear of the door sills also made it easier.

Bruce. >:D
Title: Re: Wheel chocks
Post by: Michael Petti on August 21, 2024, 07:16:04 AM
Was at a car show last night and saw an absolutely original 1959 Coupe Deville. No restoration all. It had the wooden wheel chock in the trunk.  Where was it placed originally?
Title: Re: Wheel chocks
Post by: Eric DeVirgilis CLC# 8621 on August 21, 2024, 08:37:09 AM
The wedge was last provided until 1979 which coincided with the final year for the bumper jack.
Title: Re: Wheel chocks
Post by: J. Skelly on August 21, 2024, 10:05:13 AM
Quote from: Eric DeVirgilis CLC# 8621 on August 21, 2024, 08:37:09 AMThe wedge was last provided until 1979 which coincided with the final year for the bumper jack.
Eric, Did a bottle jack come out to replace the bumper jack for 1980?
Title: Re: Wheel chocks
Post by: Eric DeVirgilis CLC# 8621 on August 21, 2024, 10:24:08 AM
Quote from: J. Skelly on August 21, 2024, 10:05:13 AMEric, Did a bottle jack come out to replace the bumper jack for 1980?

Scissors type. Raising was now done at the frame.
Title: Re: Wheel chocks
Post by: TJ Hopland on August 21, 2024, 11:19:15 PM
They weren't the screw type of scissors.  They used the ratcheting style bar that the 70's bumper jacks used but it was horizontal and that was what actuated the scissors mechanism.  They were unique to their model in that they had different tops that engaged different areas of the specific models.  Often it was something like a hole in the frame but it could have been some other bracket. 
Title: Re: Wheel chocks
Post by: bcroe on August 22, 2024, 08:19:34 AM
Those bumper jacks are dangerous, I looked around
the salvage yard and found scissor frame jacks for
all my 70s cars.  Also put real spares in any car
not already so equipped.  Bruce Roe
Title: Re: Wheel chocks
Post by: Eric DeVirgilis CLC# 8621 on August 23, 2024, 08:32:07 AM
According to a CLC member in a past post, the wheel chock (wedge) is listed in the Authenticity Manual for 1946/1947 and in another post, Barry Wheeler suggests it also was included in 1941. So at least from 1941 to 1979, maybe even earlier.  The redesigned 1979 Eldorado may have gotten the new frame jack without wedge.