Spare tire cover

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'64 Cuda

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Has somebody out there got an original wooden piece that sits on top of the spare tire & under the trunk carpet for an early Barracuda? It's probably the same for at least 63 to 66 A Bodies. I was hoping I could get someone to trace around theirs onto a piece of newspaper or something to make a pattern so that I could make myself a new one out of Masonite. I'd be glad to throw a couple of bucks your way to cover postage (I'd send a beer but it'd be all shaken up & foamy by the time it got there. Probably illegal too.) Thanks folks!
 
I think I might be able to do that, I have my old cover stowed away after I made a new one for my Barracuda. PM me an address.
 
I saw another post on here recently that had pictures, dimensions and discussion about what this piece looks like for different cars and packages. I was looking for it again when I found this one.
My question is this, Mine is warped into a bowl shape from sitting for years with no tire under it, Has anybody successfully straightened one of these out?
 
Do it like the boat builders/cabinet makers do it...Steam it back into shape!!

Set up a sauna for it with a hot plate, tea kettle, some 2x4s and a shower curtain. Place the cover upside down on the 2x4s and place something like a phone book in the center of the high spot. When it straightens out, remove the tea kettle and cover and let the cover slowly cool and dry. It may take a try or two.
 
Do it like the boat builders/cabinet makers do it...Steam it back into shape!!

Set up a sauna for it with a hot plate, tea kettle, some 2x4s and a shower curtain. Place the cover upside down on the 2x4s and place something like a phone book in the center of the high spot. When it straightens out, remove the tea kettle and cover and let the cover slowly cool and dry. It may take a try or two.

i wonder if that will work here in 10-25% humidity. any steam here goes away quick. I was wondering if I could get away with misting it down with a big trash can sitting on it or something.
 
I do not believe the ‘70s era spare tire cover is the same as for the early 63-65 cars.
 
Well they say "65-75 A-Body" for that one.

I've owned 6 A bodies, 3 '63's, 2 '73's, and 1 '74 and the spare tire wells all pretty much looked the same to me. I can't imagine how they're different, I think it's the same diameter well for both (early and late). At any rate as long as it covers the hole and supports the center of the trunk floor I don't see the problem and neither will anyone else since it's covered by the trunk mat.

For $21....I know I'm willing to give it a shot.
 
If you're not happy with what you order from Jims (and who would be?), let me know. I have a '65 Barracuda and will be happy to measure the wood tire cover for you. Mine's original and it's in excellent condition.
 
If you're not happy with what you order from Jims (and who would be?), let me know. I have a '65 Barracuda and will be happy to measure the wood tire cover for you. Mine's original and it's in excellent condition.

Does Jim's have a bad rap? I've never heard anything about them, do tell...

My Valiant has a spare cover, though I'm not sure if it's original....I haven't given it much thought. I'll have to drag it out and get a pic.
 
I salvaged a spare tire cover out of a '66 valiant (I think) at the junk yard ( since it was in good shape and thinking it would fit) and put it up next to my 65 Barracuda original (which was beginning to split). I marked off the places where it was longer and cut it off. One thing I am sure of it that the length of the trunk in the Early Barracuda is much shorter than other A Body’s.
 
I spent about two months going back and forth with Jims when I tried to order wheel studs for my 9" front wheel drums.

Jim's website listed both the left-hand studs (for the driver side) and the right-hand (for the passenger side). So I ordered a set of each. But the left-hand studs didn't arrive with the righties.

I had to telephone Jim's only to find out that the left-hand studs were no longer available. So while on the phone, I ordered more right-handed studs. When they arrived several weeks later, they were different than the first batch of righties - turns out they were for "chebbies".

I called again - and reordered - and a few weeks later, more incorrect studs came.

At that point, I gave up on Jim's and found another source.
 
Good evening all,

I am wondering if I could pay someone to get a stencil/outline of a tire cover for my 66 barracuda. I would like to cut my own to fit out of something better than OEM but I don't have a starting point. Would appreciate any help.

Thanks
 
If you decide to buy new.
Dantesparts.com has it 609-332-4194
Thw owner, Dante answers all sales calls himself. He reopens Monday.
 
I can make a template if you get stuck. I'd also want to know if yours will have the 14 X 5 1/2" wheels or the smaller ones. The wide wheel spare tire cover had a cut-out for the wider wheel/tire combo.
 
I can make a template if you get stuck. I'd also want to know if yours will have the 14 X 5 1/2" wheels or the smaller ones. The wide wheel spare tire cover had a cut-out for the wider wheel/tire combo.

That would be great, it currently has my OEM wheel with a tire (185/R80 13). But I'm happy to pull some measurements if that's what you mean, I'm not familiar with what options it could have come with.

PXL_20210203_222313518.jpg
 
Here's a photo of what it looks like when you have the wide wheels. If you don't, it doesn't have the oddball cut-out on the forward edge, it just goes straight across. The dimensions are 30" wide with square corners on the front. The rear corners are not square, but, a slight "V" shape. The edges measure 24 3/8" front to back and 25 1/4" in the center (before you cut out the notch). The rectangle by the trunk latch measures 7" X 1 3/4" centered in rear edge of the panel. The hold down hole in the center is 3" in diameter, 11 1/4" from the front edge to the center, and 14" from the rear edge (there again, without the notch cut out yet) to the center. It's also centered in the middle side to side with 15" from both edges to the center of the hole.

'66bcudasparecover.jpg
 
Evening sir, i tried my best to lay the measurements over the photos to make sure i understood you, please see below and let me know if Im wrong. Thanks again for doing this, I'm still not sure i can get it quite right but this should help me get close.

iMarkup_20210203_203154.jpg
 
Swap the two center measurements....the 14" measure is toward the front of the car and the 11 1/4" is to the rear. The 25 1/4" is the measurement in the center from front to rear (what the 11 1/4 and 14 add up to) It's 24 3/8 on each side front to rear.
 
Ok thanks again, here is my second attempt. to clarify the 'wheel cut-out' part is towards the rear. Any recommends from anyone about how to create the 'hotdog' portion of the wheel cutout? originally I figured a stencil/tracing of an original would work best.

iMarkup_20210204_195409.jpg
 
No, the wide wheel cutout goes toward the front. There's also a routered out area in the fold down panel by the hinge when the car came with the wide wheels. Everything else looks good on your diagram measurements. Just make a cardboard version of it and you'll see how it fits.
 
No, the wide wheel cutout goes toward the front. There's also a routered out area in the fold down panel by the hinge when the car came with the wide wheels. Everything else looks good on your diagram measurements. Just make a cardboard version of it and you'll see how it fits.

thanks for the help
 
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