Making space for full size spare wheel
Discussion
There was a post recently on ANOther forum about hanging the space-saver spare on a Mk1 underneath the boot floor.
This required some exhaust re-routeing and their method of hanging it from a single bolt (albeit with a strengthening plate above) could be improved upon.
Easiest way is to draw an outline of the wheel & tyre onto cardboard, jack the car up and see if it's likely to fit.
HTH and be interested to see if it works.
Alternatively can you not fit a slightly narrower profile proper wheel & tyre into the boot as an emergency spare?
I did that with my last SAAB as we towed overseas and I didn't fancy my chances on a space-saver spare.
Cheers, Pewe.
This required some exhaust re-routeing and their method of hanging it from a single bolt (albeit with a strengthening plate above) could be improved upon.
Easiest way is to draw an outline of the wheel & tyre onto cardboard, jack the car up and see if it's likely to fit.
HTH and be interested to see if it works.
Alternatively can you not fit a slightly narrower profile proper wheel & tyre into the boot as an emergency spare?
I did that with my last SAAB as we towed overseas and I didn't fancy my chances on a space-saver spare.
Cheers, Pewe.
I don't really want the wheel hung under the car, and I think that would require more exhaust re-routing than I want to do. My plan is to make a simple drop well semicircular in shape, so the wheel sits vertically, then spot welded together then dropped into a hole cut on the boot floor between the rear chassis legs, welded in and sealed up nicely, in fact with the flange round the outside it could be riveted or bolted and structurally bonded in - that would be the way if anyone wanted one made for them to fit at home
MX-5 Lazza said:
Is it tomorrow yet? 
Sorry about that, had to miss one out! Having looked properly at the car today it looks quite possible to tweak the drivers end of the rear silencer forward and extend the tailpipe a little, which would make enough space to fit a drop well across the rear of the boot, which would put the top of a full size spare just in front of and level with the boot latch, have to cut the hole now!
SportsCarShop said:
Sorry about that, had to miss one out! Having looked properly at the car today it looks quite possible to tweak the drivers end of the rear silencer forward and extend the tailpipe a little, which would make enough space to fit a drop well across the rear of the boot, which would put the top of a full size spare just in front of and level with the boot latch,
have to cut the hole now!
Yes, but Lazza's point is, you can't physically get a full sized wheel into the boot. it's not due to the lack of depth, but that you can't fit it into the boot opening.have to cut the hole now!
Like trying to force a TV though a letterbox, it ain't going to go though.
Richyvrlimited said:
Yes, but Lazza's point is, you can't physically get a full sized wheel into the boot. it's not due to the lack of depth, but that you can't fit it into the boot opening.
Like trying to force a TV though a letterbox, it ain't going to go though.
Exactly - and that is why I'm suggesting that you try putting a wheel into the boot before you think about cutting things about as it might be a non-starter.Like trying to force a TV though a letterbox, it ain't going to go though.
MX-5 Lazza said:
Richyvrlimited said:
Yes, but Lazza's point is, you can't physically get a full sized wheel into the boot. it's not due to the lack of depth, but that you can't fit it into the boot opening.
Like trying to force a TV though a letterbox, it ain't going to go though.
Exactly - and that is why I'm suggesting that you try putting a wheel into the boot before you think about cutting things about as it might be a non-starter.Like trying to force a TV though a letterbox, it ain't going to go though.
the mk1 MX5s boot lid is large and opens fully. Even with a 205 tyre it won't be a problem to drop a wheel vertically into a drop well at the very rear , across the car.
With the drop well base at the same height as the base of the rear bumper the top of the wheel sits level with the catch, the arrangement isn't going to suit everyone as it will obstruct the boot opening to an extent, however I have a liking for the Powervamp PRV35 small aircraft battery for customer installations, which when well installed in a discreet forward corner occupies a whole lot less space than the standard thing, so a lot of boot space can be reclaimed.
That's the point. The opening isn't big enough for even a 195/50/15 to drop into the boot. The diameter of the tyre is bigger than the boot opening. With a narrow enough tyre you might be able to angle the wheel under the rear overhang but the boot catch intrudes into the space making even that difficult so it still won't drop in. The depth of the boot isn't the problem, it's already deep enough to hold a full size wheel (taking up all the boot space) if only it could get through the opening.
Instead of talking about it, try it...
Instead of talking about it, try it...
I
MX-5 Lazza said:
That's the point. The opening isn't big enough for even a 195/50/15 to drop into the boot. The diameter of the tyre is bigger than the boot opening. With a narrow enough tyre you might be able to angle the wheel under the rear overhang but the boot catch intrudes into the space making even that difficult so it still won't drop in. The depth of the boot isn't the problem, it's already deep enough to hold a full size wheel (taking up all the boot space) if only it could get through the opening.
Instead of talking about it, try it...
No I'm putting the wheel in the boot the same way up as it fits on the car, installed in the rearmost position transversely across the car. The wheel's diameter allows it to fall between the rear chassis legs, the boot lid is much wider and opens high, I suppose the next thing for me is to cut the hole and drop a wheel into it onto a jack raised to the height of the base of the rear bumper, then do a piccy with no rear bumper fitted!Instead of talking about it, try it...
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