Advice please - ZR-2 Spare carrier to 96 4 door
 

When I found out the ZR-2s had a 19 gallon fuel tanks where my spare tire hangs; I jumped in head first. Double fuel is double range and the carrier looks kinda cool anyway.

I spent the afternoon cannibalizing a ZR2 at my Salvage yard. The heavy duty mounting screws were torqued down pretty good but no loc-tite :-)
The locking plate on the tailgate was just as easy. Now the tricky part:

Between the interior wall and the external one is what looks like a 1/4" threaded mounting plate. It was designed to take all that stress from the sheet metal and spread it across the quarter panel. The first bolt can put a hole near alignment, then the second and the rest automatically should all line up. I suspect a smaller/thinner version on the tailgate plate but I cannot get a good look in there yet.

The double wall design is great for strength but I doubt my 4 door has one [or both] of these mounting plates inside.
I unscrewed every nut and bolt in that area hoping to see something come loose or a "back door" open. Short of getting a saws-all in there, I don't think I can get it out. If I did - how would I re-install to my 4 door ?? There must be a trick or "work around" to secure the six mounting bolts to the quarter panel.

On one hand I gotta drill some holes and maybe create my own backing plate. This will prolly crush both body layers together and may not look so pretty. On the other hand, it may afford me a chance to mount it lower. so I can see over my 31s.

If anyone out there has swapped the swinging spare tire rack to a 4 door I would love to hear about it. Right now I am getting ready to go back to the salvage yard with a saws all for the plate.

This should help. https://blazerforum.com/forum/articl...-thread-48921/ I think I have details on how I did mine as well if not page 54 is where it starts in my build thread. I used plate and welded nuts to it for the inside and I have a 40" tire hanging off mine without issue. You won't be able to mount it any lower on the body side tho because of where it sits around the tail light.

Rexmburns

Thanks much. This DYI thread is exactly what I wanted. I'm only on page 3 and will prolly read all night! (or at least page 54 for your build.)

Now, if I can just get my glass lift back open. I pushed a couple of tires in too tight when I closed the tailgate. Window clicked shut just as always but now it's like a Chinese puzzle lol ........

If you want to read the part in my build thread click on the link in my Sig. I wasn't referring to page 54 in the link I posted for you.

OK - now I got it. Good reading! I got a great deal on the parts I need - $15

If you need help getting the window open check this link. You may have put too much stress on the actuator to get it to move under its own power. You may need to give it some assistance. Or possibly remove the stuff in the back that put the load on the tailgate then try to use the button.

Thogert

Thank you. Yeah, I think you are right. I removed the two tires (through the back seat) and moved everything else that was touching it away from the TG too. I can hear the actuator humming when I push the button but no "click." I even did it while pushing steady on the TG like I was trying to make sure it was shut.

The link you put in looks like the answer. The step by step approach is well presented and full of pics too. If I somehow broke the "Blue Collar" - I am fortunate to have a salvage yard full of them. On the bright side; I gotta go in there anyway to install the locking plate when I finish the "swinging spare mod" :-)

Of all the Forums I have joined and participated on in the last 20+ years - I think I am enjoying the BF community the most so far.

Glad to hear it man.

I'm a little held back by the lock on the spare. I have searched the net and the closest thing to it is "Wolf Security Spare Tire Lock" made for a host of brands including GM. They match the ignition/door keys. Apparently it is sold only on eBay and the seller offers no customer service for removal. This thing spins freely on an existing lug nut apparently. If I had a key to it I would definitely keep it. Anybody know about these things?

hammer it off... you only need two studs to hold that spare on there anyway :P

I'd try to drill the lock, or take a dremel to it and try to split it lengthwise

You can also grind the stud off from the back side and then rather easily tap it right out the front. No worry of damaging the wheel that way. With that you can also slide a new stud in and weld it in place if you so choose.

Thanx for the responses. I have to say I like the idea of having a lock w/same key as the door/ignition. I think maybe I'll grind off the back and take it into a local locksmith and have a key made. Maybe then I can just re-weld the stud back in.

Rex
I have to say that I have been following your thread but not quite at page 100 yet. I have a bunch of questions that will prolly get answered before I hit page 167 lol. We both have 96 LTs. Your spare is on the same Rim as my truck came with. Now I have 6 of them lol. I have no use for the one on the rack. It was free because it was stuck on the carrier. I started an every day driver build on my truck. I hope it will be as interesting to follow as yours ....

OK. I ground off the welded stud from the rear with my angle grinder. I'm a little clumsy with gyro spinning heavy tools. They runaway better than they take guidance :-( The backside if the carrier was scarred up but nobody is gonna see it anyway. It has a coat of satin black and the lug/lock thing is on my console til I have time to see a locksmith.

This tire carrier thing has had it's ups and downs and seems to go on and on. I am documenting it with pictures but hate to leave folks hangin for a long time between posts. I figure when it's done or near done I will just add the project to my build post with all the images. I'm sure the pix alone will get a lot of laughs :icon_smash: