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Rear hatch alignment problem

F

fast400

Pressurized
Figured today would be a good day to correctly align the rear hatch as mine has the typical for firebirds one sided overhanging gap. I removed the hatch struts then loosened the hatch to body bolts. Once I closed the hatch I was able to perfectly adjust the hatch. I tightened everything then double checked the gaps...all perfect...until I reconnect the hatch struts. It moved the right side eventhough I tightend the bolts pretty good. I repeated the above steps except this time I tightend a bit more...and on the last bolt....POW! I broke the bolt!
Does anyone here have a rear hatch hinge lying around? I'm dreading removing the entire hatch from the car!!
Help!!! How did folks on the forum fix the alignment problem?
 
Thanks for the ebay info...bought em.
I did figure out what causes the problem, and a solution. The problem are the adjustment holes in the body. Once the hatch shocks are connected, they want to "push" the hatch back, since they exert constant pressure in the back direction. One would think that tightening the hinge screws is enough...but it's not.
With the shocks disconnected, adjustment is actually easy ( by myself).

Ensure the hinges don't move once the shocks are connected, requires putting a small piece of metal in movement space (holes in the body) which doesn't allow the hinge to move....make sense??
Looks good now though! Thanks for assistance.
Bob
 
I was so involved while I did it, I didn't take pics. I can take some pics of the alignment now though. The problem I found with the rear hatch is not the back piece that folks like to take off and realign. It's the weak hinges. They have play and once the shocks are mounted, they push all the hinge play back while closed.
To align I removed the shocks (careful! Hatch is heavy) then I placed a piece of wood over the latch on the car. This way I was able to move the hatch to where I needed it, then have the wife hold it there, then go tighten the hinges, then check by completely closing the hatch.
I hope my garble makes sense.:yes:
Bob
 
When I tried it, it was aligned pretty good until I put the shocks back on. The shocks pushed the hatch back. Did you end up with new hinges or just adjust it further foreward so the shocks would push it back to the right posistion?
 
The wife held it pushed forward as far as possible while I tightened the hinges. The complete correct fix is probably to put in new hinges though. They're available for around $90 a piece:eeks:!

I replaced my spoiler the same time as I re-aligned the hatch. The new shocks I had in were too strong for the light spoiler, so I put the old 'weak' ones back in which work fine with the lighter spoiler and don't push the hatch as hard.
I also re-aligned the pull-down motor and two rubber bumpers on the hatch, which brings the hatch in minimally too...believe it or not!

You have to have much patience....It took me a few hours to adjust it just right.
Bob
 
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