Hi guys!
I started in on the spare tire project in the GTS a few days ago and thought I'd share the progress and interesting discoveries along the way. Bear in mind that I've never been into this part of the car other than replacing the trunk mat.
First, peel back the trunk mat and reveal the broken and taped spare cover board sitting about 1-1/2" above the trunk floor...
View attachment 1714959155
Then remove the cover and discover a spare tire with a '68 "Gang Green" wheel. I figure since my car is an early '69 build (Oct 9, 1968) the factory must have been using up the old stock of '68 green spare tire and wheel assemblies. The wheel has never been painted.
View attachment 1714959156
The I remove the tire and discover a very clean wheel well and...the long lost lug wrench. I also discovered that the jack base, bumper bracket and lug wrench are in dusty but nearly pristine condition. It doesn't look like they have ever been used. No wear marks at all.
View attachment 1714959157
Then I got the new tire mounted and test fit it into the wheel well. It is exactly the correct height for the cover board to sit flush on the floor.
View attachment 1714959158
Now I have to clean it all up, replace the hold-down carriage bolt (it's got some buggered threads) and reassemble it all with the new cover board I bought.