Since my car will not have any petrol tank, and will have an LPG tank fitted where the spare wheel sits currently, I was considering welding in that section of floor (from a UC or any vehicle with a similar setup) into the boot of my LX sedan.
Has this been done before? Are there any issues this will create?
I'm thinking it may be a problem with the tow bar setup I am also planning.
Legal problems?; will they notice? if it looks nicely done will it matter if they notice?
I don't wanna have to get a Engineers cert for it or anything like that. So can it be done simply?
I was thinking of having the wheel hanging from underneath the car, but taking into account how low it will probably be, that isn't the best idea.
UC Spare wheel position in LX
Started by
Heath
, Apr 03 2006 03:46 PM
19 replies to this topic
#1
Heath
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Posted 03 April 2006 - 03:46 PM
#2
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Posted 03 April 2006 - 05:48 PM
Heath, you may have read my posts on my setup here. Ive had no problem with clearance with a regular tyre strapped under the floor of my UC, using sigma station wagon spare wheel carrier, though my vehicle isnt lowered either.
From memory, I dont think it was easy to actually fit the spare wheel back in the right spot with the gas tank installed either.
Your spare doesnt need to be the same size as the others, though preferable, youd definitely have issues fitting a 14x8 for ground clearance as well as fitting it in the boot with a gas tank.
My advise would be to use a regular tyre for the spare. If its not the same circumference, dont want to fit to the rear for too long, or if not you can still get by, by putting a different size tyre on the front(it might pull either way but wont cause a lot of damage)....a bit of work if its the back thats flat.
People might quote what if you have to drive 400km with the car like that?. Id say you'd be crazy to keep going without getting the existing tyre fixed asap. I maybe just lucky but in over a million kms of driving Ive never had to change a flat of my own, so would rate having to have a spare exactly the same as the other tyres a very low priority. ( b4 too many respond......This is not the scenario as one of those speed limited space saving tyres)
From memory, I dont think it was easy to actually fit the spare wheel back in the right spot with the gas tank installed either.
Your spare doesnt need to be the same size as the others, though preferable, youd definitely have issues fitting a 14x8 for ground clearance as well as fitting it in the boot with a gas tank.
My advise would be to use a regular tyre for the spare. If its not the same circumference, dont want to fit to the rear for too long, or if not you can still get by, by putting a different size tyre on the front(it might pull either way but wont cause a lot of damage)....a bit of work if its the back thats flat.
People might quote what if you have to drive 400km with the car like that?. Id say you'd be crazy to keep going without getting the existing tyre fixed asap. I maybe just lucky but in over a million kms of driving Ive never had to change a flat of my own, so would rate having to have a spare exactly the same as the other tyres a very low priority. ( b4 too many respond......This is not the scenario as one of those speed limited space saving tyres)
#3
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Posted 03 April 2006 - 06:54 PM
If I go with your suggestion, I would track down a 4.5" rim, with an ultra skinny tyre and use that as a tyre that I drive home with. When i get home I stick a decent wheel on there until the original is repaired.
But if I can get the car the way i want it, it could be seriously low. lol
But if I can get the car the way i want it, it could be seriously low. lol
#4
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Posted 03 April 2006 - 07:30 PM
Is it possible to fit the gas tank up against the back seat and use the space where the fuel tank is to fit the spare, ie cut a hole in the floor, cut the top off the tank, permanently strap it in position, steel up the gap between the sides of the tank and the boot floor and cover the spare with a board and then carpet?
James
Red = edit
James
Red = edit
Edited by JBM, 03 April 2006 - 07:35 PM.
#5
Heath
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Posted 03 April 2006 - 08:38 PM
Hmmm possibly, but it's not really what I want to do. I'd like to scrap the petrol tank all together rather than modifying it and playing around with welding the two together. Sounds like a fair idea though...
#6
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Posted 04 April 2006 - 11:06 AM
Had also thought about actually cutting the whole floor out between the chassis rails and welding it back in at the same height as to where the fuel tank would have been.
However, I couldnt get any straight answers on whether this would affect the structural integrity of the car, and it would have been a lot of work!
Im sure you could find an engineer to sign it off as safe etc, but really only the engineers that put it all together would really know what role the metal in the boot floor plays.
However, I couldnt get any straight answers on whether this would affect the structural integrity of the car, and it would have been a lot of work!
Im sure you could find an engineer to sign it off as safe etc, but really only the engineers that put it all together would really know what role the metal in the boot floor plays.
#7
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Posted 04 April 2006 - 12:46 PM
Had also thought about actually cutting the whole floor out between the chassis rails and welding it back in at the same height as to where the fuel tank would have been.
However, I couldnt get any straight answers on whether this would affect the structural integrity of the car, and it would have been a lot of work!
I have installed a tub from a Falcon wagon to install my 80ltr tank. I cut the section of floor out to fit the tub and dropped the tub a little by adding more 90deg angle iron. This runs right around the tub and I reckon it has increased the strenght, not weakened it.
#8
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Posted 04 April 2006 - 01:53 PM
Yes, i think you are right Knoath^, but thats not the mod we're contemplating here.
