Trunk Spring

[forrestjordan]

My trunk lid is very hard to close, I have to slam it very hard shut and I know that can't be right.  Any ideas as to how to make it easier to shut?  I just replaced the gasket and it was the same without it as well.  When I just close the lid without locking it down, it sits about 6 to 8 inches from being closed.
When the trunk lid is close, and I push the lock button in, the lip pops up like a jack-in-the-box.  I think it has something to do with the spring rods but can't figure it out.  Please help before I break my wrist trying to shut the #%$ thing.

[66andBlue]

You could try two things first.
Loosen the 4 bolts on the 2 hinges and move the lid backward and check whether it improves the situation. You can't go too far back otherwise the gap between the lid and the chassis will be too wide.
Next step is to add more shims under the striker and see how that works.

There may be other adjustment possibilities that I don't know about.
Good luck!

[waqas]

Sounds like the lower latch needs to be adjusted or possibly shimmed.

When closed, is the trunk (more or less) flush with the rear fender lines?  If not, your rubber seal may be installed incorrectly.

[glennard]

Good question!!  Somehow the trunk lid is tied into the soft top. i. e. Push the top 'Down'- trunk lid goes 'Up'.  And, Heavens to Betsy, vice versa.

[forrestjordan]

I tried the bolts on the hinges first and it took the trunk gaps out of wack for the body but didn't help anyway.  Then I tried several different shims and they didn't work either.  What did work was just making the top latch bolts very loose and letting them stay that way while I closed the lid.  I am not happy with that solution, but I will leave it that way for now.  I know somebody out there knows how to fix this problem     Right?

[66andBlue]

Most likely your solved your problem by now but if not maybe this will help.
After I replaced my rubber gasket recently suddenly the same problem that you described appeared and I could not figure out why.
Fortunately I had not done a good job gluing the strip into the groove below the lock and it came loose. When I pushed it back in (to be reglued later) I noticed that the lid would now close easily. Turns out that I had originally oriented the strip in such a way that a lot of the upper lip was showing which apparently caused my problem. With the lip barely sticking out under the lock it closes much better (lower panel in picture).

[forrestjordan]

Thanks to all of you.  I tried each suggestion except for the shim under the bottom latch.  What ended up working was to put a slight shim under the top striker.  Now works like a charm.  This site is fantastic!!!