C1 trunk lid adjustment

[Norm DiChiara]

Does anyone know how to adjust the position of the trunk lid on a '62? My lid aligns properly but the driver rear corner is lifted about 1/4" and is noticable to the discerning eye! The other three corners fit properly. Somehow, I need to pull in the rear corner? Any ideas or comments would be apprecitated.

Thanks.....Norm....White Plains,NY

[Roy Braatz]

Re: C1 trunk lid adjustment

Norm Look at the hinge and you see three bolts in a triangle. Loosen the bolts and add shims under the hinge at the top area were the single bolt is.That area haveing one bolt is were you would add shims to bring the truck or soft top lid edge down to meet the body. Adding a number of plates the same design as the hinge area will also raise the lid to meet the body line.The same with the hood front line , you add shims under the hood bracket haveing two bolts at the farward or rear bolt to move the hood line up or down.

[Norm DiChiara]

Re: C1 trunk lid adjustment

Can I purchase shims or is this something that I should make myself out of neoprened or some other material? Norm

[Roy Braatz]

Re: C1 trunk lid adjustment

Norm use flat washers to find the thickness needed and then cut from any thing that looks good to replace the washers.If the gap looks bad use clay to fill in the sides.

[David B.]

Re: C1 trunk lid adjustment

Norm has the body been off the car? First, you must check the amount of shims under the rear body mount at the rear cross member. If you under shim the mounting point it will bring the rear body down to far to align with the trunk corner. Loosen bolt through trunk, loosen rear bumper brace (only 2 bolts) at frame rail. Have someone lift bumper carefully by hand with trunk lid closed and locked check gap. Buy lifting the rear you are bring the body and trunk closer. Also check your door gap a this point. If trunk gap narrows add a shim. Note your door gap will narrow by adding this shim. Second make sure trunk is not to far toward the rear body panel. The lock and latch will hang up and will not allow trunk to close properly. Third is you weatherstrip too thick. If you want me to walk you through it please call 954 476 2698.

David

[John H.]

Re: C1 trunk lid adjustment

CC sells a kit of pre-cut properly-shaped partial shims for the lid hinge-to-lid; their #541175.

[Mike Geary]

Re: C1 trunk lid adjustment

I'm surprised that nobody has responded on how common this condition is on '62's. I've seen so many of them where the driver rear corner of the trunk lid is high --I always thought there was a mold problem or something similar.

[Roy Braatz]

Re: C1 trunk lid adjustment

Once you have your gap set at the front door area , also (up and down)
useing shims under the fender bolts to rise or lower each fender is to only close the rear door gap, along with adding shims under the Radiator support.Your puting pressure at the points below the front and rear of the door= (body). Ajusting and shiming the truck is done all by it's self, as is the soft top lid and hood.Then you move on to the windsield to open or close the door posts gap. Yes there is more, but this is a simple answer to you Q.

[Mike E.]

Re: C1 trunk lid adjustment

1/4" seems a bit high, but Mike Geary makes a great point. They should be high on the driver's rear corner, and low on the passenger side rear corner. Be careful that your "fix", as advised by well-meaning members, doesn't lose you more points than the initial disease did! In all cases, do your homework, look at original cars, ask every question possible before you assume it needs to be corrected. Then, if it does, you'll also have ideas on how to do that.
Mike Ernst

[Jon S.]

Re: C1 trunk lid adjustment

Norm, I agree with both Mikes! My 62 is fairly original and sports the same high trunk corner on the drivers side. I just accepted it as one of those factory blessings.
Regards,
Jon
P.S. It's so easy to over restore a car.

[Norm DiChiara]

Re: C1 trunk lid adjustment

I agree, but the body shim idea of Mikes is the most logical approach seeing how much the trunk is out. I looked at it and it doesn't appear to more than an hour or so to do with no cost. I'm going to attempt to shim the body. I'll let you know how I make out......Norm

[Roy Braatz]

Re: C1 I don't get it

Every one has thier corvette numbers correct,paint this rod white or that one yellow,have this or that so so and now I hear OH the body fit! so what!
When you can adjust it.

[Gary Bishop]

Pass.Side C1 trunk lid

After doing a Frame off on my `62 in `96 the passenger side is the one that is up. It was fine until we returned from Steamboat Springs National. I thought it happened due to over filling the trunk and the "HOT" temperatures that reshaped the lid. I have tried adjusting and even putting a weight on that corner over the winter.

[Christopher R.]

Re: C1 I don't get it

Because you're supposed to be restoring the car to the exact condition it was in when it drove off the assembly line. So you lose points for making it better, and gain points for exactly reproducing factory mistakes and poor finish. You must have overspray, and just the right amount, in certain places. Paint must have some orange peel - not too shiny. Got it? Welcome to the wonderful world of NCRS standard restoration. Why don't you ask about "matching numbers"? Or, restamping engines? Nah. Don't go there. It's Thanksgiving. I'm grateful that I have an opportunity to worry about stuff like this.

[Roy Braatz]

Re: Pass.Side C1 trunk lid

sounds like you have a weak spring- easy fix is what I wrote about, or adding a spacer under the spring may be needed in your case?