Spare tire.....whatcha use?

[the_engineers]

Any fear that you'll drill through the top of the tank when you drill for the rivets?

[burdar]

I just thought of another option to a full sized spare. 

I used to own an 82 Cordoba.  That car had factory 15" wheels with hubcaps.  The spare tire looked just like the small newer FWD spares and was housed in a pocket right by the passengers quarter.  I bet that spare would bolt onto an E-body no problem and it is a lot thinner than a normal wheel/tire.  It would look fuggly driving on it but you should be able to fit a lot more stuff in the trunk with one of those. 

I'll have to check and see if I still have it.  I'll bet I didn't think I'd ever have a use for it and threw it in the car before junking it.  If I still have it, I just might have to try it out.  I know I don't want to accually use my origonal spare...yes I still have the origonal spare tire to my car. 

[shadango]

Any fear that you'll drill through the top of the tank when you drill for the rivets?

  I havent looked to see how close the proximity is......seems like the mount is further back into the trunk, away from the tank some...or is it?   I dont know.....I dont have one now to see where it would fall relative to the tank. 

[shadango]

I just thought of another option to a full sized spare. 

I used to own an 82 Cordoba.  That car had factory 15" wheels with hubcaps.  The spare tire looked just like the small newer FWD spares and was housed in a pocket right by the passengers quarter.  I bet that spare would bolt onto an E-body no problem and it is a lot thinner than a normal wheel/tire.  It would look fuggly driving on it but you should be able to fit a lot more stuff in the trunk with one of those. 

I'll have to check and see if I still have it.  I'll bet I didn't think I'd ever have a use for it and threw it in the car before junking it.  If I still have it, I just might have to try it out.  I know I don't want to accually use my origonal spare...yes I still have the origonal spare tire to my car.

I would be curious to see what you end up with.

The other thing I was thinking:   If I am going for a certain height tire for the spare ( I was shooting for a 26" total height), whether its a 14" or 15" rim shouldn't matter, should it? A 15" rim/tire combo shouldnt take up more space than a 14" combo..... 

[the_engineers]

Shouldn't matter 14 vs 15...if you're shooting for 26", your options would be any of the following:

205/75R14 - 26.10
215/70R14 - 25.85
205/70R15 - 26.29
275/50R15 - 25.83
225/60R15 - 25.62
205/55R17 - 25.88

Even though the diameter is the same, the width changes.  You may not enjoy stuffing a 275 (11" wide) back into your trunk.  The 300's and Challenger/Chargers with wheel covers have a 17" steelie that might be the ticket.

[Super Blue 72]

As far as the rim size, I would match what ever you have on the FRONT, same goes for the tire size.

Reason being, firstly with the tire height, if you have unevenly matched tire heights in front, it will cause the car to pull to the side with the shorter tire.  It may actually pull fairly bad if the difference in tire height is different enough.

Secondly, also pertaining to the front, if you have unmatched rim sizes, in an emergency maneuver, it may affect the handling of the car as the sidewalls of the left and right tires will act differently.  Its a small detail if you are going a short distance (And matters more with different sized rims front to back.) but might be one to consider depending how far you drive you car from home.

Tha newer 300's/Challenger/Chargers are a slightly different bolt pattern.  The old E-bodies use a 4.5" or 114.3mm bolt pattern where as the newer cars have a 115mm bolt pattern which may stresss your studs when the lugnuts are tightened.  It'll fit but may not be advisable for long durations of use. 

[ShelbyDogg]

I use a spare tire donut from the junk yards on 16" wheels. get them from Grand Cherokee's. They are all over the junk yards right now.  I'll never put it on unless it is a total emergency as I have AAA towing through my Sprint Cell phone. Full tool box with a mini hydr. floor jack and a totally loaded trunk. I even have my Goped scooter, 1000 watt amp and 10" subwoofer in there.

[tommyg29]

I dont have a spare. Just need some plugs, plug tools, and a small compressor that plugs in the cigarette lighter. Fits in a small soft tool box.
Also dont like the rubber mat...they trap moisture.
I'm so used to plugging my tires. Have to do it in my trucks regularly. Probably done it a hundred times over the past 17 years I've been doing that. If I get more than a plug or two in a tire, I eventually take it to the tire place to have it properly patched.

[shadango]

Well, I ordered the spare tire mount the other day....got it today.

$40 for a short piece of metal!  I pictured it much bigger..... 

Well, I guess I needed it.....so it is what it is.....

SO, anyone have a picture of how it is mounted on the trunk floor?

[dodj]

Does this pic help at all? 

[tommyg29]

that looks just like my trunk, with that annoying rod poking out and no tire

[shadango]

Does this pic help at all? 

Thats awesome!   Thanks!   

Now I just have to drop the tank to install the bracket.....

[the_engineers]

Now I just have to drop the tank to install the bracket.....

While you're at it, do all the tank things...drain rinse, repeat to remove the scum...replace your float with a Ford Ranger one...etc.

[shadango]

While you're at it, do all the tank things...drain rinse, repeat to remove the scum...replace your float with a Ford Ranger one...etc.

The tank was drained and rinsed when the car was redone before I got it.....just back in february or so.....

I had replaced (several times) the sending unit as well.  The one I got in there now still has issues  LOL

[RusTy/SE]

While you're at it, do all the tank things...drain rinse, repeat to remove the scum...replace your float with a Ford Ranger one...etc.

Ford Ranger float? Did Ford accidentally create a better idea for Mopar?