Hitman's Pontiac Trans Am Forum
Trans Am Information => Trans Am Tech => Paint and Body => Topic started by: TA400FL on January 11, 2018, 01:03:59 PM
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I found out after my 78 TA was completely painted, that my torsion springs are shot for my trunk lid. It will not stay up at all. It has been a long Restoration so somewhere along the way they wore out. I am worried about trying to replace them with the final paint all completed. Seems like in the videos I watch there is a lot of prying against the hinges and other things when changing them out. I don't see how the paint would not get all scratched up.
Has anyone had any luck with the gas assist shock lifter kits? I know they don't look stock and I am little concerned about drilling for those things also.
Not sure which direction I should take. I sure wish the body shop would have noticed that the trunk would not stay up before they painted!!
Thanks for your input!
ERIC
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you should be able to put some thick blankets or towels around the area to protect the paint. then use another rag or towel under the tool you use to pry them on/off. i had to replace one of the rods on my car when at the body shop & was able to do it without any damage to the paint. the springs are stiff but not that bad if you are carefull & have a 2nd person to help.
as for the shocks, they are neat but expensive & you have to drill the body to install. i would just replace the factory rods.
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Hey. Thanks for the input. I am leaning more towards replacing the rods too. I will just take it slow.. Have to take the trunk lid off and that filler panel above the rods. I guess I will have to paint the rods before I install them. They are usually just body color.
Thanks again. On to the next problem. My new Cold Case Radiator will not fit far enough into the fan shroud to clear the radiator support. UGH!!
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cheaper & easier to replace the rods. & if you are painting the jams of the trunk area you can just hit the rods with paint after they are installed, that way you dont damage the paint installing them. you only see about 3"-4" of the ends anyways.
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I will have to try and paint the rods before I install them. The whole car has already been painted. That is why I was upset with the body shop for not giving me the opportunity to replace the rods before they painted it. They had the car for over a year!
I will hit them with some black trim paint to protect them from rust before I put them in. If I scratch a little I can touch up with brush.
Thanks!
ERIC
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I know I am responding a couple months past the last post, but I just replaced mine and I made a tool to do it that made installation easy....especially in your situation with the paint. I basically used a ratchet with an extension and a socket and torqued it like tightening a bolt. Worked great with only minimal struggle.
The tool I made is as follows:
Find a spare socket that you do not mind ruining. Drill a hole completely through the sides. Attach the socket to an extension and ratchet. Using electrical tape, tape the socket and the extension together - this helps ensure you do not pull the unit apart while to using it.
Run the end of the rod that needs to be locked in place through the hole in the socket. Using some of the tape, tape the attached tool to the rod itself - this helps ensure you don't inadvertently slide the tool off as you use it. Then use the ratchet to twist or torque the rod similar to tightening a bolt, and clip in place.
You may need the assistance of a second person with a flat tip screw driver to help you clip the torqued rod in place. To remove the tool, use a drimmel to cut through the side of the socket and a flat tip screw driver to pry it apart. Be careful not to cut into the rod.
Hope this helps if you have not undertaken the job yet.