@James, thanks for your reply. You have the same size as me. I thought yours might be bigger. I don't want to buy the 155 until I know it will fit.
Sometimes I think I still want to keep the smaller one so I retain more space in the frunk.
Welcome Ashu - I also own a CMC & have no complaints about mine at all.
A pleasure to meet you David. I used to live in Mechanicsburg when I worked for Carlisle SynTec all those years ago. Both my kids were born in the area. Your car looks great!
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@Michael McKelvey posted:...I have a space-saver spare now but am thinking of changing to 155/80 if it will fit so it will be approximately the same diameter as my other tires.
Here are some photos of the spare kit Kirk put in VS's as an option.
4.5 - inch wheel, with a narrow 135x15 Nankang road tire. Maybe somewhat better than a space-saver in that you can (sort of) drive on it at freeway speeds - although I've never had to. It is a tight fit, though. The tire just clears the frunk lid, brushing the carpeting when closed.
This is how Kirk mounted it, although with a slight mod to the mounting bolt you can mount it upside down and use the space inside the wheel for tools.
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Thanks, @Sacto Mitch.
with my little battery, I am able to slide the spare all the way toward the front. I don't know if that makes the fit better or worse.
OEM VW rims in 4x15" with 4x130mm bolt pattern are available too - they came on 1968 bugs (and I believe up until 1970). These may not clear disc brake calipers - so you'd need spacers. Most aftermarket wheels are 4.5 or 5"x15.
I got one of them
Nice Jim, my friend had a 74 ? I think that I rode for a bit and I really liked it. He was a busy guy so he when the Honda Goldwings way when those came out. He liked the turn the key and go, but I really like the controls the stability differences.
Greetings Ashu. Yet another CMC Californian owner here. I'm at least the 4th owner, and my car came without any documentation.
Like you, I bought Little Red intending to tinker, and she hasn't disappointed. I've had the engine out twice, once to replace the main seal, install a new clutch, adjust the crankshaft end play correctly, install a sand seal and new crank pulley, and replace the stock rocker shafts with aftermarket ones having proper spacers. 3000 miles later I pulled it again to replace the heads when a valve seat came loose from its bore.
Along the way I've replaced the crappy "Vintage" gauges with VDO, upgraded the generator to an alternator, rewired the dashboard and engine compartment, and repaired "butt sag". You'll want to search for that, read up, and plan to make repairs if someone else hasn't already.
I've added a front sway bar, transmission mid-mount, Kafer bar, and Vintage Speed shifter. I also replaced the hub/rotor assemblies with ones drilled for Chevy 5-bolt pattern, which I promptly had a machinist friend modify with pressed-in studs. This made a world of difference, as I couldn't press her hard in corners with the silly adapters the previous owner used to mount the 18x8" wheels, which make the look of the car, IMO.
Good luck with your CMC. I think you'll find its construction quite sturdy, provided the builder braced the front end properly and modified it to address the "butt sag" issue. Welcome to the madness!
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@Michael McKelvey posted:Thanks, @Sacto Mitch.
with my little battery, I am able to slide the spare all the way toward the front. I don't know if that makes the fit better or worse.
When I was trying to determine the size of my spare, I found that sliding the spare forward (which is the way I mounted mine) makes it worse. The way the spare is mounted in Mitch's picture was the "sweet spot" to allow as wide a tire as possible in my car. A 155 will be really tight, if possible. The width of the wheel (either a '67-68 VW 15x4" or a more common 15 x 4 1/2") didn't make much difference. The width of the tire is what caused the interference with the lid.
BTW, you may be able to find a worn out tire at a tire shop for testing purposes.
I thought about trying to find a worn-out tire to try but thought my chances of finding one are slim due to it being an uncommon size.
Maybe it is unlikely I will ever need to use the spare and I should just live with the small one.
The original 356 placement of the spare was standing up in the well where your battery is. There is more room in the original car.
I don't carry a spare because leaves no room for anything else. When is the last time you needed one? The spare on my 2002 Dodge pickup has been used once on 18 years. I have 175k miles on the truck.
The main reason to carry the spare is the effect it has on handling. The weight is required. I have added weight to the front beam for take care of that issue.
@IaM-Ray posted:Nice Jim, my friend had a 74 ? I think that I rode for a bit and I really liked it. He was a busy guy so he when the Honda Goldwings way when those came out. He liked the turn the key and go, but I really like the controls the stability differences.
