82 hatch back stuck

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Mar 2, 2007 | 12:20 PM

HBSIG

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3rd Gear

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82 hatch back stuck

Any suggestions on getting the hatch back open on the '82 collector's edition? I don't want to force it-it might tear up the rubber or break the window----any suggestions? Thanks for your help!

Mar 3, 2007 | 09:29 PM

hey_obie

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Most likely the problem is that it is out of alignment and the two pins that grab the latch have moved to the rear of the car. There is a problem with the design of the two hinges that hold the glass to the car. They stretch from trying to counter the pushing force of the struts.

So I would first remove the struts to take the pressure off of the window. The next thing is to remove the interior around the hinges so that you can get to the adjustments. You can then adjust the hatch by moving the entire hatch toward the front of the car. That should resolve the problem of the two pins getting stuck.

Obie

Mar 3, 2007 | 11:18 PM

copter

Drifting

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From: Savannah Ga

hey_obie is right on the money.I have an 82CE.You can adjust the hinges for awhile but they will strech again until you can't adjust any more,Thats were BUBBA sneaks in and rounds out the holes to get just one more time,Thing is he ends up rounding out where the pins go.I've got my used hinges but they are sprung. One guy very carefully put his hinges in a vise and bent them back.We have found out that they spread about 1/2" out of spec I had to get new hinges that a guy had made out of solid billit alum.6061T6 aircraft quilty.Those will never strech.They are works of art!!!Go over to the ceregistery and read all the posts about the hinges.One of the posts has a diogram of the hinge and the correct spec they should be.That way you have some measurements to go by

Mar 4, 2007 | 07:22 PM

pepe10

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From: Tampa Florida

Hatch Hinges

My very tired 82CE had the same problem when I got it. I have done a significant restoration on the care and my hatch now works. The solution described in the last post sounds good and tried to do the same (fabricating from a solid block). I was looking for the same solution in Tampa but was unable to go to far with it though I had one looking into the concept.

My solution from my Vette mechanic was to cut a peedie amount from the hinge attach point in the roof to allow more adjustment about three years ago and has been OK since. I did find a replacement set of hinges on ebay and spent about $475 for them. They came off a CE with only 12,000 miles and appear to be in good condition. The best long term solution would be to have new ones fabricated as suggested.

Mar 4, 2007 | 08:28 PM

hey_obie

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As pepe10 pointed out, you can run out of adjustment room very quickly...I did. I grabbed my grinder and made an additional inch of adjustment for the hanges. It is a little scary running a grinder inside of your beautiful vette, but it is thrilling. I can't remember the details, but once you get in there, you will figure it out.