The Ford Barn

28ACoupe · 03-10-2014, 12:53 PM

Greetings all,

I am considering relocating the spare tire from the rear of the '28 Business Coupe to the front fender so I have easy access to the trunk. I have heard that if you do this on the early cars, the tire gets in the way of the door opening properly. Is this the case?

What are the Con's to this kind of modification aside from the fact that the Business Coupes didn't come out that way?

CarlG · 03-10-2014, 01:02 PM

IMHO - The spare on the fender is more in the way than it is on the rear. If I had anyplace else to put it, I would!

George Miller · 03-10-2014, 01:07 PM

Side spares on 28-29 model's makes it hard to get in and out. Especialy if you are on the big side.

Joe K · 03-10-2014, 02:49 PM

I thought the dent on the drivers side door on a 28-29 CC pickup was factory installed.

The 28-29 Station Wagon even has the wood arranged to miss the spare tire.

Joe K

CarlG · 03-10-2014, 02:56 PM

At least on the '31 AA's, there is a factory "dent" in the door if there is a side mount spare. There isn't one on my '31 A.

Dave in MN · 03-10-2014, 03:00 PM

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I changed to dual side mounts 10 years ago on my 29 Phaeton and have regretted it for the last few years. As I am getting older, it is getting difficult to enter and exit the car. If I am to keep the car for another 10 years, I may need to change it back! I still like the way it looks but I'd rather drive the car than look at it!
I would not do it again!
Good Day!

Rowdy · 03-10-2014, 03:03 PM

I wish I had the option to move the spare from the fender to the rear of my Delivery, but so far I have not found a practical way to do it without making the rear door useless. Maybe in the future I will fabricate a swingaway mount with lock pin to make the rear door still usable. Fender spares are less than ideal IMHO, although they look nice. Rod

Bob-A · 03-10-2014, 03:03 PM

I'm 6 ft tall and weight about 225 lbs. Getting into my '29 roadster with sidemounts can be a real exercise in contortion.

Especially if the top is
up........

If your car has sidemounts, leave it that way. If not....don't change to them. Unless you've got the parts to do it with out butchering
a fender.

Bob-A

newshirt · 03-10-2014, 03:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joe K

I thought the dent on the drivers side door on a 28-29 CC pickup was factory installed.

Joe K

It was on the '31 Service Car.

Sorry for getting off-topic. Just thought this was interesting enough to share.

(Photo, courtesy of The Ford Model "A" As Henry Built It, George DeAngelis)

whirnot · 03-10-2014, 03:55 PM

I too have dual side mounts. Personally I like the look, and don't find them that difficult when getting in and out. But for cleaning the car and working on the engine, at times they get in the way. Knowing what I know, I would not move a spare to the side.

Charlie Stephens · 03-10-2014, 03:57 PM

If I had a 4 door and needed to add a luggage rack to carry things I would move the tire. If I had a rumble seat and needed to add a luggage rack to carry things I would move the tire. There is no way I would go to all the work to move the tire just to get easy access to the trunk. Having said that I guess I am lucky I have a pickup and the only place for the spare tire is in the fender (of course there is the right fender or left fender or both decision to be made).

Charlie Stephens

mccsix · 03-10-2014, 05:39 PM

I'm 6' 2" 200 and entering my 28 ccpu with a left fender mount is living cartoon event. No one with a size 10 shoe, or larger, should be allowed to own one!
I must enter with my 12s, right foot first lift myself up on the seat and drag the other 12 sideways through the door.
I always make sure no one is around for this gangly show.

700rpm · 03-10-2014, 05:49 PM

Ron, I'd say if you're going to keep the trunk, put the spare on the fender. If you put in a rumble seat, leave it in the back. I personally wish my 54A had the trunk, and have been trying to find original trunk hinges for it since I bought it, so I could convert it back.

Tom Wesenberg · 03-10-2014, 05:53 PM

Having the spare in the rear is also better weight distribution.

