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delete kit???

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Old Oct 23, 2008 | 03:54 PM
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Default delete kit???

is the spare tire delete kit just a steel beem that supposed to help if getting rear ended? i wouldnt think the spare tire would do much to protect. does it look better just to remove the spare tire??
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Old Oct 23, 2008 | 04:29 PM
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It's aluminum and IMO won't be helping that much in a dangerous crash. Strength wise I would think the spare tire holder would be similar to the delete bracket. Both will tear apart. Pic:



There have been many many threads on this, do a search there was just one with pictures so you can decide what looks better. I removed mine as extra weight for my track car.

I'd be curious to see some pix of rear ended cars and see how the parts actually held up.
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Old Oct 23, 2008 | 09:34 PM
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i wanted to remove my spare tire and was wondering if that delete kit would be worth it. But in my opinion its not. Thanks for the info!!
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Old Oct 23, 2008 | 09:36 PM
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The spare tire carrier won't hold up very well in a crash, but it's not designed to. The TIRE ITSELF transmits the force onto the differential, instead of the gas tank. The plate is designed to do the same thing.

I removed my carrier a while ago and haven't looked back, as there wasn't a tire in there anyway so I wasn't losing anything. Just wanted you to be fully informed.
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Old Oct 23, 2008 | 11:52 PM
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oh thats what its for.. it seems to me if someone hits you in the back with our corvettes that isnt going to do much of everything.. maybe save the gas tanks but the body would be so messed up anyway forget the tank!! haha
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Old Oct 24, 2008 | 09:29 AM
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That is the point. Without that brace or the spare tire, the gas tank takes all of the force. The tire or brace will distribute collision forces to the differential and the frame.

Sure, if you get rear-ended by a Kenworth, it may not matter. But if the guy behind you is braking before you would be hit, the chances are that his car will be nose down and the impact point will be towards the bottom of the tank. Then the tire or brace will be much more of a help and could make a difference in injury or risk of fire.

But the choice is yours.
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Old Jan 9, 2009 | 11:28 PM
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If you've got a '94 -'96 and you're planning on removing the spare, for gosh sakes make sure you use Spare Tire Delete Bracket. It's a structural part and not using it affects the crash worthiness of the car. You don't want to get "Pinto-ed" if you get rear-ended! (And if anyone's looking for one of these brackets, PM me - I have one that won't fit my '92.)
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Old Jan 10, 2009 | 03:52 AM
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Originally Posted by Jonathon1990vette
is the spare tire delete kit just a steel beem that supposed to help if getting rear ended?
I guess there's a "delete kit" for everything. What's next, motor-delete kit? Or maybe a fuel delete kit. Those are non-essential things in a car anyway..
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Old Jan 10, 2009 | 03:59 PM
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where can I find one of these spare tire delete kits? Ive tried Ecklers and Midamerica.
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Old Jan 10, 2009 | 04:42 PM
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Originally Posted by harey1
where can I find one of these spare tire delete kits? Ive tried Ecklers and Midamerica.
have to get them used. Gm ran out of them years ago.
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Old Jan 10, 2009 | 04:46 PM
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Are there any made by after market suppliers?
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Old Jan 10, 2009 | 06:10 PM
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Carguy...I'll take it! PM me to complete deal.
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Old Jan 10, 2009 | 06:54 PM
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Originally Posted by Master__Shake_
I guess there's a "delete kit" for everything. What's next, motor-delete kit? Or maybe a fuel delete kit. Those are non-essential things in a car anyway..
It's a Corvette thing, like muffler eliminators. I guess staright pipes or cutting the mufflers off doesn't sound fancy enough and it doesn't cost enough
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Old Jan 10, 2009 | 07:30 PM
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Originally Posted by Jonathon1990vette
it seems to me if someone hits you in the back with our corvettes that isnt going to do much of everything.. maybe save the gas tanks but the body would be so messed up anyway forget the tank!! haha
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Old Jan 10, 2009 | 09:40 PM
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I dont see the spare tire in the pix, you mean to say we'll get this much damage if we remove the spare tire?
Looks like the gas tank took a large part of the impact force.
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Old Jan 20, 2009 | 09:54 PM
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I plan on taking mine out without the delete kit . I can't imagine it doing much anyway
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Old Jan 21, 2009 | 10:41 AM
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Originally Posted by c4cruiser
That is the point. Without that brace or the spare tire, the gas tank takes all of the force. The tire or brace will distribute collision forces to the differential and the frame.

Sure, if you get rear-ended by a Kenworth, it may not matter. But if the guy behind you is braking before you would be hit, the chances are that his car will be nose down and the impact point will be towards the bottom of the tank. Then the tire or brace will be much more of a help and could make a difference in injury or risk of fire.

But the choice is yours.
IMO can't imagine removing spare in particular when driving on public roads. We often see comments on this forum about how many of us experience tailgaters everytime we cruise. This fact seems to increase the possibly of being rear ended. Granted I do like the w/o spare look, but safety is more important to me. Certainly there are different opinions on truely how much protection the spare provides, but I think everyone would conclude it does provide some increased margin of safety and that's enough for me. I never want to be in a position where I say to myself: "if only I would have kept my spare".

Save The Wave :flag
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