ConcoursMustang Forums
1st Generation 1964 1/2 - 1973 - Questions & general discussions that apply to a specific year => 1968 Mustang => Topic started by: CCP on July 16, 2018, 05:22:06 PM
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Working on a '68 fastback that came in the shop, and the trunk lid will not stay up. Might be a silly question, but is it possible that the springs could be installed on the wrong side?
There is tension on the springs, and they look like they are installed correctly, but they will not even try to raise the trunk lid.
Perhaps just worn out?
Any help or suggestions would be appreciated.
Thanks, Pete.
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Are you looking for springs/hinges that will raise the trunk lid once unlocked or simply hold it open once it's raise to its fully open state?
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Simply hold it open once it is unlocked. Is it possible to give the springs another half wind to increase the tension a little more?
I might try that. Could be that whoever put this car together may not have returned the springs to their original orientation. Hmmm.
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In the hope that it might help you in your efforts I've attached a couple of close up
Hope they help in some way
(http://www.concoursmustang.com/forum/gallery/10/6-160718231248.jpeg)
(http://www.concoursmustang.com/forum/gallery/10/6-160718231309.jpeg)
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Thanks for the pics, they do indeed help. Looking closer at the springs on these hinges, they are not wound nearly as tight.
I'm going to see if I can wind them around a half turn and try that.
Thanks, Pete.
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I think the speings can actually be installed on the wrong sides too.
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Took the hinges off and was able to give the springs an extra half wind. Works perfectly now. I'm guessing whoever had the hinges apart for paint did not get the springs back on tight enough.
Thanks again for the pics Jeff, they helped out a lot.
Pete.
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Hey Pete, by the way, would my KR have a different/ lighter spring? There were boxes of parts that came with the car, and I ended up with 4 sets of hinges.
Or is this a question for the SAAC forum.
Thanks, Pete.
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No, the 1968 Shelbys use the stock springs front and rear
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OK, good to know. Thanks again for the help guys! On to the next thing on the list. LOL.
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On the 1968 Shelbys the hinges were painted with the body. AOSmith did not adjust them, but just added a new decklid. The two “new” bolts holding the decklid were now unpainted (phosphated)
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Thanks for the pics, they do indeed help. Looking closer at the springs on these hinges, they are not wound nearly as tight.
I'm going to see if I can wind them around a half turn and try that.
Just for conversation both of the pictures appear to be original springs untouched from when they were installed.
Notice the the end at the stationary end is different (enter from both directions) and the number of turns is different.
Just interesting aas it appears both were taken with the trunk hinges is approximately the same position
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Could it be because of the difference in weight of the deck lid?
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Would lubricant be something that would expected to be seen on a 68 trunk hinge as in the pics above I'm just disassembling mine and there is a small amount more than seen on the red hinge but clearly there.
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Would lubricant be something that would expected to be seen on a 68 trunk hinge as in the pics above I'm just disassembling mine and there is a small amount more than seen on the red hinge but clearly there.
Yes have found white lithium grease sprayed on each coil sometimes visible after all these years while on other examples it does not appears to still be there after all these years. May suggest that the amount applied was not consistent, dried or was wiped over the years
Likely/possibly the same product found used on other locations around the car