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Topic: Convertible rear deck lid spring reinstall

in Forum: C3 Body


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Convertible rear deck lid spring reinstall (1/4)
 3/16/21 3:25pm
F4GaryGold Member
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Grapevine, TX - USA

Vette(s):
1972 LT-1 convertible with factory air.


Joined: 8/26/2006
Posts: 1406

I got my self in a pickle.  My rear deck lid, once open would always sag a little and I would hit the front edge of the top when putting it up or down.

I discovered that the springs are in the farthest notch and not the middle one.  So I tried to move one of them up a notch or even two (the inner most).  With the lid open I tried stuffing some cut up yard stick pieces in between the coils so that when I opened the lid up it would keep the spring extended enough to move it up a notch.  Well it wasn't quite enough so I tried pushing it up with a big screwdriver and I popped the spring off the dammed hinge.

To get it back on, another forum says to extend the spring with a floor jack and stuff paint sticks or pieces of square dowels in between the coils to keep it stretched and then put it back in the car, lower the lid and pull the sticks out. 

Anyone have a better/easier way???? I don't want to remove the deck lid and the hinge is pretty much impossible to get out to do in out of the car.

 

 



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Re: Convertible rear deck lid spring reinstall (2/4)
 3/16/21 6:18pm
NorskyLifetime Member
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West Burke, VT - USA

Vette(s):
SOLD - "The Toy" - '70 Convertible
SOLD - "The Beast" - '90 ZR-1 (#682)
SOLD - "Betty" - '28 Ford Model A Tudor
Still have - "BLKBRRD" - '78 Pontiac Trans Am


Joined: 1/23/2002
Posts: 7190

That's a tough one.  I guess if you can get the spring out of the car keep doing what you started and get as many coils separated and stretched as much as possible.  Then try GENTLY reinstalling the spring.



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Jim Olson 

"The Toys"...!!!  Save the Wave!

Where I've been in a Corvette...!!!

Re: Convertible rear deck lid spring reinstall (3/4)
 3/16/21 10:47pm
F4GaryGold Member
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Grapevine, TX - USA

Vette(s):
1972 LT-1 convertible with factory air.


Joined: 8/26/2006
Posts: 1406

Well, I got the spring out so I stretched it with my floor jack and put square dowels in the coils.  Took a lot of finagling to get it in there and get the dang wood out of it.  Got it on the innermost notch only to find out the is the worst one to put it on. The deck lid would only stay half open.  So that tells me that both of my springs are weak and need to be replaced.

The other problem I had was I couldn't get the spring ends properly in their seats.

So Wilcox has this way overpriced homemade tool that I may buy along with a couple of new springs.

I'll call the nearest Corvette restorer hear to see if maybe they have a homemade tool I can borrow and just order springs.

I thought this was going to be an easy adjustment.  Wish someone had invented a gas strut conversion...



|UPDATED|3/16/2021 7:47:30 PM (AZT)|/UPDATED|


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Re: Convertible rear deck lid spring reinstall (4/4)
 3/17/21 7:06pm
NorskyLifetime Member
Lifetime Member
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West Burke, VT - USA

Vette(s):
SOLD - "The Toy" - '70 Convertible
SOLD - "The Beast" - '90 ZR-1 (#682)
SOLD - "Betty" - '28 Ford Model A Tudor
Still have - "BLKBRRD" - '78 Pontiac Trans Am


Joined: 1/23/2002
Posts: 7190

F4Gary said:...  Wish someone had invented a gas strut conversion...


Hmmm... may have to look into that to supplement my retirement income...!!!   🤣


______________

Jim Olson 

"The Toys"...!!!  Save the Wave!

Where I've been in a Corvette...!!!

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