The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Paint and Body Shop Factory right side spare on 1954 3100?

Can anyone tell me did any 54 3100s have a right side mounted spare tire from the factory? To my knowledge they were always on the left side but I could be wrong. My project that I am about to finish up has a dent in the right side fender for the spare tire. I thought someone had moved the spare tire to the right side because the dent was crudly made with a hammer and higher than any factory spare tire well that I have seen. Recently I noticed the left bed side was never drilled for the bracket so I started thinking maybe it never had the tire on the left. Was the right side possibly an option? Also anyone ever seen a replacement well patch panel that would work on the right side fender? I would like to mount the spare on the right but as I stated the existing well is too high and poorly made with a hammer. Thanks

I bet/vote that it is a custom modification (non-GM option).

Jonald--Check out tech tips here ---there is a tip for making a spare tire fender out of a standard fender--- I should think that that process should work equally well on left or right fender. I have access to a 54 3100 w/fender spare cutout & spare support bracket. I could take pics & measurements if you need it. PM me
delky dave in Wyoming

That is what I was thinking as well, but this truck is somewhat a barn find. It don't appear to have ever had holes to mount the spare tire bracket or a tire well on the left side. The holes and well could have been filled in but it was done perfectly and it was not done very recently. That don't explain why the right side tire well is an obvious and poorly done modification, but who knows, I guess anything is possible.

I was just looking at that tip. I may see if I can beat the well back out and get the fender back to original shape. Then cut a section out and weld it back in inverted. Pics and measurements would be awesome but don't go out of your way for them. I am still playing with the idea of mounting the tire underneath on a hoist.

I just read another thread and someone mentioned an original fender with a spare tire well is hard to find and that you could possibly sell it for twice what a reproduction fender without a well would cost. Am I missing something or why do not all original fenders have the spare tire well?

Because the standard spare tire carrier was under the bed - no extra cost (standard equipment).

An underbed tire carrier was standard on a 1954 3100 half ton truck? I did not know that but it would explain some of my questions. Thinking back just about every somewhat original 3100 I have seen had a left side mount spare tire. Does anyone have any pics of the original underbed tire carrier or know any place that sells a reproduction? Thanks again

The side mount spare in 1954 was a factory option.

http://chevy.oldcarmanualproject.com/parts/1929_54/441.htm

I think the first year it was a factory option was 1953. Since the 53 and 54 bed-sides were different, I'd bet the 53 and the later wheel "hangers" were different, but the fenders with indents might have been the same?

The thing which puzzles me is why GM chose to put the spare on the traffic side of the truck instead of the passenger side. It would have been more safety conscious to have done so.

The spare is on the drivers side because it doesn't block your view the way it would on the passenger side. Avoiding a daily risk (driving) for a occasional risk (changing a tire).
Chuck

hmmmm . . .

A rear view mirror, and a right side mirror, and a 5 window cab, might have helped your right side view, but they were all options/accessories.

How would placing the side-mount spare on the right side of the bed have risked blocking the view on the right side of most trucks?

And, I do not think that the spare on the right side would have blocked the view on the right side when looking out the rear window?

By the way, this same question gets asked (and, is unanswered) on old Ford truck discussion boards.