Tag Archives: Spare Tire

Preparing the Bugeye Boot

Posted on by

There is a lot to cram into the little cavern, called a boot, in the rear of the Bugeye! As with the rest of the car we tried to dress things up here too. So, what goes back in the hole? There is the spare tire, the soft top, the side curtains, the soft top frame, the “all weather” cover, the jack bag (with the breaker bar and lug nut socket), and a small tool bag.

First in is the spare tire. We had some plastic left over from the interior cross member cover project so we used it as a liner between the red hardura floor mat and the tire – just to prevent rubber oils or dirt from staining the hardura. We had Mike Ruckman from British Car Interiors in Tampa make a carpet cover for the spare tire. He did a great job. We had the same carpet that matched the interior.

Spare Tire Cover

We purchased storage bags for the top, the top frame and the side curtains from Bugeyeguys. While they don’t match our red theme (they are black with white piping) they are nicely made and of high vinyl quality.

Soft Top Storage Bag

Soft Top Frame “Taco” Bag

Side Curtain Storage Bag

We purchased a couple of black storage bags from Amazon. One for the jack, an extendable breaker bar and a 17mm socket for the wheel lug nuts and the other for some tools or spare parts.

Jack Storage Bag

Bugeye Restoration Video Episode One Hundred-Nineteen shows the loading of the boot with the items mentioned in this post:

https://vimeo.com/1123287575/9ed6b9a99c?share=copy

 

Chapter 21 – Cleaning and Trial Fitting

Posted on by

November 28, 2004

Boot Latch/Lock Assembly 

Boot Latch/Lock Assembly Installation – Installed the boot lock and handle assembly along with a new rubber gasket that looks like it will need to be slightly trimmed before final installation. The striker plate mounted to the frame assembly with three bolts needed to be loosened and shifted upward as far as it would move. The lock mounted in the boot lid needed to be shifted downward before tightening.

Boot lock handle 1

Boot lock handle 2

Spare Tire Leather Retaining Strap –  This was hard to find and I finally ordered it from Cape International.

spare tire leather strap 1

Spare tire leather strap 2

Gearbox cover extension panel – Jeremy Turner modified the extension panel for me to fit the Toyota tranny. As usual he did a wonderful job. I tried it out and it appeared to fit well. I called Duncan at Heritage Upholstery and Trim and ordered the light beige Wilton wool carpet with their domestic pad for the car. I sent them the extension panel to cover with carpet since it would be a custom fit. I also asked him to provide the carpet for the sideshift gearbox cover, but with no hole for the shifter. I will cut it to fit after trying it in the car. He will include the “parchment” vinyl for trimming the gearbox cover and around the handbrake lever for the propshaft tunnel. As usual with the british car vendor fraternity Heritage was very helpful to make sure I got what I needed.

Gearbox cover extension 2

Soft Top Frame – I also picked up the reconditioned and painted soft top frame from Jeremy. He custom matched the paint color and again did a beautiful job.

Soft top frame 2

Soft top frame 1

Soft top frame 3

Hardtop “J” Hooks – I disassembled the front J hooks for the hardtop and will send the hooks by themselves to the chromer. Both J hooks have about 7/16” of the threads exposed after the tightening nuts.The clamps are in good condition and I will just polish them. 

I ordered new J hooks for the rear side clamps for the hardtop from Cape International as well as new mounting brackets. I have not decided yet if I will use the new ones or the originals.

Hardtop front clasps 1

Hardtop front clasps 2

Hardtop J hooks 1

Wooden soft top front bow –  Secures the bow to the aluminum front rail with approximately 15 1/2” #8 counter sunk wood screws. 

Hardtop Hardware – I cleaned and painted the hardtop vertical support braces as well as the front corner brackets with Eastwood wire wheel silver and clear coat paint. They turned out very nice. I also cleaned and painted the mounting clips for the cockpit aluminum molding.

Shroud trim nuts 1

Hardtop front brackets

Hardtop braces 2