Ray, I've owned BMW's for 50 years; also had 3 Goldwings. They didn't feel like a motorcycle. I have a R1200RT now. In the right weather, if I was going to CA, I'd still take the R100.
I have never had to truck one home. They are like these plastic Porsche's. If it breaks I can fix it. If the electronics go out on the RT I'll be right where it stopped until the truck arrives.
In the past, part of motorcycle riding (and car ownership) was to be able to work on it yourself. I'm that kind of rider. Lots of these younger folks have never got their hands dirty; can't fix anything, don't have to and don't want to. What a pitty.
Seems like it's true now; "You don't know what you don't know".
The personal satisfaction of doing something yourself and doing it well is has value greater than cash.
@Sacto Mitch posted:.This is how Kirk mounted it, although with a slight mod to the mounting bolt you can mount it upside down and use the space inside the wheel for tools.
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@Gordon Nichols has a tupperware(?) container full of stuff that fits inside the wheel. Gordon- could you elaborate?
i had an 1150 RT way back, nice bike, not too heavy, same one the CHP were riding
Spare parts holder to fit a spare tire well:
@ALB is close. It's made by Rubbermaid. Here's a very old post about it:
"I was just walking through WallMart and saw this thing just sitting there. It is a Rubbermaid, 16 inch, "Tag-Along" condiment tray, and is made for taking chips and salsa to a picnic. (Note: Remember that I have 16" rims on my car, not 15")
It has a round central tub for the salsa with a separate lid, three molded bins for chips (or spare parts in my case) and then a large lid that goes over everything. It's also water-tight (as I found out yesterday).
The whole thing fits into the well of a 16" space saver spare like it was made for it, and all you have to do is drill or punch a hole through it so the spare hold-down peg fits up through and then use the spare's trim cover hold-down spinner to secure it."
I just checked on both Walmart and Target and couldn't find one, so Rubbermaid may have discontinued it.
Here's what it looks like:
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Ray, I've owned BMW's for 50 years; also had 3 Goldwings. They didn't feel like a motorcycle. I have a R1200RT now. In the right weather, if I was going to CA, I'd still take the R100.
I have never had to truck one home. They are like these plastic Porsche's. If it breaks I can fix it. If the electronics go out on the RT I'll be right where it stopped until the truck arrives.
In the past, part of motorcycle riding (and car ownership) was to be able to work on it yourself. I'm that kind of rider. Lots of these younger folks have never got their hands dirty; can't fix anything, don't have to and don't want to. What a pitty.
Seems like it's true now; "You don't know what you don't know".
The personal satisfaction of doing something yourself and doing it well is has value greater than cash.
I made all my kids learn how to change a flat tire. 
Gordon very nice job, does the lid also hold the tire down? IM used tie down straps that hold the tire down face up and fill the tire with an air pump and miscellaneous stuff. then I cover it with a tire cover. Here are a few build picts with the trunk empty, the trunk with the inflatable 16 inch 911 spare, it helps that I have 911 susp and front gaz tank .
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@IaM-Ray I used a spare tire anchor from a Cadillac but it's the same for any GM product with a spare in the trunk - Just a threaded post with a hook on the bottom that fits through a holder bolted to the floor. There is a metal disk that threads onto the post and that holds the spare wheel in place, and then another disk that holds the molded plastic cover over the wheel to make it look nice. I deleted that cover, flip the spare over so the back side well is "up", drop the spare parts holder into the well and use the disks to hold everything in place.
Don't know whassup with that photo - Looks like it got squashed or something but you get the idea.
Thanks for going to the trouble of digging out your old post, @Gordon Nichols (and for pointing out that it is 16" in diameter).
Why not stick with the marque?
Lots of places sell these repro Hazet VW spare tire tool kits. I need to start water boarding my brothers. I know one of them has the one from our '60 Kombi and, by rights, I should be the one to have it since I'm the only one with a VW-based vehicle. I do have the pliers. But I'd really like that combination box end. It's 21-36.
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@barncobob posted:i had an 1150 RT way back, nice bike, not too heavy, same one the CHP were riding
That bike is like a 90s 911(964 series). Feels great but newer electronics. Jim and I like the older, rougher, less refined 356-like Airheads.
@Gordon Nichols posted:
Hey Gordon, shouldn't the Eberspacher have a sign on it that says "Firestarter", and the Blazecut a sign that says "Firestopper"? LOL!