Now, if I could get rid of my spare tire, it would be easier to get in and out of the car.

ed thibodeau · 03-10-2014, 06:00 PM

On my 31 pickup I decided that the fender mounted spare was not going to work so I looked at the under flat bed mounting on the AA and made a similar one under the box (wide bed) that is hinged and hung a latch off the hinge pin for the tail gate, so from the rear you can just see the tire tread. It works great.

28ACoupe · 03-10-2014, 06:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 700rpm

Ron, I'd say if you're going to keep the trunk, put the spare on the fender. If you put in a rumble seat, leave it in the back. I personally wish my 54A had the trunk, and have been trying to find original trunk hinges for it since I bought it, so I could convert it back.

As I recall from when I did the conversion to a rumble seat, the original trunk hinges were just a pair of steel pins mounted in the sides of the trunk hole.

I could be wrong on this though as that was several years ago.

Larry Seemann · 03-10-2014, 06:10 PM

I too made an under-bed spare mount for my '31 widebed. Works well and is completely out of the way. Of course it came with a side mount but the fender needed to be changed when I restored it and I don't care for side mounts so I improvised and I'm very pleased with the innovation.

Paul from Maine · 03-10-2014, 07:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 28ACoupe

Greetings all,

I am considering relocating the spare tire from the rear of the '28 Business Coupe to the front fender so I have easy access to the trunk. I have heard that if you do this on the early cars, the tire gets in the way of the door opening properly. Is this the case?

What are the Con's to this kind of modification aside from the fact that the Business Coupes didn't come out that way?

Unless you're trying to get that last mile out of a bald tire, what do you really need a spare tire for? Put a spare tube, tire pump and tire irons under the seat, check your tire pressures and treads before you back out of the garage and leave the spare tire at home! I haven't had a flat on the road since I stopped buying re-capped tires thirty years ago! Sure, I've had a few punctures that slowly let the air bleed out of my tubeless tires over days or weeks on my modern vehicles, but no catastrophic flats since the re-caps! I have never had a flat on either of my T's or my A. I have now jinxed myself! I will probably suffer two flats this summer and rue the advice I have just given. However, I will have a spare handy, 'cause I like the way it looks! The Town Sedan looks naked without it (and I am chicken). I just hope I don't have a flat on my '97 Blazer! The spare donut (which was very rusty and deflated) fell off from under the rear two years ago when I drove over a speed bump at McDonald's two or three years back! I do keep a can of Fix-a-Flat in that vehicle!

al's28/33 · 03-10-2014, 07:18 PM

Keep it as is...unless you plan on installing DUAL side mounted spares, then the car looks off center and wobbly! Coupes look better with rear mounted spares!

700rpm · 03-10-2014, 07:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 28ACoupe

As I recall from when I did the conversion to a rumble seat, the original trunk hinges were just a pair of steel pins mounted in the sides of the trunk hole.

I could be wrong on this though as that was several years ago.

That's it basically, but there are some support plates and countersunk holes involved as well, from what I have heard from others. Bob Huset says he has a set of hinges and the support that he'll sell me, if he can find them.

It's been about 8 months since he said that though, so if someone else has some left over from their conversion to a rumble, please send me a PM. I'm still looking.

Charlie Stephens · 03-10-2014, 08:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 700rpm

Ron, I'd say if you're going to keep the trunk, put the spare on the fender. If you put in a rumble seat, leave it in the back. I personally wish my 54A had the trunk, and have been trying to find original trunk hinges for it since I bought it, so I could convert it back.

We definitely have a different view on this, but there is no right or wrong. I would say put it in the fender if you put in a rumble seat. That way you can add a luggage rack and people can sit in the rumble seat. Or maybe a trailer hitch with a Mullen's trailer.

Charlie Stephens

28ACoupe · 03-10-2014, 08:23 PM

If we can come up with one to look at, I can probably duplicate them pretty easily...

Quote:

Originally Posted by 700rpm

That's it basically, but there are some support plates and countersunk holes involved as well, from what I have heard from others. Bob Huset says he has a set of hinges and the support that he'll sell me, if he can find them.

