proper bumper jack stowage 1956 DeSoto

Tim,

You should have a spring to hook to the hole in the bumper hook and the hole in the lower spare tire back rest. With the base on the jack and the lug wrench wedged under the jack, the bumper hook can be ratcheted up locking the jack and lug wrench down. I have my wedge block wedged between the spare and the spare tire well. This may or may not be proper. I will try again to post a picture without losing my post.

Mac

The jack base fits on the bolt like a big washer to secure the wheel.

Have a nice day
Steve

Is this the same for a 1955 Firedome?

Hi Jason,

The Firedome and Fireflite should be the same. I have a large wing nut holding my spare in place. Steve's use of the base may be the proper fastener. There is a stop fastened to the outer side of the right trunk hinge which is designed for the top of the jack post to snug up against when there is tension on the spring. Mine does not reach this stop because the base hits up against the filler neck. I need to try using the base as Steve indicated.

Mac

Tim,

Do you have one of these: http://www.ebay.com/itm/1956-DESOTO-JAC ... 0408573018

It shows the proper storage of the jack. You can find these jack instruction cards on line for most any postwar DeSoto.

Mark

Hey, George, where did you get that spectacular trunk liner? dave allard

I have the sticker, and the owner's manual.

From the images and text on the sticker or the page in the owner's manual, it's easy to see that the '56 jack base does not store on the base of the post as it apparently does for the '55.

Also, the base is NOT used as a retainer for the spare tire, but a "u" shaped bar does that job. There's no way that the stud for the spare retainer is long enough to go through the base.

The images and text do not however give any notion of where the jack handle stores, nor the wooden wheel wedge, nor does it adequately explain what keeps the base from just flopping around in the trunk. Tucking it into the brackets that are spotwelded to the trunk floor is fairly self-explanatory from the picture, but what keeps it there? Only gravity?

I can see it as feasible that the jack handle can be down in the wheel well, with the wedge inserted in the well, too.

I'm wondering if I have my spring too high on the bracket and by lowering it, I can kind of "hold down" the base with it.

Dave, the trunk material was ordered by my upholstery shop from one of their vendors. It was shipped to them from Auto Custom Carpets in Anniston, AL. Mac

Well I'm wrong again! Or am I right and the card is wrong?

edit edit edit! Tim, turn the spare tire around!

Have a nice day
Steve

Eeewwww, you mean put the whitewall side to the back? That would look gross. I've never seen one like that

I was afraid we would not learn anything new at the convention this year

Will all the 55ers be ready for a show and tell on how to store the jack on their car?

Tim,

I hope this helps. I know this is not a 56, but back in the day this is the way many jacks were stowed after the first flat.

Mac

FINALLY! An authoritative photo.....

Thanks, Mac! You're the best!

Tim

Flip the tire around. The bolt is too short to have the whitewall out. Of course you could put the whitewall on the inside and then it would show in the trunk.

Good Luck
Steve