Sidemounts - 1 or 2 ?

[Vic in E-TN]

I have a 30 Town Sedan. I am thinking of switching from the rear mount spare to a side mount. Are most of the sedans that are fitted with side mounts have 1 or two? On the pictures that I see you only see one side of the car at a time. I have a roadster with two.

Is there something in the written materials that offers some guidance?

Vic

[Jacksonlll]

They were dealer installed. One or two is up to you.

[Kurt in NJ]

Some tires have to have the air let out to get the tire out of the fender--Firestone is one brand, so it could be more for show than useful

[Jacksonlll]

Yes, you would have to use the smaller tire, or let some air out. We all have pumps so it's not a big deal. Maybe they make them bigger now.

[Marshall V. Daut]

Depending upon your personal size, as well as your usual passenger(s), you might want to reconsider installing side mounts. The door check straps have to be shortened so that the tire in the fender doesn't dent the opening door. This reduces the entry clearance considerably. It's worse in an open car than a closed one, but there is significantly less entry room once the conversion has been made. This is tough on - shall we say - slender-challenged folks.
You might want to find someone locally with a similar body style and side mounts to see if you really want to make the switch. It's not cheap or easy to do this, either! Consider that in addition to drilling holes in the side splash aprons for the mount arms, you'll also have to hack up the fender itself to install the wheel well. Of course, you could simply replace the entire fender with one that already has a well installed, but now you're REALLY talking big bucks! Plus, you'll have to re-paint each welled fender after installing the well. It's almost impossible to install a well without messing up the fender's paint, sometimes even some additional body work needs to be performed around the well area.
Marshall

[George Miller]

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

Originally Posted by Marshall V. Daut

Depending upon your personal size, as well as your usual passenger(s), you might want to reconsider installing side mounts. The door check straps have to be shortened so that the tire in the fender doesn't dent the opening door. This reduces the entry clearance considerably. It's worse in an open car than a closed one, but there is significantly less entry room once the conversion has been made. This is tough on - say we say - slender-challenged folks.
You might want to find someone locally with a similar body style and side mounts to see if you really want to make the switch. It's not cheap or easy to do this, either! Consider that in addition to drilling holes in the side splash aprons for the mount arms, you'll also have to hack up the fender itself to install the wheel well. Of course, you could simply replace the entire fender with one that already has a well installed, but now you're REALLY talking big bucks! Plus, you'll have to re-paint each welled fender after installing the well. It's almost impossible to install a well without messing up the fender's paint, sometimes even some additional body work needs to be performed around the well area.
Marshall

I could not agree more. My 1928 Sport coupe has 2 side mounts I do not like them. I also have to lock the doors, because some one is always coming along and opening my doors in to the tire. The rubber straps give to much when you open the doors hard.

[TerryH]

Also not real easy to work on either side of the engine.....

[Tom Wesenberg]

My 31 Town Sedan has a right side mount, but I'd be glad if it was on the rear instead. On some large luxury cars I like the side mounts, but for the cheaper basic cars I like the rear mounted spares.

[CarlG]

I would vote for "zero" side mounts. On a Pickup, there's not a whole lot of choice. I could re-locate it somewhere else as has been suggested many times here, but I really don't want to take on the task of a new fender, etc.

As to the tires fitting in the fender well, I would concur with the above remarks about the Firestones not fitting well. However when I got my Coker Radials (5.50x19) I was pleasantly surprised that they just slipped right in with no problem at all -- fully inflated.

[Jeff/Illinois]

I too vote 'no' on side mounts.

I much prefer the look of a Model A Ford without them. On '30-'31 Roadsters, I like the looks of the factory photo of the'31 Dlx. with the REAR mount 10X better than the '30 Dlx. with the side mount.

On a sedan they just look 'out-of-place' to my eye.

Our Roadster has dual side mounts and I hate them. Everybody and their brother-in-law in the 70's (when ours was first rebuilt) restoring Roadsters, lathered them up with dual side mounts. And cowl lights. Cowl lights on a '30-'31 OK on a '28-'29 NOT OK.

Our side mounts rattle and make extra racket. Forget putting the rear view mirror 'option' on one that is another waste of your time and money. They vibrate so badly there's no way they are useful. Plus if you stay with the stock lug set-up you will mar the paint on that newly re-painted fender wrestling the thing in and out.

Do as Marshall suggested. Go climb in and out of another's car w/ S.Mounts for a while, and you'll probably change your mind.

Side Mounts look great on a Packard or Cadillac or Lincoln from that era. A Model A Ford 'ain't' no Cadillac-Packard-Lincoln.

[George Miller]

When I was younger about 40 years ago, I like rumba seats in my roadster and coupe. Now I would like the trunk much more.

[1931 flamingo]

31 tudor with dual sidemounts, I have no trouble with the doors or working on the engine. FWIW
Paul in CT

[HoarseWhisperer]

The preference of side mounts and trunks vs rumble seat is discussed frequently.

Most of today's vehicles have trunks and some still have rear mounted spares.

If you have a side mount (one's enough) and a rumble seat, consider that you have something unique to the era.

I like having both. Your preference, of course.

[Jacksonlll]

I vote to leave things alone unless you just want to help the Economy.

[2manycars]

Some folks like their car to be simple, as it came from the factory, others like it gussied up. I remember seeing a 29 roadster at the New England Model A Meet in 1971 that had every conceivable accessory added to the car. The owner thought it was great, and it was his car, so his choice. My father looked at the car and said "There is a good example of guilding the lilly".
To each his own.

[Dick Carne]

On our '29 Town Sedan, I reduced the door check strap by one notch; the result being that instead of being able to open the front doors to a 90 degree angle, it has been reduced to maybe a 75 or 80 degree angle, but still more than adequate for ingress and egress. Hope this helps. I've always been one for symmetry, so if I were to consider side mounts, I personally would probably go with two rather than one, but as everyone says, it's your call. I don't think that you can go wrong either way. Best of luck to you in your decision.

Dick

[al's28/33]

My Phaeton has sidemounts and my '33 pickup has a single passenger side mounted spare. I think they are unique to that era and I like them but I would not go thru all the pain and $$$$$ agony to install from scratch.

[3.6rs]

I have a Tudor with two side mounts, and I like it.
And some people say : "it's not easy to work on the engine", -> why work on the engine when its running good ?

[CHuDWah]

I've had both side and rear mounts, so here's my opinion. Side mounts do have all the disadvantages others have mentioned. It's your choice as to whether aesthetics outweighs all that. I think side mounts look better on a 30-31 than a 28-29. They look OK on a "two-seater" (sedan, phaeton, etc) but not necessarily better than a rear mount. On a "one-seater" (coupe, roadster, etc), side mounts make the car look out of proportion - too heavy in the front end. If a car has them, I prefer the symmetry of two.

[HoarseWhisperer]

Oh, dear! My vehicle looks out of proportion. Must sell! Any takers?

[JohnLaVoy]

The Goodyear tires are made to the correct size for the Model A and will fit in the fender well.

[captndan]

Originally Posted by Kurt in NJ

Some tires have to have the air let out to get the tire out of the fender--Firestone is one brand, so it could be more for show than useful

My 31 is like that with Firestones. But it also has a rear mount so no problem.

[CHuDWah]

Originally Posted by HoarseWhisperer

Oh, dear! My vehicle looks out of proportion. Must sell! Any takers?

Well, if you price it really cheap, I might be interested in spite of those out-of-proportion sidemounts.

Seriously, no offense meant. Like I said, just my taste/opinion - YMMV.

[HoarseWhisperer]

Originally Posted by CHuDWah

Well, if you price it really cheap, I might be interested in spite of those out-of-proportion sidemounts.

Seriously, no offense meant. Like I said, just my taste/opinion - YMMV.

Sell it to someone that is going to alter my original car to a rear mount? Sacrilege!

It's all good, CHudWah!

