I want to remove the deck lid hinge so I can get at the #4 body mount for fiberglass repair. There are 3 bolts holding it and one is impossible to even get a wrench on it. Online videos are all cars without the adjacent exit box for Astro ventilation. Anyone had success at doing this and if so, how. I can live with just repairing it from the outside (bottom of body) but would like to get at both. TIA

 

You may want to remove the spring first to prevent pinching off a fingertip.

 

I'll look at that tomorrow, might give the room I need to get at the upper bolts. My understanding is it comes out as a unit though.
tks

 

i removed those from my field find convert. there are 2 upper bolts on each side then the big bolt on the bottom, you got to lay on your back to remove the uppers and take your time i sprayed pb blaster and worked them back and fourth and put a little heat on the bolt heads, surprised they didn't break. not alot of room in there either i think i had to use a non ratcheting wrench. i am pretty sure i had to remove the spring to get to that one back upper bolt.

 

Yup, took the spring off and 2 hours later I had both the top bolts out (1/2 hour for one and 1 1/2 hours for the other). My arthritic hands are going to be screaming tonight.
thanks for the insight
js

 

I ran into the exact same problem with my 1971. It is definitely necessary to remove the spring first and the tool GM made for the job is no longer available. I made one with white PVE pipe and will explain how if you need it and PM me.

As to the two bolts in back and on top, I used the distributor wrench that I used to use on my 1964 GTO and it worked beautifully. slow (> 1/4 turn a time) but easy to get to and remove.

Hope this helps.

 

yea i made a tool out of a long pry bar. The distributor wrench is a great suggestion. It took me 3 hours to get the other side out and i have been dreading putting them back in. That suggestion will help a lot.
tks

 

Wanted to put final suggestion for what I ended up doing when putting them back in. I simply could not start the bolts and then slowly ratchet with distributor wrench. I had even ran the bolts into the holes without the hinge in place just to make sure it was smooth sailing (easy without hinge in place). I did come to the conclusion I was better off mounting the bottom bolt in place (and matching up old paint lines) so the top bolts were lined up close. I worked this for hours trying. I finally drilled a hole in the top back middle of the hinge pocket to get access from the back (under car). I used a flexible (carbon fiber) extension thru the hole and bent it around each side with socket in place and on bolt, then got under the back and used the ratchet. It worked great. I used one hole in the middle and the flexible extension but one hole at the top for each side would work as well with a solid extension. With the flexible there is limited torque you can apply so might not work well getting them out (assuming rusty) and I had to do couple final tweaks with wrench for final tightening. The hole(s) is a quick and easy fiberglass fix.

After blacking out each side with undercoating there is no evidence of what I did. Drill the holes before putting hinge assembly in place and check out both sides of your proposed access hole location to ensure it will give you room.