jimainnj Posted May 19, 2009 Report Share Posted May 19, 2009 Has anyone dealt with a trunk lid that sticks up on one side about 1/2" in the middle, the top and left side are spaced good,the bottom is off a little1/4" on the side that won't sit flat. The lid looks very good as far as its shape and condition. I got the hood, doors lined up pretty good using the manual, I could use the hood brace as there is a lot of flex when closing it. Suggestion welcome. Jim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobertKB Posted May 19, 2009 Report Share Posted May 19, 2009 It could be "just the way it is". We have all got used to the fit of modern vehicles but even when these old girls were new the fit was not always that great. I had a similar problem with the trunk lid on my '38 Chrysler but that was caused by the factory support used when open and likely people pulling down on it instead of raising it a bit first and then letting it down. Not sure what the body man did with that but it is much better now although not perfect. I just live with it as part of the way these old girls are. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plymouthy Adams Posted May 19, 2009 Report Share Posted May 19, 2009 is this with or without a gasket in place... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimainnj Posted May 20, 2009 Author Report Share Posted May 20, 2009 there is a gasket looks new, the good side shows the impression from the lid, the side thats up never hits the gasket. I'm not sure it's the right gasket its about 3/8" thick and 3'4" wide and fills the bottom of the channel. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BobT-47P15 Posted May 20, 2009 Report Share Posted May 20, 2009 (edited) Which side of your trunk lid is off.....driver side or passenger side? Sometimes the lid got warped when some previous owner put in a spare tire that was just a tiny bit too tall, then slammed down the lid on it and latched it. The spare, of course, is on the passenger side. Just a wild guess. My trunk lid on the convert is off a bit, but I attribute that to the wreck the car was in at one time before I got it. Things were straightened out, but several things are still not back to perfect. I just figure it's slightly warped, like my personality. Edited May 20, 2009 by BobT-47P15 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
George NU Posted May 20, 2009 Report Share Posted May 20, 2009 A Buddy has the same problem with his 48 coupe, And as I looked at it to see if any adjustment could be made ? I could only cut out the 1/2 inch and reweld it to drop it into place(it was on the left side) NU Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frank Elder Posted May 20, 2009 Report Share Posted May 20, 2009 How do you cut out a 1/2 inch air gap? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimainnj Posted May 20, 2009 Author Report Share Posted May 20, 2009 The gap is on the Driver side (left side). I'll get help on the alllignment can't really handle the lid myself. Maybe if I find a heavy friend to sit on it for awhile. Thanks Jim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
claybill Posted May 20, 2009 Report Share Posted May 20, 2009 i have seen this problem on a dozen cars...it is always on the left/drivers side! an amazing thing...!! i have also seen it on mercury and ford coupes..... PERHAPS....sinece some car parts were stamped and assembled in differnt cities..maybe the die in one place was different than the other...????? i have noticed this mis-alignment for a long time trying to figure it out. with all the trunk bracing it isnt just warping etc... i think it is just the way it was. is the only answer. but my 41 coupe is a perfect fit....! perhaps it is not the trunk at all but the fender alignment???!!! bill Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plymouthy Adams Posted May 20, 2009 Report Share Posted May 20, 2009 the trunk does not align to the fender..it aligns to the body and trunk entensions..the fender to body alignment and welting is a totally different animal..the trunk should be aligned prior to installation of the weather strip..all weatherstripping I have seen for these cars are at best generic..some are even fatter than others depending on the supplier though the cross section appears stock ..I have found one make better than others...when installed the rubber is actually forcing/distorting the panel upward..causing all kinds of line errors..my 54 I just put together had perfect alignment till the rubber..as it is sitting and further accelerated by parking in the sun, the rubber seal is relaxing and conforming to the applied pressoure of the lid to rubber contact..same will apply to door seals when replacing them..these are also generic...as in, who sells the seal with the lower metal insert that locks onto the lower door? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
desoto1939 Posted May 20, 2009 Report Share Posted May 20, 2009 In the old day they used shims to make adjustments on the various body parts. Can you put a shim under the hinge that is bolted on the inside of the trunk lid? I had to do this to get a better fit on my 39 desoto. Give it a try it might work. As stated prior these old cars did not have the fit like our newer cars and when we take cars to an AACA event the jusges are expecting the seams to be perfect, in all reality they were not perfect when the left the factory. There was a group of Sernior AACA jusges that took a recently built car off a show room floor and they jusged it. They in all of their most experieced ways found faults with the car. They were all wrong in their findings because the car was deliver fresh from the factory and should have received a 100 points. Just enjoy the car as best you can and make the adjustments as best you can. rich desoto1939@aol.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
claybill Posted May 20, 2009 Report Share Posted May 20, 2009 sorry tim i mis-spoke...i know it is not the 'fender' the original poster of this thead says that ALL areas are adjusted top and bottom edh=ges etc for flat fit..however the bulge is on the drivers side midway up. the trunk lid is super reinforced..as a kid i used to jump and play on my aunts 41 coupe.!! weatherstripping cant be the cause here i feel. TO ALL...next time you see a ply coupe...go and look at the mid-alignment of the trunk lid on drivers side.. enjoy the day. it is 78f. finally! bill Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BobT-47P15 Posted May 20, 2009 Report Share Posted May 20, 2009 Yeah.....my trunk lid is a little off on the left side, too. You can just barely see in this pic. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dezeldoc Posted May 20, 2009 Report Share Posted May 20, 2009 2x4's and hammer handles are your friend when it comes to making body parts fit! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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