Author Topic: Spare tire/wheel fit on trunk mount  (Read 9392 times)

Iconic

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Spare tire/wheel fit on trunk mount
« on: February 06, 2011, 20:31:28 »
Please help if you can.
I just purchased a used spare tire pedestal and fastener. See the pictures.
I bought the 3 pieces. Pedestal, disk with hole (I'll call it big washer), and bent threaded rod.
I have a few questions. My car didn't have anything except the 4 mounting holes and bolts in the trunk floor, so I have never really seen how it is supposed to work. My car is a 1970 280 SL. I am using an aluminum wheel and 195/75/14 tire. At the risk of showing my ugly trunk floor, I have attached pictures.
1. Are the the big washer and threaded rod correct for my car?
2. What was the factory finish? Is it the trunk dark grey?
3. When the spare is mounted in the trunk, the left side is up from the trunk floor about 8 inches. Does this sound correct? Do I have the correct pedestal?
4. It is a very tight fit to get the tire in, and the bolt is not long enough to engage the threads when I put it through the hole in the vinyl cover. This is probably from the tire size and aluminum wheel, correct?
Any answers and pictures are appreciated.
Mark
1970 280 SL Automatic, USA version, Grey-Blue (906G/906G), Blue leather (245)
1968 SS396 Camaro Convertible (owned since 1977 -- my first car :D)
1984 Porsche Euro Carrera coupe, LSD, SlateBlueMet/Blue
1998 BMW M-Rdstr Estoril Blue
1970 280 SL Automatic, Anthracite Grey-173G, Red Interior-132 - sold

Garry

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Re: Spare tire/wheel fit on trunk mount
« Reply #1 on: February 06, 2011, 21:10:53 »
Mark,

Here is a couple of photos of a 195 fitted in trunk of 280SL note RHD not sure if it's different but still should give you detail needed. Its always a jiggle to get tire in.

Cheers
Garry
« Last Edit: February 06, 2011, 21:39:56 by Garry »
Garry Marks
Melbourne/ Kyneton, Brisbane. Australia
1969 MB 280SL 5 speed RHD SOLD.
1965 MB 230SL Auto RHD Lt Blue 334G, Top 350H, Tourist Delivery.
1972 MB 280CE Auto RHD 906G
2005 MB A200
2006 MB B200
2019 Izuzu DMax 4x4 Slide-on camper.
2022 Volvo XC40 Electric
2024 Volvo EX30 Electric

dtuttle123

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Re: Spare tire/wheel fit on trunk mount
« Reply #2 on: February 06, 2011, 21:22:35 »
Mark - another photo - in this view it shows how the wheel chock fits in.

Garry

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Re: Spare tire/wheel fit on trunk mount
« Reply #3 on: February 06, 2011, 21:41:01 »
And now I realise I need a wheel chock! ??? and I need to clean up the trunk ;D
Garry Marks
Melbourne/ Kyneton, Brisbane. Australia
1969 MB 280SL 5 speed RHD SOLD.
1965 MB 230SL Auto RHD Lt Blue 334G, Top 350H, Tourist Delivery.
1972 MB 280CE Auto RHD 906G
2005 MB A200
2006 MB B200
2019 Izuzu DMax 4x4 Slide-on camper.
2022 Volvo XC40 Electric
2024 Volvo EX30 Electric

Iconic

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Re: Spare tire/wheel fit on trunk mount
« Reply #4 on: February 06, 2011, 22:05:45 »
Thanks Garry and Doug !!
It looks like I've got all the right pieces. They do have the wrong finish, but I'm not worried about that.
Garry, your picture shows your tire up in the air, just like mine. No reason for a difference in the trunk with a RHD vs. LHD.
So, if your is correct, mine is correct.  ;D
I'm sure the thickness of the aluminum wheel might be giving me trouble. Also, not a big deal. I was able to get it in, I just wanted to make sure it was correct.
Sorry that you had to realize you didn't have the chock. That was one of the pieces I already had.
Thanks again.
Mark
1970 280 SL Automatic, USA version, Grey-Blue (906G/906G), Blue leather (245)
1968 SS396 Camaro Convertible (owned since 1977 -- my first car :D)
1984 Porsche Euro Carrera coupe, LSD, SlateBlueMet/Blue
1998 BMW M-Rdstr Estoril Blue
1970 280 SL Automatic, Anthracite Grey-173G, Red Interior-132 - sold

badali

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Re: Spare tire/wheel fit on trunk mount
« Reply #5 on: February 07, 2011, 03:05:59 »
Here are some 230 SL trunk pics for comparison.
Brad

1961 220 Sb
1966 230 SL (Sold)
2019 E 450 4 Matic
2022 GLC 300 4 Matic

tel76

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Re: Spare tire/wheel fit on trunk mount
« Reply #6 on: February 07, 2011, 08:50:10 »
This might sound a stupid question but i have a jack just like Brad's.
What sort of handle is used to make the jack work and also is it an early 230sl arrangement?
Eric

badali

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Re: Spare tire/wheel fit on trunk mount
« Reply #7 on: February 07, 2011, 13:02:29 »
I never tried it.  I'm not sure.
Brad

1961 220 Sb
1966 230 SL (Sold)
2019 E 450 4 Matic
2022 GLC 300 4 Matic

49er

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Re: Spare tire/wheel fit on trunk mount
« Reply #8 on: February 07, 2011, 17:15:15 »
 Here are a few pictures from 280 SL. The handle pulls out of the "screw" and is a ratchet. Also notice that on my car, the lug wrench fits into the spare wheel cover along with the centering pin.

John
1969 280SL 003820
Un Restored, All Original, including the paint
Original Owner, Purchased September 18, 1968
4 speed manual, PS. 77217 miles
7280 miles since awoken from her 20+ yr "nap" in 2010

Iconic

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Re: Spare tire/wheel fit on trunk mount
« Reply #9 on: February 07, 2011, 18:25:05 »
Thank you badali and 49er.
I was going to start making assumptions about the different jacks and "big washer" and hold down bolt. Like the early have one kind and the late have another, but based on what I see here, I'm not even going to touch that topic.
By the way, 49er, your car is awesome.
1970 280 SL Automatic, USA version, Grey-Blue (906G/906G), Blue leather (245)
1968 SS396 Camaro Convertible (owned since 1977 -- my first car :D)
1984 Porsche Euro Carrera coupe, LSD, SlateBlueMet/Blue
1998 BMW M-Rdstr Estoril Blue
1970 280 SL Automatic, Anthracite Grey-173G, Red Interior-132 - sold

49er

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Re: Spare tire/wheel fit on trunk mount
« Reply #10 on: February 07, 2011, 18:37:36 »
By the way, 49er, your car is awesome.
Thanks for the compliment. She has been "in the family" for a long time. Always garaged (with a car cover too) and never been on a salted road helps:-)

John
1969 280SL 003820
Un Restored, All Original, including the paint
Original Owner, Purchased September 18, 1968
4 speed manual, PS. 77217 miles
7280 miles since awoken from her 20+ yr "nap" in 2010