Tow Hook Production Months

[Graham57a]

I am curious if anyone has tracked down the months that the tow hook styles changed. I know we have the 60-68 style, 69-72, and then somewhere mid 72 they changed over to extreme bends. I am also curious if the early style changed over exactly at the change of production or if anyone has seen an early 69 truck with the 60-68 style. Much appreciated

[mike16]

It would be a guess at best. I would be concerned that a not very hard and fast rule would then be misused to determine to an impossible degree who's truck is correct and how much more than another. remember these hooks could be dealer installed as well and at anytime in the trucks warrenty period and or beyond. I recall it already being done by guru's in the past and it can get ugly. better to show us how to install them correctly

[special-K]

These days it seems more have been pulled from original trucks and added to ones that never had them. We would need someone like SS Tim who turns up documentation from factory data.

[A1971Blazer]

The extreme bends appeared at the same time, and as a result of, the forward spring hanger brace being installed...you might look for that information in a search as well.

[mike16]

Originally Posted by special-K

These days it seems more have been pulled from original trucks and added to ones that never had them. We would need someone like SS Tim who turns up documentation from factory data.

exactly and who's gonna admit that their hooks are installed otherwise than by the factory. Trying to nail down a date will only distort the data or its interpretation

find out who made them for GM and look for purchase orders corespondence but it would be a mistake to use this info to try to determine what and when.

[Graham57a]

Originally Posted by special-K

These days it seems more have been pulled from original trucks and added to ones that never had them. We would need someone like SS Tim who turns up documentation from factory data.

Agreed, that’s what I was hoping for. Also maybe a few others who had hooks on their spid and what the type was on the truck.

[Graham57a]

Originally Posted by mike16

exactly and who's gonna admit that their hooks are installed otherwise than by the factory. Trying to nail down a date will only distort the data or its interpretation

find out who made them for GM and look for purchase orders corespondence but it would be a mistake to use this info to try to determine what and when.

The spid would go a long way in determining who had them from the factory, I’m not concerned with dealer installed data.

[BLAZERMAN]

Checking SPIDS for hooks wont be very exciting, they were usually on tbe lowest of optioned trucks. Since only trucks with a painted front bumper could have hooks from the factory you wont find them on Cheyenne's or CSTs till 72. As far as the front drivers side limit strap Ive had factory hooks with that strap as far back as 1970. The 72 extreme bend hooks allowed you to get factory installed hooks with a chrome front bumper, Ive only seen two 1972 Cheyenne's with factory installed hooks.

[HO455]

This would be easier if you could be sure that specific hooks were available at all plants at the same time. Which would be feasible in this day and age but much less so back in the day. Not to mention having all the workers nationwide trained to install them at the same time. Remember this was the time before the interweb when the USPS ruled the roost.

[DeadheadNM]

Fwiw the blazer/jimmy spid thread has some tow hook listed examples and would be much easier to sift through than the pickup spid thread.

[mike16]

Originally Posted by Graham57a

The spid would go a long way in determining who had them from the factory, I’m not concerned with dealer installed data.

Fair enough but qualify any data you rely upon by stating the SPIDs them selves were not always accurate and so do not always reflect the actual build and it goes both waysweather they were on the spid or not. Good luck gathering data just be carful coming to conclusions.

[westong]

Tow hooks are listed on my SPID but unfortunately they are no longer on the truck. The previous owner must have removed them. 1972 gmc sierra k10 SWB

[A1971Blazer]

Believe it or not....there was a time when tow hooks and bumper guards.....the very things that are worshiped now days...were not desirable.....thousands were likely removed and discarded

[special-K]

In the end, I'm not sure how much it matters either way...even if we could get it down to brass tacks. If tow hooks are on a '72 and listed on the SPID, that's all that matters to even picky buyers. I mean, at this point none of us know if it was even a matter of one type prior or after what date. Learning all the nitty gritty facts is fun and interesting and I'd like to know any unknown facts on the hooks. But I'm not sure it would matter much.

[A1971Blazer]

Originally Posted by special-K

In the end, I'm not sure how much it matters either way...even if we could get it down to brass tacks. If tow hooks are on a '72 and listed on the SPID, that's all that matters to even picky buyers. I mean, at this point none of us know if it was even a matter of one type prior or after what date. Learning all the nitty gritty facts is fun and interesting and I'd like to know any unknown facts on the hooks. But I'm not sure it would matter much.

^^Agree 100%
We have become so ingrained in precise knowledge,details, and documentation of "things" now days....
we have forgotten that there was a time when, as you said, " it didn't matter that much".....
and all details that are so sought after from that era.....are long gone and unrecoverable....

[special-K]

That is true about these accessories (post #13). When I was in The National Chevy/GMC Club I had a running WTB ad for K/20 hubcaps and tow hooks. That was late-80s/early-90s. I had a guy with a blazer he bought new respond with a pair he took off when new to install a brush guard. He wanted $35 shipped and he even sand blasted them along with the original hardware. He has restored the Blazer yet had no interest in the hooks.

Then I saw a pair on the parts shelves behind the counter at a truck body & equipment business. I asked the guy about them and he said they have been laying there the 10 years he had worked there and said "Gimme 10 bucks".

I never liked bumper guards. Always liked a cleaner look. I still don't like how the tall ones (correct for the truck) compete with the GMC grille. I started running them on my 4wds in the '80s when I got more into the factory stuff and less into aftermarket stuff. Guards are clean compared to brush guards. On 2wds I would take them right off if the truck had them. Of course I was younger then and felt they were for old men. For some odd reason I started liking them more recently and I know it has nothing to do with my age

[mike16]

that desire for detailed knowlege came about from the corvette wars. If you want your Spid to say Hooky dodads then get a repro spid label and add them to the list