Trunk springs

[Layne]

Or "bootlid" if you're so inclined.

The car I'm working on was repainted, so someone took the springs off and put them back. I'm not sure if they did it right. The lid wants to hover in the middle of its travel. It sort of stays open but often falls back to the middle. And it's very hard to close, and wants to launch open like a catapult back to the middle position. So basically the springs are unwound and at rest when the lid is in the middle position. Is that the best they can do, or were they installed improperly? Maybe left and right are switched?

 

[OCCoupe]

The torsion springs are not adjustable. The weight of the toolbox and trim panels help keep the trunk lid from flinging up. If it stays open in the middle position then the springs are in good shape. What keeps the trunk open is the two steel struts that attack to the end of the torsion springs. They rest against two stoppers that are mounted to the inner fenders. The stoppers should be adjusted so the struts barely kick over beyond center when you push the trunk to full open. If you over adjust the stoppers then the struts will over travel and bind. If you get it just right they will just pop in and and out of the locked position when you nudge the trunk to full open or to close.

 

[bmwmadman]

OCCoupe - are those pictures from a showroom coupe from back in the day? Everything is new!

 

[Layne]

Oh I get it now. Probably the fact that the front end is on jack stands at the moment is throwing it off balance. On the 80's cars the springs push the lid all the way open, so I was expecting that.

 

[OCCoupe]

OCCoupe - are those pictures from a showroom coupe from back in the day? Everything is new!

They're actually photos of my 1972 Camaro.

 

[aearch]

its the best darn coupe to hit the site in years
all hand crafted

 

[OCCoupe]

No really. It's my Camaro.

 

[coupelady]

Your Camero is a pleasure to look upon! I see those elusive bung plugs in the gas filler area. I wish they would fall into my Christmas fireplace stocking............

 

[coupelady]

BTW I replaced the trunk rubber surround the opening 2 years ago, it made it really tight so hard to close. I also heard from the fellow who reinstalled my deck lid springs that is was a real bear of a job. And then the lid has to be mounted to be flush with the body. Things like this make me glad I don't tackle the mechanicals. I just admire and praise those who can do it and do it right!

 

[Markos]

Your Camero is a pleasure to look upon! I see those elusive bung plugs in the gas filler area. I wish they would fall into my Christmas fireplace stocking............

Check with Stan. Don't quote me on it but I think he had some molded.

 

[Ohmess]

The torsion springs are not adjustable. The weight of the toolbox and trim panels help keep the trunk lid from flinging up. If it stays open in the middle position then the springs are in good shape. What keeps the trunk open is the two steel struts that attack to the end of the torsion springs. They rest against two stoppers that are mounted to the inner fenders. The stoppers should be adjusted so the struts barely kick over beyond center when you push the trunk to full open. If you over adjust the stoppers then the struts will over travel and bind. If you get it just right they will just pop in and and out of the locked position when you nudge the trunk to full open or to close.

Hey Mike -- thanks for this very nice explanation. I just adjusted my stoppers and closing my trunk is much easier now.

 

[OCCoupe]

Hey Mike -- thanks for this very nice explanation. I just adjusted my stoppers and closing my trunk is much easier now.

I'm glad I could help!