Spare Tire Tub help 65?

[Tom S.]

How is the best way to remove the flat head bolts on the front of the tire tub on a 65? I have everything else ready to come out except the two front flat heads. By the way I found the original spare tire in the tub. It was flat but like new. Please advise. Thanks Tom

[William C.]

Re: Spare Tire Tub help 65?

with the tire out and the cover open, you can move to cover enough to get a wrench (as I remember 3/4 open end, but size might need some trial and error) and just turn it out of the crossmember. Might require some heat or kroil. or whatever your personal favorite "helper" is, but should screw out.

[Tom S.]

Re: Spare Tire Tub help 65?

Bill
Thanks for the quick response. I will try the 3/4 that looks about right. I have not had a problem turning 1 bolt out yet. Hopefully that does not change. This car has never seen road salt or severe weather. What a pleasure to work on one that is not rusty. Thanks Again. Tom

[Tom H.]

Re: Spare Tire Tub help 65?

Hey Tom !

Good find on the original spare !!!!

[Tom S.]

Re: Spare Tire Tub help 65?

No luck on gettting out the two flat head bolts. The heads are about 15/16-1 inch. Anyway I have them soaking and no luck yet. I have a pair of 24" channel locks and no movey! And ideas would be appreciated. Thanks Tom

[Mike G.]

Don't strip the weldnut!

Easy to ruin the nut by forcing rusted threads through it, once you've got the bolt broken loose.

Fortunately, GM gave us access to the tip of the bolt via holes in the cross support. Shoot some Kroil in there and give it a day to work. I use a MAPP torch if necessary to get things moving. Observe obvious safety precautions.

While unscrewing the bolt, if it starts to bind up --screw it back in and flush the protruding threads with more Kroil. It's that build-up of crud that will ruin the nut and send you off in search of a thread repair kit.

[Tom S.]

Re: Spare Tire Tub help 65?

They are out. After soaking them all day and working at it myself I had my son stop on his way home from work. Well I don't know if it was an ex- football player that weighs about 250 with a grip that won't quit, and works out daily or the penetrating oil. He tightened them a tad, then unscrewed them a tad back up and then all the way out. Thanks for all the responses and help.I told him I would call him miracle man from now on!I am trying to get him into the corvette hobby, but not yet! Tom Stanton #41491

[Stuart F.]

Re: Spare Tire Tub help 65?

Tom;

You have to recruit a son into the Corvette hobby at a young and tender age. I had mine (Brian) working with me back in the mid 70's. His twin brother never could stand to hear all the four letter words in the garage, but He put up with it and to this day has done real well with the four Vettes he's had to date. He has a lot more patience than I as I figure he learned to approach his projects in just the opposite manner that his old man did. Speaking of original spare tires, I still have mine and it's never been on the ground. An old U.S. Royal - and it never will see the ground either for a multitude of safety reasons.

Stu Fox

[Tom S.]

Re: Spare Tire Tub help 65?

The manual on page 76 states that the bolt for the lock on the rear of the spare tire carrier is Cadmium plated. I cannot see any mention of the bracket that the bolt goes through and mounts to the frame. I assume that it is black of some fasion? What is the story? Tom

[John H.]

Re: Spare Tire Tub help 65?

The manual on page 76 states that the bolt for the lock on the rear of the spare tire carrier is Cadmium plated. I cannot see any mention of the bracket that the bolt goes through and mounts to the frame. I assume that it is black of some fasion? What is the story? Tom

Tom -

The bracket should be semi-gloss black; it was dip-primed originally.

[Tom S.]

Re: Spare Tire Tub help 65?

Thanks John. That is what I was thinking but wanted to be sure. Tom