The boards don't sit flat. The reason being is that Mopar used the same spare tire well since the ealy 60's when the tires were alot more narrow. Any 70's series or similar sits makes the board sit higher.
Re: 70 Duster spare tire question - 11/01/1011:35 AM
the tire wells were designed for 13" tires in the early 60's. By the 70's, new off the showroom floor, you had to shoe horn a 14" tire into the well. And the fiberboard cover would sit on the tire a couple inches above the floor.