I just bought a 65 Malibu SS. The car has never been hit and is pretty straight overall considering it's survivor status and 37 years of dedicated service. However, the trunk lid sits kind of high on the right side. I see no way to adjust it. 've also seen other 65's with the same alignment. High on the right. As a matter of fact, there's a picture of the rea of a 65 SS in the Year One catalog showing the same thing. I've never run across this before. How can I align the trunk?

Here is the short bit on deck lids from my "basics panel aligning">>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Deck lid: The trunk lid is pretty much like the hood but the hinges don't move at all on the body (usually). So shimming and twisting are a few of your only options beyond the movement in the slotted holes on the hinge. Bending the hinge or pushing up or down on the sides of the quarters, front or rear panel are the others. These should be done ONLY after all other things are tried.

That being said, if this is at the rear twisting the lid is about it. Make sure the rubber bumper is not hitting on that side. The little flap of metal that the rubber bumper comes down on can be bent a little up or down to help. Sometimes you have to rob Peter to pay Paul by making the other side higher. You can do this by bending up that little metal flap that the runner hits on the left side. This will make the lid pivot on the latch and lower on the other side. But if that right bumper is hitting already you will need to bend the metal flap down. If it is not hitting and you can't go up on the left then bending is the only way. Put a block of wood on the left side supporting the lid. Push down on the right side twisting the lid down on that side. You may want to remove the striker so the lid can be checked for fit without the latch interfering. After it fits, then reinstall the latch.

If you look on under the lid on your car you will see a large dent or two on the inner structure at the front of the lid between the hinges. This is where the lid was bent up in the center at the factory to get good fit. Proving the point that sometimes you have to bend parts.

Both my '65 Skylark and Gran Sport both had horrible fitting lids from the factory so don't feel bad.

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1965 Buick Gran Sport Convertible
1965 Buick Skylark H/T
"Fan of most anything that moves human beings"

Thanks MartinSr. I've already played with the stopper and latch, but the entire right side sits 1/4-3/8" high all along the gap. Maybe a twist or two is in order. 65 must have been a bad year for trunks!

I'm trying to align my lid on my 67.

Here's my problem...

The left front and right rear are good, but the right front and left rear are both high. Noticeably high. How do I fix that? It never has fit right. The weatherstripping was new in '88.

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my 67 droptop (http://www.mdesignstudio.com/chad/other/mychevelle2.jpg)

Dad's 67 droptop (http://www.mdesignstudio.com/chad/other/dads67.jpg)

Shim the hinge at the rear bolt on the right side. That is, put a shim between the hinge and the deck lid at the bolt that is closest to the rear of the car. This will lower the lid there. Then tighten the striker down some to pull the lid down on the left side. The right will hit a the rubber a little sooner than the left, but it really doesn't matter. You can also twist the lid at the rear by putting a wood block on the right side that will hold it up. Then rest the lid on that block and push down on the top of the left side of the lid bending it down.

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1965 Buick Gran Sport Convertible
1965 Buick Skylark H/T
"Fan of most anything that moves human beings"

Thanks, it worked out pretty well. It's not perfect, but I think its even better than before I took it off.

Now I'm having trouble getting the chrome trim on. I have all the outer clips snapped but I can get the two on either side of the center to "lock". They are hooked on the top but not the bottom and when the lid is closed, it looks like a dip in the chrome since its not fully locked. Any suggestions? I've tried sliding it, pushing it around and "coaxing" it with a rubber mallet. No good. Help?

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my 67 droptop (http://www.mdesignstudio.com/chad/other/mychevelle2.jpg)

Dad's 67 droptop (http://www.mdesignstudio.com/chad/other/dads67.jpg)

I am not familiar with the exact clip you thta was used on that moulding. Is it a plastic clip that slides over a nail looking stud that is on the deck lid? Then the moulding has lip on the top and bottom that grabs around the top and bottom of the clip?

I think that is what they use there. If it is, I assume you are using reproduction clips, that may be your problem. The clip may be a little bigger than the old one. Take a clip and see if you can slide it into the moulding with it off the car. If the moulding has to spread out the clip is not going to work. The distance between the lips of the moulding and the point on the clip where that lip will rest on the when the moulding is installed should be the same or even wider. The clip should be able to slide in from the end without any trouble at all. If it does then it will clip onto the clips while installing it on the car.

You can put some lubricant on the clips to help the moulding slide over the edge of the clip. This could be some grease or "release agent" available from a number of manufactures like 3M. Just be sure to check in an inconspicuous spot to see if that what ever you use it is not going to damage the paint.

I use a release agent at work made by WURTH that is excellent and saves by butt many times while working with rubber or plastic parts.

You may be able to GENTLY spread the moulding out so it will get over the clips. Take a look to see if the clips slide into the moulding and post here what you found. Also, what kind of clips exactly that are used if I am wrong on the style.

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1965 Buick Gran Sport Convertible
1965 Buick Skylark H/T
"Fan of most anything that moves human beings"

Yes, they are the "nail" head type. I was using some silicone spray, but that wasn't really helping much. The clips will slide fairly easily. A couple move on their own. It's just those last two in the center that are giving problems. The trim seems bowed out a little bit in the center too.

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my 67 droptop (http://www.mdesignstudio.com/chad/other/mychevelle2.jpg)

Dad's 67 droptop (http://www.mdesignstudio.com/chad/other/dads67.jpg)

Hmm, maybe I shouldn't have hijacked this thread. I'll take help from anyone!

I think I have a solution, at least I hope. I found my original clips and I think I'll put them at the center so they'll grab.

As for the new outer clips that take the screws? They flat out suck! They have a nut not a screw and the nut is freakin huge. Looks like total *****. So I'm going to try to use the original outer clips, but they are kinda beat. Think I can remove the threaded bolt from the new clip and use a screw there like its supposed to be? Did I just order a crappy repro or are they all like this? (the clips that is)

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my 67 droptop (http://www.mdesignstudio.com/chad/other/mychevelle2.jpg)

Dad's 67 droptop (http://www.mdesignstudio.com/chad/other/dads67.jpg)