Spare Tire Question
 

We are restoring a 1977 Shortbed Stepside to be all original. Can someone
tell me how the spare was placed in the holder from the factory.
Was the tire "stem up" or "stem down"? Thanks in advanced.

Larry:chevy:

Re: Spare Tire Question
 

My guess would be stem down, to allow access for the customer to check the tire pressure and/or add air.

But - if you have access to or can get acess to the '77 Assembly Manual (aka "PAD sheets") they would say for sure.

K

Re: Spare Tire Question
 

Keith: Thanks for the response. Been trying to find a 77 Assembly Manual
a long time but can not find one. Don't believe GM took in consideration
for owner to add air in their decision for tire placement as my Trailblazer
was delivered new with "stem up". I'm sure they have some logic in their
decision but don't know what it is. Larry:chevy:

Re: Spare Tire Question
 

It normally has to do with how the carrier can accomodate the wheel itself...

Hence, my next statement: upon further thought, I think your wheel will need to go face up (valve stem up) so that the deeper backspacing of the wheel will nest in the alignment features in the carrier....

:(

If you can find an Assembly manual that is slightly earlier or slightly later it would probably be the same as '77. Sorry about the availability, by the way; we used to throw them away when we were done with them.

K

Re: Spare Tire Question
 

In my 83, the spare wheel fits best with the valve stem up, but I keep the valve stem down for refill access. I had to move my carrier back about 1" to accommodate a receiver hitch, so that complicates matters a bit.

Re: Spare Tire Question
 

The one in my '77 came stem up. It Still had the original spare tire on it until 1996. the marks from the truck frame were on the front side of the tire, and I never was able to check the air in it.

Re: Spare Tire Question
 

Thanks to all that responded. It will be "stem up" for me.

Larry:chevy:

Re: Spare Tire Question
 

Is this a chevy sport you're working on now? That's what my 77 was.

Re: Spare Tire Question
 

Further confirmation:

It's starting to come back to me; one of the areas I supervised was the pickup "fender set" area, which occured right after body drop.

The very first operation to take place in the center pit after body drop was.....(you guessed it)...spare tire load. Even though I was the supervisor I was able to perform that job, as well as any other in my area (and sometimes more than one at a time!).

I am recalling that the tire/wheel assemblies were conveyed face up from the assembly/balance area - including the spare tires.

Since they were translated directly from the conveyer onto the spare tire carrier (without being flipped or rotated) that would be one more data point that would say "stem up".

K

Re: Spare Tire Question
 

78 Chevyrado:

Yes; it is Black with the Stripes. I bought it brand new in 1977. LS9
(Last year for regular gas) with 4 Speed. Truck was assembled in
Janesville WI. PO6 wheels. Everything is original on it. FYI
Thanks again; Larry:chevy: