40 sedan trunk hinge question.

[40plyrod]

Is there supposed to be a rotary latch on both hinges on a 40 sedan? Mine only has one on the right side. Do the hinges interchange with any other years? Thanks

[builtfercomfort]

My 39 chrysler had only one on the right (passenger) side.

The trunk lid and hinge mounting area was bent when I got it - my guess was that someone didn't know you had to lift the lid to release the catch, they just pushed down hard on an open trunk and bent everything. So I had a leak into the trunk and bad trunk floors as a result.

[1940plymouth]

Here are a couple photos of my trunk supports. Once the trunk is open I have to pull the center of the left support towards the rear of the car to lock it open, then when I want to close the trunk lid I push it in. My car is a P-10

Hope this helps,

Bob

[Roadkingcoupe]

My 39 chrysler had only one on the right (passenger) side.

This is the exact reason that 1939 Plymouth sedans always break the left side trunk hinge.

The torque on the hinge as a result of one trunk prop causes the left hinge to stress and fail.

You will find 10 right hinges for every one left hinge for 1939's.

One of the few design flaws.

[40phil41]

Is there supposed to be a rotary latch on both hinges on a 40 sedan? Mine only has one on the right side. Do the hinges interchange with any other years? Thanks

My '40 Dodge has the rotary latch only on the passenger side trunk hinge. My '41 Dodge has an entirely different hinge design with a center mounted spring loaded arrangement. Hence '40 and '41 are not interchangeable.

Phil

[40plyrod]

thanks for the replies. Sounds like the 40 hinge is maybe a leftover from the 39 design and they fixed the problem by 41. There is a lot of weight to be held up with just one hinge. The left hinge looks like it could have had a latch and I was just wondering if mine was missing a part. I'm assuming from '40plymouth's pictures that the coupe is a completely different assembly.

[40P10touring sedan]

Coupes are done differently from sedans. My '40 sedan has the star wheel on the right side only and it occasionaly latched when it felt like it. I went to gas struts and fixed the problem.

This was the 1st attempt and is now relocated to the driver's side for ease of tire removal...one 190lb strut will do the job nicely.

[Plymouthy Adams]

have you lost your spare tire holder or is it just not pictured?

[40P10touring sedan]

have you lost your spare tire holder or is it just not pictured?

She's in the "hole" right there, it's just that to remove the tire is just too tight with the strut on that side...that's why I move the strut to the driver's side.

[40P10touring sedan]

Here, a shot of my '40 with the tire out...

[Jim Benjaminson]

Only the right side hinge had the cam to hold the deck lid in the open position on the 1940 Plymouths. The left hinge is basically the same with the exception of the cam.