It's been about 8 months since he said that though, so if someone else has some left over from their conversion to a rumble, please send me a PM. I'm still looking.

John LaVoy · 03-10-2014, 08:35 PM

The doors on Model As were small and with side mounts getting in and out is a challenge, but the other down side is working on the engine, you work around the wheel or take it out of the fender to do any work in the engine compartment. It is the reason my sedan does not have side mounts, even though I think they look neat and have them on my other car!

Dusty · 03-10-2014, 09:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tom Wesenberg

Having the spare in the rear is also better weight distribution.

Now, if I could get rid of my spare tire, it would be easier to get in and out of the car.

I gut(pun intented) front, rear and duel side mounts

Living large in WV.
dusty

Dusty · 03-10-2014, 10:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bob-A

I'm 6 ft tall and weight about 225 lbs. Getting into my '29 roadster with sidemounts can be a real exercise in contortion.

Especially if the top is
up........

If your car has sidemounts, leave it that way. If not....don't change to them. Unless you've got the parts to do it with out butchering
a fender.

Bob-A

I'm 6FT 300# and its all about proper entry and ejection, finesse is everything. Now my small feet(8.5) do help........but you know what they say about small feet

Size matters in WV

dusty

garyaodell · 03-10-2014, 10:11 PM

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The spare in the fender does get in the way, but if you are going to put one on the fender I would recommend putting it on the passenger side so it does not get in your, the drivers, way.

Mike V. Florida · 03-10-2014, 10:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Charlie Stephens

If I had a 4 door and needed to add a luggage rack to carry things I would move the tire. If I had a rumble seat and needed to add a luggage rack to carry things I would move the tire. There is no way I would go to all the work to move the tire just to get easy access to the trunk. Having said that I guess I am lucky I have a pickup and the only place for the spare tire is in the fender (of course there is the right fender or left fender or both decision to be made).

Charlie Stephens

I have a fordor, luggage rack and trunk, with the spare on the rear.

700rpm · 03-10-2014, 10:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Charlie Stephens

We definitely have a different view on this, but there is no right or wrong. I would say put it in the fender if you put in a rumble seat. That way you can add a luggage rack and people can sit in the rumble seat. Or maybe a trailer hitch with a Mullen's trailer.

Charlie Stephens

Those are good ideas, Charlie. I'm gonna have to adjust my thinking.

Lycoming-8 · 03-11-2014, 12:03 AM

I drove our Feb '29 Business coupe as a daily driver for nearly four years. All during that time I fairly frequently needed access to the STOCK trunk, and found the tire was really not in the way. During this same time, I had a picture of a '28 or '29 Business coupe that had belonged to my Dad's college room-mate. It had at least one fender mount spare on the driver's side (side pictured), and I proceeded to collect the parts necessary to eventually make the conversion. However as has been mentioned above, I came to realize that with a trunk there really was no need for the fender mount, and it actually tends to make a visually unbalanced look on a coupe!!

Mine has stayed the same as it was built.

Ron Lachniet · 03-11-2014, 06:40 AM

I have fender mounted tires on my tudor and I can't tell any difference getting in or out and working under the hood is about the same. It really makes the trunk on the back look better. It is harder to clean around the spare tires but other than that I am happy with the setup.

1931 flamingo · 03-11-2014, 11:07 AM

As Ron stated above, I don't have a problem with mine (dual sidemounts) either. The doors don't hit the tires so they don't interfere with getting in and out and how much time do you spend under the hood??
Paul in CT

Mark W. · 03-11-2014, 11:27 AM

I'm in the camp for "leave it on the back" but to each their own. I think that so many were "restored" into having side mounts that the rear-mount has personality.

