lostforawhile
10-04-2009, 08:56 PM
I had to move the spare tire out of the spare tire well due to mounting electronics down in there, I'm out of room anywhere else. I ended up making a bar out of 3/8 thick spring steel material, bolted it to the car, and it has a welded on nut. this allows me to bolt down the spare tire safely on top of the rear floorboard. I didn't just want the tire sitting there, so i ended up making a cover out of 1/8 thick birch and covering it. this allows me to store stuff inside of the tire, then put the cover over it. I have to apologize if the rear interior looks dirty, i'm working on the car, and the combination of the light and the camera make it look washed out,which it really isn't. You would think a 22 inch wooden circle and covering it would be easy, but there's a lot of circumference and area there. I forgot to take a picture of all the little triangles i cut to stretch the material, but there are a LOT of them in a circle that big. Plus my glue is on it's last legs and came out like molasses. The material I'm using is almost like a heavy tweed and it can be really tough to stretch,but the finished pieces look really good in it. There is also normally a rubber mat with material that covers the floor to protect it,but it's out in the pictures.
This is the bar that bolts to the car itself, this goes all the way across the spare tire compartment and attaches with 4 5/16 bolts and big washers even the electronic enclosures i made are upholstered in this same material. http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3439/3982006571_5b0b35663a_b.jpg
the cover that goes over the cutout in the floor board area. time to shop vac it http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2565/3982010855_105cfee63d_b.jpg
tire bolted down
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2468/3975720765_d7803fb34c_b.jpg
the tire bolts down to the bar with a 1/2 inch bolt, then the bolt has threads for a piece of threaded rod, this rod goes through the cover and secures with a wing nut. I haven't shortened the rod yet.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2432/3982801912_6a9228df4c_b.jpg
this entire interior was originally blue plastic
another piece out of this material. My washer tank is mounted in the passenger footwell, it's a custom aluminum tank, and this cover goes over it to hide the tank and give my wife a place to put her foot. the red is a reflection is all.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2658/3982776218_8a51e48a7b.jpg
this is the actual interior color, the blue is being changed to black due to sun fade , this entire panel was blue plastic at one point.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2484/3976474146_03419e8651_b.jpg
This is the bar that bolts to the car itself, this goes all the way across the spare tire compartment and attaches with 4 5/16 bolts and big washers even the electronic enclosures i made are upholstered in this same material. http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3439/3982006571_5b0b35663a_b.jpg
the cover that goes over the cutout in the floor board area. time to shop vac it http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2565/3982010855_105cfee63d_b.jpg
tire bolted down
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2468/3975720765_d7803fb34c_b.jpg
the tire bolts down to the bar with a 1/2 inch bolt, then the bolt has threads for a piece of threaded rod, this rod goes through the cover and secures with a wing nut. I haven't shortened the rod yet.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2432/3982801912_6a9228df4c_b.jpg
this entire interior was originally blue plastic
another piece out of this material. My washer tank is mounted in the passenger footwell, it's a custom aluminum tank, and this cover goes over it to hide the tank and give my wife a place to put her foot. the red is a reflection is all.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2658/3982776218_8a51e48a7b.jpg
this is the actual interior color, the blue is being changed to black due to sun fade , this entire panel was blue plastic at one point.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2484/3976474146_03419e8651_b.jpg