no spare.. i just added chrome and paint instead...

 

No spare or carrier for me and I removed the exhaust aft of the, now gutted, cat. I mostly race and drive to shows. Now it sounds better, not quite as loud as open headers, and looks a lot cleaner. I also saved a lot of weight; just weighed at the track 1640 lb front, 1500 rear, 3140 total.

 

That's my opinion, too. This is why I kept the carrier, but not the spare tire...

 

spinadog,

I had to loosen and lengthen the forward two carriage bolts to the tire tub almost to the end to get the tub to the deepest depth I could, and my 225 x 70 x15 tire on stock rallye wheel just makes it. If you don't do that you will put two much strain on the reinforcement metal straps that have the "catch" portion that hooks to the lock carriage bolt, which should be lengthened as well.

 

Maintenance-Schmaintenance!

If you run over a chunk of metal in the road, or back up over a nail, all the prevention in the world ain't gonna help. Tires go flat and there's not a lot you can do about an invisible or unavoidable hazard, regardless of how careful you may be.

A new spare tire and used wheel for a stock C3 costs no more than $150.00, there's a place to keep it (that goes quite well with the design of the car) and will get you out of a very inconvenient and potentially dangerous jam with a minimum of hassle. There is a reason that cars come with either a spare or a reinflation system...

Many may never have had a flat, on the road, or worse, in a rural area, out of cell range, with no service station or motel within 25 miles...I haven't...and I don't ever, ever want to either. But guess what, I have a new, functional spare in case it ever does happen. 15 minutes of work and I'm back on the road to civilization. Not having a spare or back-up system is like making a bet that it won't happen, and seems to indicate that your time, effort and disposition have no value. It also seems pretty irresponsible if you happen to ever have a passenger who would also have to endure the pain and suffering of having a flat with no back-up plan. I know that if it were my wife, the pain and suffering would be magnified by 10, and I'd never hear the end of it. That alone is enough of an incentive to have a working spare!

I also carry this expensive thing called "auto insurance" on all my cars although I've never been involved in an accident....and I've been driving 35 years!

 

I'm running 235 60 R15s and have room to spare on the diameter, but have trouble getting the width to fit. The long bolts toward the front of the car need to be down as low as I dare go (basically the end of the bolt flush with the nut), and I still didn't have quite enough room to get it closed with the standard latching bolt. I am thinking of just adding a few washers under the latching bolt bracket as I am short by less than a quarter of an inch.

 

I like the idea of having something between the road and my gas tank/fuel connections or someone elses front end and my gas tank. I also think it looks better from behind with the tub. You will also upset the perfect 50/50 weight distribution of your car if you remove the spare and the tub.

 

Finally!

I was about to mention that myself.

 

If you have aluminum heads on your car, you can get that 50/50 weight distribution back while losing close to 100 lbs.

I think it is cool to be able to see all of the suspension parts moving when you go down the road. Especially if everything is cleaned up underneath

 

 

Mine didn't come with spare either, I priced out a new carrier, it's about $400 plus the spare, I'll get towed three times to home for that kind of $$$...as far as the look, I'm fine with it showing the suspension, exhaust...

Funny though, being my 1st older Vette I didn't know to check underneath for a spare...assumed it would be there...

Kevin

 

Shark & PKguitar - thanks. Looks like I will find a cheap $hitty tire to use as my spare. Appreciate the advice.

 

Yes, but it looks great if you have side pipes and have everything detailed under the back. Don't need a spare anyway. I just use the vette locally and have road service coverage on my insurance if I get a flat tire.

 

I kept the carrier also with no spare because of the size of the 18" wheels l am using, however l do carry a small air compressor, a jack and an amazing tire repair kit (pocket tire plugger). I've repaired a few flats in my day, no big deal.

 

onaqwst: nice looking rear end. Is that a factory installed sway bar using factory mounting points? I'm thinking of adding a radiator with electric fan and then installing a front stabilizer bar across the shock towers and adding a rear stabilizer as well. I don't think I have the drilled holes from the factory though.