As for using the rumble seat, I've had a 72 year young friend hop right into there saying it was fun to re-live his childhood memories of his dad's car and he is 6'-6" tall... I've also gotten in the back just to see how it felt and I'm 6ft, 260 lbs of middle-aged cranky and did not think it was all that bad - the tire gives one more place to lean onto getting over the side.

kelley's restoration · 03-11-2014, 11:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by John LaVoy

The doors on Model As were small and with side mounts getting in and out is a challenge, but the other down side is working on the engine, you work around the wheel or take it out of the fender to do any work in the engine compartment. It is the reason my sedan does not have side mounts, even though I think they look neat and have them on my other car!

the engine work is what would stop me
also 6'4" 260 lbs
it is a bit harder to get the grocerys in and out, but i would rather have it hard to grab the milk once in a while than hard to get in and out all the time
tk

Franchise_24 · 03-11-2014, 11:52 AM

Don't they make it in a way that you have the spare tire next to the body of the coupe and then the trunk in front of the spare tire? I swear I've seen coupes like this before.

hootchmonster · 03-11-2014, 12:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by garyaodell

The spare in the fender does get in the way, but if you are going to put one on the fender I would recommend putting it on the passenger side so it does not get in your, the drivers, way.

Huh! When my grandpa was putting As together he usually put dual side mounts on, except one, his personal driver that I am getting ready to aquire. It's a '31 Town Sedan with a passenger side mount. He's not around anymore and I always wondered why not that one. Now I know!

Ron Lachniet · 03-11-2014, 03:08 PM

In the last year I have had my intake and exhaust off, my points changed and my steering box out and my spare tires have stayed in the wells. I don't think they get in way at all when working on my engine.

03-10-2014, 12:53 PM	#1
28ACoupe Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Posts: 559	Pro's and Con's of relocating the spare tire? Greetings all, I am considering relocating the spare tire from the rear of the '28 Business Coupe to the front fender so I have easy access to the trunk. I have heard that if you do this on the early cars, the tire gets in the way of the door opening properly. Is this the case? What are the Con's to this kind of modification aside from the fact that the Business Coupes didn't come out that way? __________________ 1928 Model A Business Coupe Rebuild picture gallery here The light at the end of the tunnel has been turned off due to budget cuts.

03-10-2014, 01:02 PM	#2
CarlG Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Anchorage, Alaska Posts: 9,115	Re: Pro's and Con's of relocating the spare tire? IMHO - The spare on the fender is more in the way than it is on the rear. If I had anyplace else to put it, I would! __________________ Alaskan A's Antique Auto Mushers of Alaska Model A Ford Club of America Model A Restorers Club Antique Automobile Club of America Mullins Owner's Club

03-10-2014, 01:07 PM	#3
George Miller Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: NC Posts: 2,975	Re: Pro's and Con's of relocating the spare tire? Side spares on 28-29 model's makes it hard to get in and out. Especialy if you are on the big side. Last edited by George Miller; 03-10-2014 at 05:14 PM.

03-10-2014, 02:49 PM	#4
Joe K Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Cow Hampshire Posts: 4,188	Re: Pro's and Con's of relocating the spare tire? I thought the dent on the drivers side door on a 28-29 CC pickup was factory installed. The 28-29 Station Wagon even has the wood arranged to miss the spare tire. Joe K __________________ Shudda kept the horse.

03-10-2014, 02:56 PM	#5
CarlG Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Anchorage, Alaska Posts: 9,115	Re: Pro's and Con's of relocating the spare tire? At least on the '31 AA's, there is a factory "dent" in the door if there is a side mount spare. There isn't one on my '31 A. __________________ Alaskan A's Antique Auto Mushers of Alaska Model A Ford Club of America Model A Restorers Club Antique Automobile Club of America Mullins Owner's Club

03-10-2014, 03:00 PM	#6
Dave in MN Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Jordan, MN Posts: 1,411	Re: Pro's and Con's of relocating the spare tire? Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) I changed to dual side mounts 10 years ago on my 29 Phaeton and have regretted it for the last few years. As I am getting older, it is getting difficult to enter and exit the car. If I am to keep the car for another 10 years, I may need to change it back! I still like the way it looks but I'd rather drive the car than look at it! I would not do it again! Good Day! Last edited by Dave in MN; 03-10-2014 at 03:11 PM.

