How's the jack supposed to be secured

[Bills80]

I'm trying to figure out how the jack goes in the trunk like original. When either end of the screw shaft is put into the hole of the bracket and the base slides down to the lower main bracket the screw shaft comes out of the hole. Is there supposed to be a foam or rubber block glued to the front or upper side of the main bracket to keep the jack from sliding down?

Also, When the jack is on the bracket the rubber strap is very loose and won't hole the jack. Where is the tool box (i use that term VERY loosely) supposed to go? I tried to put the box on the jack and hold it with the strap but it is impossible to stretch the strap that far.

I'll assume the jack handle gets squashed in the jack, maybe not

I know the answers are AAA but I want this to be fairly original.

[RRoller123]

This is how my my available documentation shows it for my '80. There were, I am told, a few different methods over the years. This sort of works, if you get it very tight, but I only set it up like this at a show. The risk of it coming loose and denting the rear quarter panel from the inside is quite high.



So this is how I do it normally:

[aj81spider]

Do you have the right rubber strap? The ones used to hold the top down and the one used to hold the jack down look the same, but are different lengths.

[RRoller123]

That's right, one of them is very short, and they need to stretch really tight, or the weight of the jack could/will eventually, slowly over time, slide it out to the side where it will ding the quarter panel from inside. The way they hold the toolkit, pressed down by the jack, is hysterical, I think.

[18Fiatsandcounting]

It looks like the later model years were different, but for what it's worth, in the earlier years this is how it was set up:

Tool kit: Secured by a 5" or so rubber strap to the driver's side wheel well (inside the trunk of course). There are two tabs for that rubber strap. As was pointed out, it's a similar rubber strap as the convertible top tie-downs, just shorter and with different metal rings at the ends.

Jack: The lever (handle) gets gently squished between the scissor part to hold it. Then the whole thing rests in the passenger side wheel well similar to the toolbox on the other side. The knob handle end fits into a bracket welded to the inner trunk, in the vicinity of the passenger side marker light. The forward end of the jack gets held down by a rubber strap, the same as the tool kit. The base of the jack rests on a fabric pad glued to the inner wheel well.

I suppose when new it worked just fine, but over time these rubber straps either break or stretch, at which point the tool kit and jack flop around.

-Bryan

[Bills80]

Thanks for those that have replied. Since mine is an 80 all of the emission crap was starting to come about. The drivers side rear wheel well has the tank vent lines coming up there so there are no attachment points for the tool box. I'm sure I have the correct strap as the ones for the top have circular metal hooks on one end for the bolt. Mine may have shrunk but appears to be in very good shape. The rubber of the jack strap is 6 3/8" long and the total length with the square metal loops is 6 3/4". Too long to secure the jack and too short to secure the jack and tool box.

I actually bought an 80 brand new before my wife and I had kids but I don't remember how the jack was arranged.

[Bills80]

After looking at the picture closer I tried this but it still doesn't make sense. I figured with the jack extended the strap would be tighter and with the increased angle of the jack the strap would keep it pushed forward, securely into the hole. But with the jack extended how do you pinch the handle in it? The tool box still isn't secure. As with some Fiat things it's smoke and mirrors.

[18Fiatsandcounting]

But with the jack extended how do you pinch the handle in it? The tool box still isn't secure. As with some Fiat things it's smoke and mirrors.

My "expertise" is limited to the earlier cars, but in those, the jack is fully collapsed when you store it in the trunk right sidewell (above and to the rear of the wheel arch). With the jack collapsed, the handle is held securely in between the scissor part.

As for the tool box, it is stored pretty far up in the left inner wheel arch so I don't recall it interfering with any fuel tank hoses, but again, maybe it's different for the earlier model years.

-Bryan

[TheBender]

Here’s how mine is mounted in a 78.

[kilrwail]

Here's the factory way for a 1978.

[maxm50]

This post inspired me to figure out how to actually mount the jack in my '81... instead of sitting on a garage shelf next to the car, where it wasn't doing much good.

As someone mentioned earlier in this thread, there's actually a hidden bracket deep within the passenger rear wheel well that just has a hole in the center of it. That's where the knob side of the jack goes. It captures that end very nicely. It's not shown in any of these photos because it's hidden from sight - you just have to feel for it. Then the non-knob side sits on the VISIBLE bracket and is secured by the rubber strap, as the pictures show.

Without that hidden bracket holding the knob side, it would definitely flop around and cause havoc and dents.

My rubber strap was long gone but replacements are only a few bucks on Autoricambi... just add one to your next parts order!