1980 Spare wheel well

[divace73]

I have a 1980 and I have noticed that my spare tyre just sits in the tyre well, there isn't the mounting nut to screw a bolt into, is this 'normal' for a 1980 OR has some PO removed it along the way, I do recall seeing them on the earlier models....

[4uall]

mine is the same...............so I assume so there is no bracket or hole where it would mount

[Kent124]

That is normal.

[RRoller123]

Same with mine (1980 FI), although I think it is whacky that the tire just sits there. Not a good idea in case of a serious accident.

[81SPIDERMATT]

Same with mine (1980 FI), although I think it is whacky that the tire just sits there. Not a good idea in case of a serious accident.

the accident i am planning for.... that loose tire will be the least of my worries..... but mine is the same also

[RRoller123]

Not a good idea to have an item weighing that much bouncing around in an accident, especially with the gas tank and lines literally only a few inches away... I definitely plan to secure the spare tire somehow when I put in new trunk boards. Also am adding the Ford inertial switch too, to help make sure the fuel pump doesn't keep running. Maybe Don will post his pic of how he installed his? The sad reality is that in a serious accident in these cars, there is a really good chance of getting trapped inside by squished body or door metal. Having a soft top is an advantage, but the car's sheet metal is thin and there is basically no protection. Don't want to be morbid, but a wise person prepares as well as can be done.

[azruss]

a wise person drives a volvo. would be pretty simple to mount a long bolt from under the trunk floor to secure the spare. the spare is contained pretty good and dont think it would come flying out of its hole with the trunk closed.

[RRoller123]

I saw somewhere an older Spider and that is exactly what it had, a heavy threaded vertical post that was welded to the floor and centered the tire, with a plate and a large wing nut on top that could be tightened by hand. Why would they have stopped doing that? Makes no sense to me. Anyway I ain't wise by any means, but I did drive Volvos for about 25 years, gave them up when they went yuppie-expensive. The 245 Turbo wagon was fun but my 240 sedan did 300,000 miles with the original clutch and no internal engine work at all. (7) sets of tires and about 80 oil changes later, ended up selling it for $800 to a very enthusiastic buyer. LOL.

[DocGraphics]

Here's a pic of my 78 trunk showing the spare hold down that they put in the earlier Spiders

[RRoller123]

Yeah that's it, why would they stop that? Or did they tend to shear off maybe?

Nice looking trunk btw! No rust in that puppy.

[DocGraphics]

Thanks, nope no rust, just a good clean-up & repaint last year.

[divace73]

what bothers me the most is when going over speed humps or the like with a bit of speed and spare tyre jumps up and down as well, I do have some bitd from a BC that I will get welded then I get the chance..