Trunk really takes slamming to close. Any advice?

[Bustercat65]

I have to place my hands on the center of the hood and slam repeatedly really hard to get the lid to close. Any advice to make this a bit easier? What are the usual culprits?

[D. Haviland]

How big is your spare tire?

[glutamodo]

Yeah, try it without the spare in there. Really, the hood should not need that kind of work to latch it, if the latch and pin are adjusted/aligned properly. I never slam my hood shut. I just set it down, push a little harder on the handle, and I hear the latch go "snick", done.
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Andy T.


IMAGE NOTE: It has been noted that Chrome based browsers may have issues in displaying my vast image library, which use non-secure links and are on an FTP server. Images should still be viewable if the link is clicked though.
I do not know how to fix this. All I can say is it all works fine for me with what I use, Firefox.

[dodgerodder]

[Bustercat65]

Ah, it must be the tire. I can barely move it in there.

[67rustavenger]

Spare tires fit in the well pretty snugly.
Have a look at the bracket that the latch pin is attached to. It should be flat. Most brackets that have closing issues are bent upward.
If that's the case here. Remove the bracket and straighten it out.
The boot (trunk lid) should close easily after repairing the bracket and properly adjusting the latch pin.
Oh, and a little grease on the latch pin dosen't hurt too.

Good Luck.
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I have learned over the years.
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Buy Once, Cry Once!

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GFY's Xevin and VW_Jimbo!

[KTPhil]

I had to rework my latch by removing it, taking it apart, straightening and deburring everything, then carefully reassembling it with a little grease. Then I patently adjusted it (there are threads... it's not intuitive). Took half the damn day but it finally solved my problem.

[Bustercat65]

Solved! The seal is totally rock hard. Bits are flying off as I closed it. I ripped some out and it works, will replace the seal.

[glutamodo]

I actually thought about blabbering about how the seal was part of the "hood latch" experience... yes, there is a spring on the latch pin, but that combines with the overall slight compression of the hood seal, they both combine to give the hood enough "spring" to make a nice "thongggg" sound when it releases as you pull the hood latch.
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Andy T.


IMAGE NOTE: It has been noted that Chrome based browsers may have issues in displaying my vast image library, which use non-secure links and are on an FTP server. Images should still be viewable if the link is clicked though.
I do not know how to fix this. All I can say is it all works fine for me with what I use, Firefox.

[iowegian]

[Mark Evans]

Always good to have clear descriptions of "sounds"!!
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'63 Ragtop