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Any legal modification to spare tire wheel well for coolshirt that is legal?

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#1
callumhay

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So in looking at the GCR I could not see anything that says it is OK to modify the spare tire space to make it easier to install a cool suit cooler. For those who may not know, the wheel well is domed in the middle with a bracket for holding the tire down. Am I correct in thinking that it would only be legal to place a base plate over the wheel well for mounting a cooler? (Without cutting or reshaping anything) I know some prefer to mount in passenger seat area but I see a number of coolers mounted in the trunk and just wondering what the thoughts are on that.

Cal

#2
Bench Racer

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Have you ever noticed cars in the production car class, they implement fuel and oil tanks in the passengers area. Yes, today people in production racing Miata's use the OEM tank in the OEM location because it's legal and overall it's a $$$ savings. Not because it's tech the best location for the fuel tank. Yes, I understand fuel is lessened during a race. For grins, view Danny's cooler location after years in the trunk. If you have weight in the pass area, putting the cooler there becomes a work around.


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#3
Brandon

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Quick, off the cuff answer would be:

Since you are obligated to remove the spare tire and all mounting hardware, I'd claim the removal of this hump in the middle of the well is permitted since it "serves no other function" than to secure the spare.

 

I know on my own '96 the well is flat enough that I mounted my cooler in this area when I first got it (prebuilt car).

 

Spot weld drill bit, angle grinder, any method of removing it short of cutting it out & welding back in metal I think would be appropriate.


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#4
Jamz14

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Quick, off the cuff answer would be:

Since you are obligated to remove the spare tire and all mounting hardware, I'd claim the removal of this hump in the middle of the well is permitted since it "serves no other function" than to secure the spare.

 

I know on my own '96 the well is flat enough that I mounted my cooler in this area when I first got it (prebuilt car).

 

Spot weld drill bit, angle grinder, any method of removing it short of cutting it out & welding back in metal I think would be appropriate.

As tortured an interpretation as my aero gauge panel for sure.


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#5
callumhay

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Thanks to those who replied. I guess there are different ways to use the trunk space for a cooler and maybe a fire bottle. It's doable without any cutting of the bracket, which is a pain to work around. A mounting plate on top of the dome to the edges around it would give a nice flush surface. Cutting the bracket and flattening the dome with a hammer to my reading would not be legal. Maybe just mounting the cooler bracket and allowing it to flatten the dome in that spot is OK?
I know that the issue is likely not going to come up as a problem in a regional protest. I was wondering if any modification might affect a cars value if it were sold to someone who was going to use it on a national level, because undoing any dome flattening would be tough.




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