ati's Spare Tire Mod

[ati]

I decided I wanted a spare tire so I purchased a stock front tire and rim. To get it to fit in the spare tire well I had to trim the black plastic trim piece at the rear of the trunk. You only have to cut a small arc in it, I used a metal cutting snips to cut the plastic and then I used a wood rasp to file it smooth. With the arc cut the tire will fit into the wheel well but the tire sits 2" higher than the floor of the trunk. I cut 2 pieces of 2" styrofoam to lay on the floor of the trunk on either side of the spare tire to make everything level and flat. The trunk carpet has a fiber (wood like) backing under it that will need to be modified to fit properly. I made a card board template of the back panel then I cut away the fiber backing as needed and then I folded the carpet under the remaining fiber backing and glued it in place with a hot glue gun. I also put a piece of carpet in the spare tire well to eliminate any vibrations and I glued a piece of carpet to the back side of the trunk carpet so it would not scratch the spare tire rim. Now when I install the trunk carpet I have an exact fit up to the rear plastic trim piece. I ordered the jack and mounting hardware from Ford and installed it in the usual place. I had an extra 1/2" breaker bar and a 13/16 deep well socket so I put that in a foam sleeve and and put that under the tire as well.
I lost 2" of height in the trunk but now I have a permanent spare and don't have to worry about being stranded with a flat or blow out.
I also bought a new trunk carpet just in-case 25 years from now my son wants to put it back to factory stock..



http://i166.photobucket.com/albums/u104/atilfi/a.jpg

http://i166.photobucket.com/albums/u104/atilfi/b.jpg

http://i166.photobucket.com/albums/u104/atilfi/c.jpg

http://i166.photobucket.com/albums/u104/atilfi/d.jpg

http://i166.photobucket.com/albums/u104/atilfi/f.jpg

http://i166.photobucket.com/albums/u104/atilfi/e.jpg

[Joe G]

Nice mod, Alan.

Rep points for that!


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[Boston Mike]

+1 Mikey likey

[Snake Doc]

+1
And GREAT avatar! :sherriff:

[onecrazydog]

I have a question about a spare tire... Since the front and back are different sizes, how far could one drive with a front tire on the rear end if you blew a back tire? Wouldn' t that offset screw with the diff ratio and risk breaking something? Or not?

[68fastback]

Would depend how close the actual loaded radius of the two [different] size tires are when actually on the rear axle. Any difference will rotate the assembly as you go down the road (just like in a slight turn) and bias (slip) the clutch pack of the limited slip and generate excessive heat over time. If they're close, no problem but a larger difference can do damage to a limited slip diff. I'm guessing (just from the sizes and profiles), that using a front as a spare would not be problem at moderate speeds and for limited miles -- in a pinch -- but hard to say how much difference becomes a problem. If they're close, you may find you can get the loaded radius even closer by adjusting tire pressure (within reason) and then store the tire at the higher of what matches the rear loaded radius or the front standard pressure you normally run, whichever is greater, and then just air-down or not depending on whether it needs to go on rear or front in emergency. Just speaking in therory since I don't now how close the two actually are.

[Dad's72Mach]

I was just about to post this very same question! I am always apprehensive about taking long trips with no spare and don't want to use that crappy fix a flat junk they stuck us with and ruin the TPMS sensors and gunk up the rim. I was thinking if I get new rims and tires I could use the front I rashed as a spare but was concerned it may screw things up. I guess it's a question of messing up the diff or relying on a tow company showing up that wasn't run by some Bubba with no respect for my baby. I think I might get a plug kit, keep the compressor, carry the spare and judge the situation when and if it comes up

Thanks 68

[JTB]

There is always the Run Flats for long trips, but the cars I been in with them seemed to ride real rough due to the "Concrete" sidewalls on those tires. Maybe they have gotten better.

[68fastback]

I was just about to post this very same question! I am always apprehensive about taking long trips with no spare and don't want to use that crappy fix a flat junk they stuck us with and ruin the TPMS sensors and gunk up the rim. I was thinking if I get new rims and tires I could use the front I rashed as a spare but was concerned it may screw things up. I guess it's a question of messing up the diff or relying on a tow company showing up that wasn't run by some Bubba with no respect for my baby. I think I might get a plug kit, keep the compressor, carry the spare and judge the situation when and if it comes up

Thanks 68


That makes the most sense to me!

---

Btw, awesome mod, Alan!! rep points for sure!!

[Alloy Dave]

I decided I wanted a spare tire so I purchased a stock front tire and rim. To get it to fit in the spare tire well I had to trim the black plastic trim piece at the rear of the trunk. You only have to cut a small arc in it, I used a metal cutting snips to cut the plastic and then I used a wood rasp to file it smooth. With the arc cut the tire will fit into the wheel well but the tire sits 2" higher than the floor of the trunk. I cut 2 pieces of 2" styrofoam to lay on the floor of the trunk on either side of the spare tire to make everything level and flat. The trunk carpet has a fiber (wood like) backing under it that will need to be modified to fit properly. I made a card board template of the back panel then I cut away the fiber backing as needed and then I folded the carpet under the remaining fiber backing and glued it in place with a hot glue gun. I also put a piece of carpet in the spare tire well to eliminate any vibrations and I glued a piece of carpet to the back side of the trunk carpet so it would not scratch the spare tire rim. Now when I install the trunk carpet I have an exact fit up to the rear plastic trim piece. I ordered the jack and mounting hardware from Ford and installed it in the usual place. I had an extra 1/2" breaker bar and a 13/16 deep well socket so I put that in a foam sleeve and and put that under the tire as well.
I lost 2" of height in the trunk but now I have a permanent spare and don't have to worry about being stranded with a flat or blow out.
I also bought a new trunk carpet just in-case 25 years from now my son wants to put it back to factory stock..



http://i166.photobucket.com/albums/u104/atilfi/a.jpg

http://i166.photobucket.com/albums/u104/atilfi/b.jpg

http://i166.photobucket.com/albums/u104/atilfi/c.jpg

http://i166.photobucket.com/albums/u104/atilfi/d.jpg

http://i166.photobucket.com/albums/u104/atilfi/f.jpg

http://i166.photobucket.com/albums/u104/atilfi/e.jpgLooks like this worked pretty well.

[68fastback]

:spitcopy:

[Highwayman]

Well... other than he didn't keep the car long enough to find out

[Tommy Gun]

Had my car 10 years 100 days, 45K miles. Been from Pennsylvania to Florida in it. Tracked it 4-5 times, and never had a tire issue. :look:

.