For anyone searching here about a full size spare, while the above is true for a coupe, the sedans can come from the factory with a full size spare as an option or part of an option package. Their trunk well was big enough but you need the 3 foam pieces to fit in the floor underneath the mat to make the trunk floor flush with the larger factory wheel and tire.

 

This is why, at this point in the game, I believe the best way to remedy this is to drop the steering rack, suspension support, and the upper oil pan and just replace the upper oil pan seal portion, and while at it, replace the upper oil pan seal on the front, too. This video beginning at about the 11:30 mark shows the rear oil pan-to-RMS housing seal being installed with what looks to me like the trannie being in place. One thing about the way the guy does it in the video, it seems to me to have been better to install the front and rear seals to the upper oil pan then apply the RTV bead from seal end to seal end while on the pan and be ready to quickly bolt the pan up (using some locating studs in the block to help guide the pan on cleanly).

Oh, and btw, thanks for the manual info! What I found is that both the transmission and upper oil pan are supposed to be removed in order to replace the upper oil pan seals, but it wasn't page 117. I can't remember where it was at this point, but when I get a chance I'll look again.

 

I just glanced back at this thread and realized somehow I didn't paste the link to the upper oil pan video I mentioned in my previous comment.

 

Awfully damned sketchy taking off the front crossmember and letting the engine hang on the transmission mount like that. Guy should have installed an engine bar across the hood rails and supported it from the top before he got the car up in the air.

 

He did install an engine support... go to 0:27 mark.

 

Ahhh thank god lol.

 

Yup! previous owner of my 04 sedan bought a full size wheel/tire and it fits snugly in the trunk.

 

My son got a really good deal on a pair of OEM size (245-45-18) Yokohama tires for the back for his coupe. That left us with one good 265-40-18, so for the heck of it, he placed it in the spare tire well... needless to say, not even close to being able to put the trunk floor back down where it's supposed to be.

Next purchase is a donut. Anybody know what the specs are for the coupes?