Club Cobra

Club Cobra (http://www.clubcobra.com/forums/)
-   ERA---Speak with Bob Putnam (http://www.clubcobra.com/forums/era-speak-bob-putnam/)
-   -   Trunk Lid Adjustment (http://www.clubcobra.com/forums/era-speak-bob-putnam/131258-trunk-lid-adjustment.html)

bliss 10-05-2014 11:16 AM
Trunk Lid Adjustment
 
I was working on my tail lights issues - had the trunk lid open for about a week - tried to close it and suddenly it's 'off' about 1/2 inch....

http://i61.tinypic.com/2wqcoig.jpg

http://i58.tinypic.com/osslu1.jpg

(I've placed a towel on the right side - it's paint to paint with the lid off perhaps 1/2 inch to the right side)

Just Damn!

Anyway, it seems like something slipped but I don't see anything that would be subject to slipping. I loosened the bracket bolts (they were already a little loose) that are attached to the car to see if there was any available adjustment - a little wiggle room but basically no luck.

Once again, I'm totally discombobulated by this problem - it's as if I've entered the Twilight Zone in which nothing fits.

Are there ways to adjust the trunk lid - front to back, etc.?

Any input will be appreciated.

patrickt 10-05-2014 12:25 PM
No chance somebody tried to close the trunk with the stay extended and twisted the brackets, right?%/ If not, then (from the manual):


Quote:
Bolt the trunk hinges (they are marked with a T on the lid side) loosely onto the body with any shims found earlier. Loosely bolt the trunk lid (with factory shims) onto the hinges. Carefully close the lid, not letting the front edge contact the body. Center the lid in the opening. Slowly lift the lid just enough to get your arm (and a wrench) inside and snug the bolts on the lid part of the hinges. Remember to check the front edge while lifting lid. The lid can be adjusted further by moving the lid and hinges in unit at the connection on the inner panel. Tighten bolts and recheck fit.

strictlypersonl 10-05-2014 03:41 PM
We've left trunk lids open for days at a time without a problem. I suspect that the latch is doing something strange to the alignment.

DanEC 10-05-2014 04:03 PM
If not as Bob suggested, then I suspect the hinge bolts to the body slipped, although it could be the bolts to the trunk lid. First thing is to put a layer of blue masking tape on all edges to protect the paint. Then loosen the hinge bolts but leave one of them snug enough to hold but allow you to shift the trunk with minor effort. Wiggle the trunk into alignment and carefully, carefully lower it to check alignment. If it looks like it's going to hit anywhere then stop, raise it up and wiggle it around a little more until it fits right. The other option is to con a small child to climb inside with a flashlight and allen wrench. Loosen the bolts, set the trunk lid in position and tell the kid to tighten the bolts. Good luck with this one.

spf645 10-05-2014 10:41 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by DanEC (Post 1321211)
If not as Bob suggested, then I suspect the hinge bolts to the body slipped, although it could be the bolts to the trunk lid. First thing is to put a layer of blue masking tape on all edges to protect the paint. Then loosen the hinge bolts but leave one of them snug enough to hold but allow you to shift the trunk with minor effort. Wiggle the trunk into alignment and carefully, carefully lower it to check alignment. If it looks like it's going to hit anywhere then stop, raise it up and wiggle it around a little more until it fits right. The other option is to con a small child to climb inside with a flashlight and allen wrench. Loosen the bolts, set the trunk lid in position and tell the kid to tighten the bolts. Good luck with this one.
DanEC,,

Best one I've heard all day. Thanks for the laugh. Though I feel sure this idea has been done before. But I'm not admitting anything!

aaannnd 10-06-2014 01:33 AM
other option, i suppose it's a fibreglass lid, so don't touch hinges setup, open the trunk lid, lose boot stay and put a stick on the opposite side of the lid, and stay open for another week;)
Thats an option if you have not enough laugh.

DanEC 10-06-2014 05:51 AM
After looking at the pictures more and considering the trunk prop - I bet the bolts on the pass side securing the trunk lid to the hinge are loose and slipped.

kevins2 10-06-2014 08:33 AM
I agree with Dan - you mentioned the bolts were a bit loose so they probably slipped. The trick to aligning it, other than having a small kid in the trunk, is to spend a little time getting the bolts adjusted loose enough so you can move the alignment but tight enough so they won't move when you're raising and lowering the lid to test the alignment. That way, you can jockey it around until it is properly aligned and then tighten down the bolts. Tighten each bolt a little at a time to prevent the lid from moving.

Kevin

bliss 10-08-2014 11:52 AM
Thanks for all the input.

It turns out that one of the hinges was bent. I've no idea how it happened since a lot of force would need to be applied to make that happen - I didn't use force in any way - once again it's a twilight zone event or mystery that remains unsolved.

The bottomline is it's fixed.

patrickt 10-08-2014 11:57 AM
Quote:
Originally Posted by bliss (Post 1321623)
It turns out that one of the hinges was bent. I've one idea how it happened since a lot of force would need to be applied to make that happen - I didn't use force in any way - once again it's a twilight zone event or mystery that remains unsolved.
It is a phenomenon known as "garage elves." Funny thing is, the more kids you have around the house, the more mischievous elves you seem to have.;)


All times are GMT -7. The time now is 02:44 PM.

Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.0
Copyright ©2000 - 2025, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Search Engine Friendly URLs by vBSEO 3.6.0
The representations expressed are the representations and opinions of the clubcobra.com forum members and do not necessarily reflect the opinions and viewpoints of the site owners, moderators, Shelby American, any other replica manufacturer, Ford Motor Company. This website has been planned and developed by clubcobra.com and its forum members and should not be construed as being endorsed by Ford Motor Company, or Shelby American or any other manufacturer unless expressly noted by that entity. "Cobra" and the Cobra logo are registered trademarks for Ford Motor Co., Inc. clubcobra.com forum members agree not to post any copyrighted material unless the copyrighted material is owned by you. Although we do not and cannot review the messages posted and are not responsible for the content of any of these messages, we reserve the right to delete any message for any reason whatsoever. You remain solely responsible for the content of your messages, and you agree to indemnify and hold us harmless with respect to any claim based upon transmission of your message(s). Thank you for visiting clubcobra.com. For full policy documentation refer to the following link: