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Trunk Question

I was looking at my car today and i was just wondering did any of the birds have like doughnuts for the spare tire in the rear? i have a full sized tire in there but its just sitting there bolted in the floor, i was just wondering if there is a way to clean up the look of the trunk just a wee bit? thanks LxBird

Trunk Question

Reply #1 –
Most of them had the space saver tires.They store in the driver side rear wheel well and bolt up to the framework of the inner fender.There should be a panel there that is removeable.Check it out.I take a full size spare always on longer trips and cary a space saver in local driving.
'88 Sport--T-5,MGW shifter,Trick Flow R intake,Ed Curtis cam,Trick Flow heads,Scorpion rockers,75mm Accufab t-body,3G,mini starter,Taurus fan,BBK long tube headers,O/R H-Pipe, Flowamaster Super 44's, deep and deeper Cobra R wheels, Mass Air and 24's,8.8 with 3.73's,140 mph speedo,Mach 1 chin spoiler,SN-95 springs,CHE control arms,aluminum drive shaft and a lot more..

Trunk Question

Reply #2 –
Quote from: vinnietbird;242520
Most of them had the space saver tires.They store in the driver side rear wheel well and bolt up to the framework of the inner fender.There should be a panel there that is removeable.Check it out.


Yes a lot of them came with a space saver spare. But not all of them mount to the side of the trunk. Most of the older(not sure on years) birds/cougars have them mounted on the upper shelf area in the trunk below the rear deck. Then there is also the Turbo coupe Aluminum space saver spare that looks good if you can find one that they don't want to much for it!
84 Turbo coupe 2.3T Modded with 88 upper and lower intake, 88 injectors, E6 manifold, T3-4 AR.60 turbo, 31X12X3 FMIC, Homemade MBC , Greddy knock off BPV.
4 eyes see better than 2! 
Da Bird!

FreeBird

Trunk Question

Reply #3 –
Generally the full spare tire was a popular option for 1983-86 cars, as either that or the donut tire both bolted to the same place that ipsd mentioned. In 1987, Ford redesigned the trunk pan in the Cougar/T-Bird so that a space saver donut tire fits on the driver's side in its own protected well. It was a great idea, as loose items in the trunks of the older cars tended to, shall we say, attempt escape through the quarter panels. ;) But that made the full spare option for 1987-88 cars a lot less popular. Not that you couldn't get it...it's just that not too many people did.

Trunk Question

Reply #4 –
Quote from: ipsd;242543
Yes a lot of them came with a space saver spare. But not all of them mount to the side of the trunk. Most of the older(not sure on years) birds/cougars have them mounted on the upper shelf area in the trunk below the rear deck. Then there is also the Turbo coupe Aluminum space saver spare that looks good if you can find one that they don't want to much for it!



I found one one time and didnt get it. I kick myself all the time for it.
1986 Cougar LS

Trunk Question

Reply #5 –
Both of my cars have mini-spares. Where does the factory put the full sized spares?

Trunk Question

Reply #6 –
Right in the middle of the trunk, at least that's where it was on my '85. It was held down by a J-shaped bolt and a bracket. Kind of on an angle, leaning upwards toward the back window. If factory (or dealer) installed it should have a cover on it just like the donut, but bigger. Took up most of the room in the trunk, too.
2015 Mustang GT Premium - 5.0, 6-speed, Guard Green - too much awesome for one car

1988 5.0 Thunderbird :birdsmily: SOLD SEPT 11 2010: TC front clip/hood ♣ Body & paint completed Oct 2007 ♣ 3.55 TC rear end and front brakes ♣ TC interior ♣ CHE rear control arms (adjustable lowers) ♣ 2001 Bullitt springs ♣ Energy suspension poly busings ♣ Kenne Brown subframe connectors ♣ CWE engine mounts ♣ Thundercat sequential turn signals ♣ Explorer overhead console (temp/compass display) ♣ 2.25" off-road dual exhaust ♣ T-5 transmission swap completed Jan 2009 ♣

Trunk Question

Reply #7 –
thunder chicken my spare is installed like yours its kinda annoying just sitting there or maybe im just picky, i want to stick that spare in the deeper part and bolt it down some how and put like a board or something over it to flatten out the trunk  but i dont know how not to make it look like  so maybe i should stop looking in the trunk :P

Trunk Question

Reply #8 –
What year is your T-Bird? If it's an 87-88 you can mount a donut spare vertically, inside the left quarter panel. It was my first T-Bird, the '85, that had the full size spare. That car has long been recycled into cheap Harbor Freight tools...

