Hey All,

I’m really in a frustrating jam! Could really use some advice! I’ve spent the last couple of months working on my 70’Chevelle. I’ve been redoing the backend/inside the trunk. Today has been the first real time I’ve been so mad that I wanted to sell this car. Everything with this car is so messed up… Front clip was from another car, the frame is cracked etc…

Today I’ve been spending my time putting on some new parts. IE: The trunk lid. I got the locking system all attacked – but the lock clip wouldn’t go flush with the trunk, hmmm.. I have the trunk bolted down and go to close the lid when BAM!
I noticed… the lid was to big! The lid hangs about ½ inch over the body even when
Its pulled up as far as it can go! The lock/latch is about ½ inch off from hitting the
Bracket as well.

I swear I almost flipped... One side of the lid almosts shuts flush while the other hits the weatherstripping gutter.. The stripping nor the bumpers are on the lid but yet the lid looks huge and doesn’t matchup. I know this is gonna cost me $...
The lid is for a 68-70 Chevelle. I was stupid and got rid of the older one to clean up the garage. I'm so kicking myself.. The older one looked just like this one, just a bit heavier.

Below are some quick shots, didn't take much time was to mad. If anyone wants better photos, or hey... even has a suggestion or advice on helping me with this. Would be so appreciated!

Thanks!

Time to relax... MAN

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Well its hanging over to much i can see that and it looks off centered. Well here is what you can do but first check to see if the trunk lid is flush with the back part were the glass is if so scratch everything im saying and go on ebay and try to find you a orginal trunk lid. But First you can weld up the old mounting holes on the trunk lid and grind them flat and then drill out you some new holes 1/2 inch infront of the stock holes that will basically move up your trunk lid back giving you the differnece you need to make it fit. To do this i will get me a large drill bit and over drill the whole just big enough to fit a nut down into it and then weld around the edge of the nut on the lid filling in the circle and grind down the welds and it will look like it was meant to be there. So moving on. Also far as it being off you can take the brakets that mounted in the trunk that the lid attaches too. And move them over until the lid is centered in place and do it all over again make you some new bolt holes to mount brackets on. Which this is about the only thing that will fix you problem besides Cutting off a 1/2 inch of you lid in the middle and piecing it back together. Are you can just go on ebay and try to locate you a orginal deck lid because good mark items sometimes ain't always perfect Fit.

I see a lot of 70-72's with the deck lid overhanging the quarters somewhat.

My theory is that because the rear bumper mounts to the body rather than the frame, it doesn't take much of a bump to push the rear lower body forward.
Mine was that way and you could hardly tell there was a slight buckle in the quarter unless you really looked good along the top of it.
I had it pulled back on a frame machine before putting on the new quarters.

First, thanks the both of you for the advice!

Hmm, I'm still lost in what I can do to fix this though.

I didn't fully follow understand what you were explaning ChevyBoy. Then again its like almost 1:30, I'll have to re-read things later.

As for the backend, I don't think it was in a accident, everything looks pretty straight (the front is another story).

I'm still wondering what I should do. Just bought this brandnew, sold off my old one for like $60 bucks. Kicking myself now, but the orginal was a lil messed up.

My friend was just saying that he thinks that the repro part was mismanufactured.

The cylinder holder bracket (not correct name), the piece that holds the lock cylinder in place wouldn't go flush with the lid, would have to get
a 1/2 secrew to secure it.

Will have to see what others suggest as well..

Either way I know I better start saving.

Know anyone you can borrow a deck lid from just to try and see if there is any difference between it and the one you have?

All 68-72 deck lids are the same, including Monte Carlo.

Hey Dean,

No, no-one I know who has a chevelle lid. Will
have to keep an eye for one on craigslist I guess.

Sadly, now I'm stuck wit a $260 new trunk lid I can't use.

is it sitting to low at the top and therefore hitting the upper channel before being able to close?

I'm not explaining this correctly. It looks to me from your picture that the lid/when on the hinges is impacting the the body at the top before the lid can come down into position. Is there a chance that the hinges have gotten bent, or the mount for the hinges has? i.e. the rear of the hinge, nearest you when your standing behind the car, got bent up somehow so that the trunk lid is angled up to the rear and the leading edge, toward the front of the car, is impacting the panel between the rear window and the trunk before the lid can close into position.

did that make any sense?

cx,
Did your old trunk lid fit properly ??

Professor_SS: The trunk lid is as high up as it
can go without hitting the top.

BillK: Yes! The orginal one fit perfectly.


Here are som new pics. - In the bottom ones you'll see that the clip dosen't even fit completely when the cylinder is in place. And its for this year hood.

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I think you misunderstood what I was saying. Try this. Your lid bolts on with two bolts each side. What I am saying is, could it be bent in the first bend after the front most bolt. Try this, loosen the bolts, stick some shims in between the bolts furthest toward the front, raising the lid and tilting it down in the back. This would give you an idea of the amount of adjustment that would have to be made to the hinge, if at all possible, to raise the lid at the space panel and lower the rear section.

I can't imagine a lid being off so much that it wouldn't at least close father than yours does. Being that warped or bent would almost certainly be obvious in its shape. The gap you have would have to be a serious bend in the middle or the section where the bolts attach the lid would have to misshapen and flat against the skin or the lid to the point where you would not be able to put in the bolts. Something is bent or out of alignment. Have you compared it to the original? I had to tweak me repoped lid a little but it was not off by inches the way you claim yours is.

Have you tried to set the hood with the hinges removed or tied down to see how well it fits unattached?

what else have you changed on this car ? quarters? wheelwells? or just a decklid? and also where was it purchased ? hey dont get upset. and remember (there is a fine line that seperates a hobby from mental illness)

Hey All,

Dean hit it on the mark! After looking over the car and measuring somethings we came to the conclusion that the right back panels had an accident and they did a good job blending it in with bondo. So with 6 1/2 hours of hammering, bending and blow torching the panel looks a bit
better and the trunk is fitting pretty good! Another hour or so and it will be completed. With every new project I find something new about this car..

Thank-You all so much for the helpful tips and advice, Super appreciated!


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Michael, hehe this may be a little more then what you asked for, but here it the lo'down on this car and why its so frustrating!

I picked up the car from a newlywed family in Oakland, California. 454BB, TH400, 355gears for $5k

After getting the car found out:
- Frame is cracked up front, driver side.
- Oil pan is leaking cause of over steering and banging the box.
- Steering rod is bent - fixed
- Front clip of the car is from another chevelle
- Brakes were shot, cylinders leaking / Master cylinder shot. - fixed
- E-brake cable broken - fixed
- A hole the size of a golf ball was in the trunk/wheel well. - fixed
- Carb was shot. - fixed
- It was their daily driver too! They pulled up and met me in it.

After purchase, was driving it home and the car died 3 blocks away from their house and I had to wait 4 hours for a tow truck to pick me and my friend up in Oakland and take us to SF.

The car now has: New front fenders, new cowl hood, new door shells, (now) new trunk lid. Shortly gotta get that crack welded!

Thanks again for everyones help!

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great to hear ya got the nerves fixed uh i mean trunklid. hey sometimes when one gets frustrated put the large hammer down ,walk away drink some ice tea. take a break . more times than not when you get back to your project things want be as bad as you left it, for some unknown reason.