[5window]

Originally Posted by 2manycars

Some folks like their car to be simple, as it came from the factory, others like it gussied up. I remember seeing a 29 roadster at the New England Model A Meet in 1971 that had every conceivable accessory added to the car. The owner thought it was great, and it was his car, so his choice. My father looked at the car and said "There is a good example of guilding the lilly".
To each his own.

It is actually "Gilding the lily" but I get your point.

"To adorn unnecessarily something already beautiful. The expression is a condensation of Shakespeare's metaphor in King John: "To gild refined gold, to paint the lily ... is wasteful and ridiculous excess." i.e., you wouldn't need to add gold to a beautiful lily. "

[CHuDWah]

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

Originally Posted by HoarseWhisperer

Sell it to someone that is going to alter my original car to a rear mount? Sacrilege!

It's all good, CHudWah!

At least I wouldn't make a rat rod out of it. No, an original car should remain original. If it came with sidemount (e.g., deluxe roadster/phaeton, commercial), it should stay that way. Course, most passenger Model A came with rear mount.

[midgetracer]

I love 6 wheel roadsters and don't care what anyone else thinks. My 30 phaeton had dual side mounts and a rear mounted spare when I bought it unrestored. I found that a bit much and the rear spare had to go.

[Chuck Sea/Tac]

I like the side mount, and a 19" Goodyear fits fine. Never had a problem working in that side of the engine compartment either. Whatever floats your boat!

[Bruce Adams]

My Goodyear Diamond Tread Tire fits nicely and I have no problem with it while working on the engine. Sidemounts look neat and access is easier than rear if you have a luggage rack. The door opens wide enough for me.

[H. L. Chauvin]

Hi Vic,

When I bought my 1930 Briggs Town Sedan 10 years ago, it had been stored in two different car collector's heated storage for 30 years.

It came with an aftermarket rear metal trunk, no rear spare mounted tire, and a riveted side mount as opposed to a bolted side mount on the passenger's side, which according to judging standards, this side mount was factory installed.

Every time I stop at an expensive motel, at least 5 young single women in bikinis open their motel room doors and tell me how much they like my side mounted spare tire ...... next they invite me in to have a drink .... so, I have learned through experience to keep my side mounted spare tire ..... really feel sorry for all of the other old guys who prefer their rear mounted spare tires ..... they really have no idea what they are missing.

[Dutie]

Hi H.L. Chauvin.... I have heard its whats up front that counts.

[BILL WILLIAMSON]

With a L/H side mount, I was backing up my '29 P.U, door swung open & clipped a small tree! Popped in the door & broke the plate glass window, I CRIED (REALLY) But the door popped out perfect, with a little HELP.
Bill Sniffing

[Mister Moose]

Came across this thread looking for advice on sidemount mirrors. (LH) Vibration doesn't begin to describe what this mirror does on the road. I've tried shims and they fall out.

Also, a list of those motels where sidemount appreciative bikini clad women stay would be of interest.

[DBSHELTON]

One of my cars has 1 sidemount, the other has 2. I despise them and wish I had NONE! What a PITA!

[Ed in Maine]

If you must have them, I would consider one and mount it on the passenger side to evenly distribute the weight with just the driver in the car. Why waste the money with an extra tire? Ed

[McMimmcs]

Originally Posted by TerryH

Also not real easy to work on either side of the engine.....

I agree with Terry. Often it’s a pain to get around them. They look nice but not very practical!

[CarlG]

Originally Posted by DBSHELTON

One of my cars has 1 sidemount, the other has 2. I despise them and wish I had NONE! What a PITA!

My sentiments exactly!

[Pete]

One, two, none, it all depends on what YOU want, not uncle Joe or the guy standing alongside you.
When I got my car, it had none. I wanted a BIG trunk to put lots of "stuff" in so there was no other choice but a side mount. I cut the hole so it was big enough and forward enough to accomadate a wide tire and not limit the door opening. No big deal. You do what you need to do to get what you want. If you can't do the work yourself, you hire it done. If some dipshit doesn't like your car, you are not required to talk to him.