03-10-2014, 03:03 PM	#7
Rowdy BANNED Join Date: May 2010 Location: Gothenburg Nebraska Just off I-80 Posts: 4,893	Re: Pro's and Con's of relocating the spare tire? I wish I had the option to move the spare from the fender to the rear of my Delivery, but so far I have not found a practical way to do it without making the rear door useless. Maybe in the future I will fabricate a swingaway mount with lock pin to make the rear door still usable. Fender spares are less than ideal IMHO, although they look nice. Rod __________________ Do the RIGHT thing - Support the H.A.M.B. Alliance!!!!

03-10-2014, 03:03 PM	#8
Bob-A Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Central FL, USA Posts: 1,138	Re: Pro's and Con's of relocating the spare tire? I'm 6 ft tall and weight about 225 lbs. Getting into my '29 roadster with sidemounts can be a real exercise in contortion. Especially if the top is up........ If your car has sidemounts, leave it that way. If not....don't change to them. Unless you've got the parts to do it with out butchering a fender. Bob-A

03-10-2014, 03:55 PM	#10
whirnot Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Bend Or. Posts: 1,057	Re: Pro's and Con's of relocating the spare tire? I too have dual side mounts. Personally I like the look, and don't find them that difficult when getting in and out. But for cleaning the car and working on the engine, at times they get in the way. Knowing what I know, I would not move a spare to the side. __________________ Bill Worden 1929 Roadster 1929 Briggs Town Sedan 1930 Closed Cab pickup Smith Motor Compressor 1951 Ford F1 High Desert Model A's

03-10-2014, 03:57 PM	#11
Charlie Stephens Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Southern California Posts: 7,033	Re: Pro's and Con's of relocating the spare tire? If I had a 4 door and needed to add a luggage rack to carry things I would move the tire. If I had a rumble seat and needed to add a luggage rack to carry things I would move the tire. There is no way I would go to all the work to move the tire just to get easy access to the trunk. Having said that I guess I am lucky I have a pickup and the only place for the spare tire is in the fender (of course there is the right fender or left fender or both decision to be made). Charlie Stephens

03-10-2014, 05:39 PM	#12
mccsix Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Pensacola Fl Posts: 305	Re: Pro's and Con's of relocating the spare tire? I'm 6' 2" 200 and entering my 28 ccpu with a left fender mount is living cartoon event. No one with a size 10 shoe, or larger, should be allowed to own one! I must enter with my 12s, right foot first lift myself up on the seat and drag the other 12 sideways through the door. I always make sure no one is around for this gangly show. __________________ Gene USN

03-10-2014, 05:49 PM	#13
700rpm Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 5,906	Re: Pro's and Con's of relocating the spare tire? Ron, I'd say if you're going to keep the trunk, put the spare on the fender. If you put in a rumble seat, leave it in the back. I personally wish my 54A had the trunk, and have been trying to find original trunk hinges for it since I bought it, so I could convert it back. __________________ Ray Horton, Portland, OR As you go through life, keep your eye on the donut, not the hole.

03-10-2014, 05:53 PM	#14
Tom Wesenberg Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Mpls, MN Posts: 27,582	Re: Pro's and Con's of relocating the spare tire? Having the spare in the rear is also better weight distribution. Now, if I could get rid of my spare tire, it would be easier to get in and out of the car.

03-10-2014, 06:00 PM	#15
ed thibodeau Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Pinckney, Mich. Posts: 174	Re: Pro's and Con's of relocating the spare tire? On my 31 pickup I decided that the fender mounted spare was not going to work so I looked at the under flat bed mounting on the AA and made a similar one under the box (wide bed) that is hinged and hung a latch off the hinge pin for the tail gate, so from the rear you can just see the tire tread. It works great.

