Need help with spare retainer. Have tried out several attempts. Don't want to cut it off. Pry where I might it just keeps turning.

 

spare what .....whats a retainer.....

 

I didn't realize a mini carried that many spare parts onboard. Spare tire and the fastener that holds it down.

 

A little more info please.....are you saying that the retaining nut under the spare tire is turning with the bolt? A pic might help us understand what you're dealing with....

 

http://www.7ent.com/products/spare-t...p-14a6511.html

http://www.7ent.com/products/spare-t...t-sbo0071.html

 

Yes the nut under the spare tire is turning.

 

Well, I see two possibilities, make a hole from underneath the boot floor to allow you to hold the nut while removing the bolt, then weld it up again with a new nut, or cut the bolt off, then replace the nut and retainer from above the boot floor.


Either way I think you'll be ordering both the parts Capt BJ linked, and you'll be doing some patch work and welding. what condition is the boot floor? If it's rusty, now's the time to cut it out and replace it with good metal.

 

Can you deflate the spare and gain a little wiggle room ... even break the bead maybe ... then maybe you can gain enuf room to get a grip on something

Altho I'j just be cutting at this point.

 

The nut is under the retaining plate, so even if you could get to it you couldn't hold it......maybe if you cut the bolt head off then with the tire out of the way you could then tack weld the nut and get the rest of the bolt out, then clean everything up, run a tap thru the nut, tack it in several places and just buy a new bolt.

 

don't have a clamp on my spare so

curiosity aroused I had to go check my 79

boot floor spare well is flat with a drain hole ... no clamp plate. new metal from b4 my time? Dunno

for what it's worth

had my 79 since 04

spare fits pretty snug in the well and is only a 10" rim .... when I got the car the spare was a 12" wheel and that was a REALLY tight fit. Point? It does NOT flop around!

**************
if the hold down plate nut has broken free I suspect there's a big rust issue under the spare .... why are you afraid to cut?

{add on to earlier discussion - this is an area I cleaned up and painted with POR early on. It remains spotless ... and since it gets no sun, even remains a glossy black. NOT ORIGINAL COLOR of course or even color match to the body but I'm not entering those kind of shows ..... my boot is glossy black and I'm proud of it!}

 

Thanks for advice, will cut off when I get home.

 

Spare is out of car. Here are two pictures of the boot floor.

 

So, is it just surface rust that will clean up or will you need to replace the floor? If the latter the spare tire bracket and nut come with the new floor IIRC.


Maybe you could tell us more about the car and what your plans for it are?

 

mostly surface rust. However rusted hole in battery box floor and about and inch wide hole in the floor very outside corner right hand side.

 

MiniDave, I'm located just east of Kansas City. I am planning a restoration on the 1966 austin mini. I've owned a fair number and variety of cars. Worked on them in my younger days, and am now starting up again. Working with the most basic tools but I am very fond of this mini. I also own a 2004 Cooper S with the basic mods. I got this car in a basket pretty much. Several boxes of parts, spare door, hood, gas tank, several extra tires and wheels. Also badly seized 850 engine which is ready to pull out. Media blaster in my area when its dismantled. My son is a good mechanic and close, that helps. Thanks for the advice.

 

No problem. If you're looking for a better motor, I have a 1275 just waiting to be rebuilt for someone, complete with remote shift transmission.


I rebuild engines and transmissions for classic Minis in my home shop.


Log onto RestorationMini dot com, great classic Mini site, lots of rust mitigation info there, all classics all the time!

 

here's a series of articles from classic motorsports mag of their restro project on a Cooper S ...

if you are going media blast, be prepared for some eye opening results ... swiss cheese ..... when done.

http://classicmotorsports.com/projec...mini-cooper-s/

 

Minidave, my email is brant.welcomehome@embarqmail.com. Have questions regarding 1275. Thanks bmeer