#9
Heath
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Posted 05 April 2006 - 12:22 PM
Nice suggestions and mods, but they aren't really what I'm asking. Even lowering a section of the floor and welding it back in place doesn't suit my needs because it requires extra metal and you end up with a similar result but you still have to finish it off by fastening the wheel.
...not really what I'm looking for.
Has anyone even welded in the UC section of floorpan into an LH/LX sedan before? Does anyone know of any issues with doing this, and would it be relatively easy for an inexperienced welder to execute?
I have my reasons for wanting this modification. And the LPG tank will only go behind the back seat; moving it is not an option. Thanks
...not really what I'm looking for.
Has anyone even welded in the UC section of floorpan into an LH/LX sedan before? Does anyone know of any issues with doing this, and would it be relatively easy for an inexperienced welder to execute?
I have my reasons for wanting this modification. And the LPG tank will only go behind the back seat; moving it is not an option. Thanks
#10
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Posted 05 April 2006 - 01:16 PM
I don't want to move away from the original post but what size tank will fit between the arches, up against the back seat in a sedan? Are we talking the full 90lt job? I believe they're all 800mm long, just the diameter is different for the different capacity.... is this right?
#11
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Posted 05 April 2006 - 02:46 PM
Full 90L job?, I dont know, the standard size that suppliers put in is 80L(which I have in my 3ucs), certainly fills up the space between the wheel arches, I suppose they could be slightly bigger and still get them under the boot sill to get them up to 90L, certainly wouldnt be able to fit the spare wheel in the standard pozzy if it was larger diameter though.
#12
Heath
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Posted 05 April 2006 - 04:58 PM
80L which I believe is optimum for the space supplied. From memory that provides 68L of usable capacity which isn't fantastic but I can live with that.
#13
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Posted 05 April 2006 - 05:06 PM
Cant really see a problem with what you're trying to do Heath. I can't totally remember but isn't the roadworthy bit for spare tyres that you can use a can of tyre inflator if you have no spare? Might be easier to forget the spare if that's the case and just cover your welded in section with carpet like JDM said.
#14
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Posted 05 April 2006 - 05:09 PM
AFL(automatic fill level) works on 80% of tank volume and have found it to be spot on! yes have run out of gas a few times!
#15
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Posted 06 April 2006 - 05:51 AM
Flamenco wrote
I've heard that these inflator cans can render yout tyre useless once used? Something about degrading the rubber or something.... can anyone shed light on this?
If these ^^^ are OK, I'll grab one for sure as I've got a 13in stockie for my spare and it has to sit behind my pass seat!
isn't the roadworthy bit for spare tyres that you can use a can of tyre inflator if you have no spare?
I've heard that these inflator cans can render yout tyre useless once used? Something about degrading the rubber or something.... can anyone shed light on this?
If these ^^^ are OK, I'll grab one for sure as I've got a 13in stockie for my spare and it has to sit behind my pass seat!
Edited by knoath, 06 April 2006 - 05:52 AM.
#16
Heath
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Posted 06 April 2006 - 08:03 AM
As far as roadworthies are concerned, you don't even need a spare tyre!
Haven't you ever heard the story of you not passing a roadworthy with a bald spare tyre, but you can pass one without a spare tyre at all.
Haven't you ever heard the story of you not passing a roadworthy with a bald spare tyre, but you can pass one without a spare tyre at all.
#17
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Posted 07 April 2006 - 01:48 PM
Interesting that one ^, what happens if you are carrying two or more "spare"tyres that could fit your car, one roadworthy the others not, will you fail the rwc, or does one have to be placed in the "normal" spare tyre position
#18
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Posted 07 April 2006 - 03:15 PM
My point exactly! I think if you don't use a spare you need a can of tyre inflator though...As far as roadworthies are concerned, you don't even need a spare tyre!
Haven't you ever heard the story of you not passing a roadworthy with a bald spare tyre, but you can pass one without a spare tyre at all.
#19
Heath
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Posted 07 April 2006 - 04:01 PM
Two very interesting points there. I'll try and find the answers to both of them if I get a chance.
#20
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Posted 07 April 2006 - 07:46 PM
Spare wheel with an unroadworthy tyre = canary.
No spare wheel is OK.
With devils question, as long as the good spare is the spare wheel well, technically, it's legal.
Cans of " Fix-a-flat".
If you're stuck in the middle of nowhere, use it. But make sure you have metal valve caps with a rubber seal inside them ( you should anyway ). The fix-a-flat stuff won't damage a tyre, but it turns an inner tube to bin material. The stuff also stinks like shit.
Obviosly, if you have to use fix-a-flat, get the tyre repaired properly at a tyre place asap, otherwise, unrepairable damage could result.
No spare wheel is OK.
With devils question, as long as the good spare is the spare wheel well, technically, it's legal.
Cans of " Fix-a-flat".
If you're stuck in the middle of nowhere, use it. But make sure you have metal valve caps with a rubber seal inside them ( you should anyway ). The fix-a-flat stuff won't damage a tyre, but it turns an inner tube to bin material. The stuff also stinks like shit.
Obviosly, if you have to use fix-a-flat, get the tyre repaired properly at a tyre place asap, otherwise, unrepairable damage could result.
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