03-10-2014, 06:10 PM	#17
Larry Seemann Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Spokane, WA. Posts: 496	Re: Pro's and Con's of relocating the spare tire? I too made an under-bed spare mount for my '31 widebed. Works well and is completely out of the way. Of course it came with a side mount but the fender needed to be changed when I restored it and I don't care for side mounts so I improvised and I'm very pleased with the innovation. __________________ Larry Seemann

03-10-2014, 07:18 PM	#19
al's28/33 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Redwood City, CA Posts: 1,591	Re: Pro's and Con's of relocating the spare tire? Keep it as is...unless you plan on installing DUAL side mounted spares, then the car looks off center and wobbly! Coupes look better with rear mounted spares! __________________ 1928 "A" Phaeton (mid year with many early features) 1933 "V8" Closed-Cab Pickup Truck (originally a Model B, 4 Cylinder dating to May, 1933)

03-10-2014, 08:35 PM	#23
John LaVoy Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Rocklin, CA Posts: 1,219	Re: Pro's and Con's of relocating the spare tire? The doors on Model As were small and with side mounts getting in and out is a challenge, but the other down side is working on the engine, you work around the wheel or take it out of the fender to do any work in the engine compartment. It is the reason my sedan does not have side mounts, even though I think they look neat and have them on my other car!

03-10-2014, 10:11 PM	#26
garyaodell Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Idaho Falls, Id Posts: 31	Re: Pro's and Con's of relocating the spare tire? Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) The spare in the fender does get in the way, but if you are going to put one on the fender I would recommend putting it on the passenger side so it does not get in your, the drivers, way.

03-11-2014, 12:03 AM	#29
Lycoming-8 Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 76	Re: Pro's and Con's of relocating the spare tire? I drove our Feb '29 Business coupe as a daily driver for nearly four years. All during that time I fairly frequently needed access to the STOCK trunk, and found the tire was really not in the way. During this same time, I had a picture of a '28 or '29 Business coupe that had belonged to my Dad's college room-mate. It had at least one fender mount spare on the driver's side (side pictured), and I proceeded to collect the parts necessary to eventually make the conversion. However as has been mentioned above, I came to realize that with a trunk there really was no need for the fender mount, and it actually tends to make a visually unbalanced look on a coupe!! Mine has stayed the same as it was built.

03-11-2014, 06:40 AM	#30
Ron Lachniet Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Lowell MI Posts: 167	Re: Pro's and Con's of relocating the spare tire? I have fender mounted tires on my tudor and I can't tell any difference getting in or out and working under the hood is about the same. It really makes the trunk on the back look better. It is harder to clean around the spare tires but other than that I am happy with the setup.

03-11-2014, 11:07 AM	#31
1931 flamingo Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: new britain,ct 06052 Posts: 9,390	Re: Pro's and Con's of relocating the spare tire? As Ron stated above, I don't have a problem with mine (dual sidemounts) either. The doors don't hit the tires so they don't interfere with getting in and out and how much time do you spend under the hood?? Paul in CT

03-11-2014, 11:27 AM	#32
Mark W. Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Maine Posts: 342	Re: Pro's and Con's of relocating the spare tire? I'm in the camp for "leave it on the back" but to each their own. I think that so many were "restored" into having side mounts that the rear-mount has personality. As for using the rumble seat, I've had a 72 year young friend hop right into there saying it was fun to re-live his childhood memories of his dad's car and he is 6'-6" tall... I've also gotten in the back just to see how it felt and I'm 6ft, 260 lbs of middle-aged cranky and did not think it was all that bad - the tire gives one more place to lean onto getting over the side.

03-11-2014, 11:52 AM	#34
Franchise_24 Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Lexington, Ohio Posts: 782	Re: Pro's and Con's of relocating the spare tire? Don't they make it in a way that you have the spare tire next to the body of the coupe and then the trunk in front of the spare tire? I swear I've seen coupes like this before. __________________ 1929 Model A Ford Coupe

03-11-2014, 03:08 PM	#36
Ron Lachniet Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Lowell MI Posts: 167	Re: Pro's and Con's of relocating the spare tire? In the last year I have had my intake and exhaust off, my points changed and my steering box out and my spare tires have stayed in the wells. I don't think they get in way at all when working on my engine.