P15 - Spare Tire Well question

[clarkede]

I'm doing some repairs (and undercoating) and I would like to remove the rear bumper.  However. the bolts that go through the bumper with the chrome heads are rusted and difficult to reach.  I will probably have to cut them off.  I thought I would remove the entire bumper with the support bar that connects to the frame so that I could access the bolts easier while off of the car.  There are two bolts that hold the bumper supports on each side to the frame.  On the passenger side, one of the bolt heads is not easily accessible because the spare tire well is in the way.  Has anyone taken out just the rear tire well or is their a trick to getting to that bolt head?  The wheel well does not appear to be held in by any bolts, but instead by undercoating or some tar-like adhesive. I might be able to get a blade in the gap between the trunk floor pan and the tire well, but I thought I would ask before wasting time trying to separate something that isn't made to be separated. 

 

Edited April 27 by clarkede
Wrong Diagram of Rear Bumper. Oops

[Plymouthy Adams]

I had my bumper off completely and cleaned and painted the brackets and I do not recall the well being in the way to the point I could not do the task.  The well does not just slip out of the trunk pan.  Welded in place....

[clarkede]

I will try again tomorrow and see if I can get some socket or wrench in there to hold the bolt head from slipping.  I guess I just got this silly idea of removing the wheel well instead of fighting with a tight space.  I usually seem to do things the hard way and then someone points out an easier way = go figure. 

[Plymouthy Adams]

Unfortunately not all things are simple....human intervention is required and so are a few special tools, a clear area where the blue cloud can linger without offending.....and when it gets its worse.....lay down the tools and get a cup of coffee.  Pic of cutting out a wheel well......and the fix I wanted for this particular build.

 

 

 

 

 

Edited April 29 by Plymouthy Adams

[clarkede]

Great welding job!!!  It looks different, but nice! 

 

I'm getting ready to begin welding to repair some rust areas.  By begin, I also mean, I am new to welding.  I'm going to practice a little and then choose some area's that are not very visible.  Hopefully, I will be able to pick up this unique trade without too much regret. 

[Ivan_B]

Yep, the well is welded in place, how bad did you expect the Chrysler plant to be to just drop it in there as is? 🥲

Are you planning on re-using the bumper bolts? If not, just cut them off from the outside. If yes, soak with oil, etc. Might use some heat as well (not too much otherwise the chrome will be gone). If it's difficult to get underneath the bumper, recruit a pair of younger and smaller hands 😉

[Eneto-55]

I've often wondered if anyone has widened the spare tire well, to accommodate a wider tire.  I don't plan to run wide tires on mine, so it's just a curiosity.  I DO understand that the fuel tank would need to be narrower, so mainly I just wonder how much fuel capacity would be lost to do this for a moderate tire width.

[Plymouthy Adams]

I am running 7" alloys and wider rubber for sure....will they fit the spare tire well..resounding NO.....do I care....another resounding NO the intent here is not to even have the original spare tire style or old rim in position.  Instead my spare is the modern doughnut and  I have sewn covers over the spare as it is so no one would ever be the wiser....and...as my axles are not stock but WIDER front and rear and the positive offsets are necessary....I fall so far out of stock in all realms...and I LOVE IT THAT WAY....I know it is just me and to be honest, if I had to leave it stock I would just as soon burn the car and move on to something else.  I earn my dinosaur name for sure, Contrarisaurus  In the above picture the spare tire well is removed...the tank positioned center of the pan and true dual exhaust is now easily added to the beast.   With the P15 there is 22 gallons onboard and not a tank in sight.  

Edited April 28 by Plymouthy Adams

[Ivan_B]

1 hour ago, Eneto-55 said:

I've often wondered if anyone has widened the spare tire well, to accommodate a wider tire.

Never seen that, but I could sure use an extra tool compartment, like them old fords

[Plymouthy Adams]

 Need some later pictures to show the tool tray built into the unit for the jacking tools and the mentioned spare tire cover.  

 

 

Edited April 29 by Plymouthy Adams

[Eneto-55]

21 minutes ago, Plymouthy Adams said:

 went through my picture album, here is the P15 being mocked up with the modern 16" temp spare, the stowing of the scissor jack behind the spare and manner it is locked into place to prevent rattling and before the paint and body work done.  I did not snap a picture of the matching gray color tire cover at this time.  This worked well for me but may not be anything near what you want with your build.  The trunk is paneled out with vinyl covered panels in the darker gray vinyl.  Need some later pictures to show the tool tray built into the unit for the jacking tools and the mentioned spare tire cover.  

 

What's that you have installed behind the rear seat?

[Plymouthy Adams]

this car does  not have a back seat, it has a bulkhead instead.  That is a zero emissions fuel tank that is totally paneled off from view....if there is an issue, you will get a check engine light to tell you if there is a leak in the system.  

[Sniper]

I am running P245/50R17's in the back.  For a spare I use the stock sized tire, because the heights are the same and it'll also clear everything up front.  Haven't totally sorted what I want to run in the front.

[DJ194950]

Come on Plymouthy,

 

We here on the forum are not the revenuers. We can keep it quiet. 🙊

 

Heck in Tenn. most people have a tank for hauling shine!   I have read that you do not imbibe but many others do .  🥴

 

Helps pay for all the car projects!

 

We still like you Tim!

 

DJ

[Plymouthy Adams]

thank you......when growing up country as I did, I knew the location of three stills.  I lived in the woods and crossing mountains on foot/pony cut out miles of highways and I was not supposed to be near the main roads on the pony.  But for sure that is my fuel tank and the original tank is removed from the car and the dual exhaust is in place....no drop tanks here.....lol

 

Edited April 29 by Plymouthy Adams

[clarkede]

On 4/26/2024 at 8:51 PM, Plymouthy Adams said:

I do not recall the well being in the way to the point I could not do the task

Just an update on getting the bumper bracket bolts off.  You're correct in that there was just enough room to get the job done on the spare tire well side.  I was able to slide a socket up onto the bolt an then use a thin serpentine fan belt tool to hold the nut while using a breaker bar on the other side (see picture).  3 of the 4 bolts came out fine, but one bolt snapped in half.