Today the right hand trunk hinge decided to pop off its pivot when I opened it on the 67 Dart. There I was, trunk lid in hand held by one hinge, and canted off to one side, and unable to close it due to those torsion bars that hold the lid open were fighting my advances…

I managed to remove the lid, and found that the stamped sheet metal bracket that positions the little shaft the hinge pivots on, and holds the torsion bar had failed. A combination of wallowed out torsion bar holding points, and sheared metal caused the upset.

I was able to use a pick hammer and small pry bar to correctly reposition all parts back into alignment, as they should be, before this photo was taken.





Hard to see, but thin horizontal section of metal located at top of hole to the left pulled away from where pressed in pin or axel for trunk hinge is located… The nickel sized disk is the back side the hinge pivot. The hinge rides on the other side of this bracket.

My plan is to weld the crack up, and gusset it on the back side with a small scrap of sheet metal. I’m not too sure how I shall do this without burning up the car however.

Any other ideas on how to repair this would be welcome, or if someone out there has had the same problem please sound off.

Bill

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67' Dart GT Convertible; the old Chrysler Corp.
82' LeBaron Convertible; the new Chrysler Corp
07' 300 C AWD; Now by Fiat, the old new Chrysler LLC

On the 4th number two son, the uncar guy, helped muscle the trunk lid into place. The welded repair, and realigning the position of the right hinge pivot did the trick. Once the moving parts were lubricated with a dab of all purpose grease, the lid works nicely, and will stay fully open on its own.

Bill

_________________
67' Dart GT Convertible; the old Chrysler Corp.
82' LeBaron Convertible; the new Chrysler Corp
07' 300 C AWD; Now by Fiat, the old new Chrysler LLC