Do NOT try bolting the tire down into the "well" area in your trunk. The gas tank is directly under that well (the "home plate" shaped area is directly over your fuel pump)! Drilling or welding here could kill you.
2015 Mustang GT Premium - 5.0, 6-speed, Guard Green - too much awesome for one car

1988 5.0 Thunderbird :birdsmily: SOLD SEPT 11 2010: TC front clip/hood ♣ Body & paint completed Oct 2007 ♣ 3.55 TC rear end and front brakes ♣ TC interior ♣ CHE rear control arms (adjustable lowers) ♣ 2001 Bullitt springs ♣ Energy suspension poly busings ♣ Kenne Brown subframe connectors ♣ CWE engine mounts ♣ Thundercat sequential turn signals ♣ Explorer overhead console (temp/compass display) ♣ 2.25" off-road dual exhaust ♣ T-5 transmission swap completed Jan 2009 ♣

Trunk Question

Reply #9 –
Quote from: JeremyB;242581
Both of my cars have mini-spares. Where does the factory put the full sized spares?


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***** Project "EVOLUTION" 1987 Cougar LS  & 1985 Cougar Convertible *****
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5.0 HO 306 roller block, machined GT-40P heads, Wiseco dished forged pistons, Eagle forged floating I-beam connecting rods, Lunati pushrods, ARP bolts, Scorpion aluminum 1.6 rockers, Comp Cams Magnum 266HR, Explorer intake, 65mm TB, MAF Conversion, 19# injectors, Ford Racing stainless P-headers, 2-1/2" cat-less exhaust w/ Flowtech Afterburner lers , SC AOD with 2800 BDR torque converter, 3.73 T-Lok rear, CHE rear control arms, full 2-1/2" frame w/1" jacking rails & seat supports, Rear disk brakes, Turbine wheels, All original interior w/ floor shift upgrade .......
Pretty much every panel on my 87 is new, rebuilt, or re constructed. :D
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Trunk Question

Reply #10 –
Mine''s an 88, it looks exactly like the above picture, just a question where have you guys installed your subs if u put in an after market sound system?

Trunk Question

Reply #11 –
Oh and i for sure won't do that then thanks for the heads up!

Trunk Question

Reply #12 –
Quote from: LXBird;242783
Mine''s an 88, it looks exactly like the above picture, just a question where have you guys installed your subs if u put in an after market sound system?


Behind the seat and in front of the spare! like this


How that work for you. I have a write up on how to make your car like this in the audio section pretty old thread been a few years.
84 Turbo coupe 2.3T Modded with 88 upper and lower intake, 88 injectors, E6 manifold, T3-4 AR.60 turbo, 31X12X3 FMIC, Homemade MBC , Greddy knock off BPV.
4 eyes see better than 2! 
Da Bird!

FreeBird

Trunk Question

Reply #13 –
thanks ipsd for the pictures!

Trunk Question

Reply #14 –
The donut spare would go behind this panel:
2015 Mustang GT Premium - 5.0, 6-speed, Guard Green - too much awesome for one car

1988 5.0 Thunderbird :birdsmily: SOLD SEPT 11 2010: TC front clip/hood ♣ Body & paint completed Oct 2007 ♣ 3.55 TC rear end and front brakes ♣ TC interior ♣ CHE rear control arms (adjustable lowers) ♣ 2001 Bullitt springs ♣ Energy suspension poly busings ♣ Kenne Brown subframe connectors ♣ CWE engine mounts ♣ Thundercat sequential turn signals ♣ Explorer overhead console (temp/compass display) ♣ 2.25" off-road dual exhaust ♣ T-5 transmission swap completed Jan 2009 ♣