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DeckLid Spring

Hi!

Let me introduce myself first. My name is Bob and I live in Kitchener, Ontario, Canada. I decided to purchase a 68 VW Bug last summer which was in great shape (restored) and just needed small tweaks here and there. I am not a show car type of person...I just like to bomb around in it March to November and put it away for the winter. I've been lurking in this newsgroup for the last year but have never posted anything.

The bug did not have a spring installed to keep the rear decklid up. I've ordered one through California Imports but am having a hell of a time installing it. Do you recommend taking the decklid off and then fitting the spring into the hinge on the body and on the decklid? Or is there a trick to doing it while the decklid is still on? Or could there be an issue with the spring manufacture? I've checked out:

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to see what it should look like but can't believe the force that is required to get the two ends into the holes on the hinge of the decklid?

Any ideas or comments?

Thanks,

Bob

Reply to
Robert Horvath
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Remove the decklid from the body, and have a friend thread the hinge bolts when you offer up the whole assembly.

J.

Reply to
P.J. Berg

I had terrible trouble with mine, but it's so easy when you know how.

If I remember correctly, you fit the spring first then one side of bolts loose, then the other side before tightening.

Might be wrong though, was about a year ago.

Spike

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Reply to
Spike

I do it with the lid installed. Hang the spring on the upper notch with the loops of the spring towards the rear. Twist a bit of tension into the spring by hand as you put one end of the spring into the hole on the hood. Grab the other end with a vice grips and put it into the other hole. It would be hard to do without the vice grips.

Reply to
Michael Cecil

This is the only way I have found that actually works, and doesn't require violence or strenght or busted knuckles:

  1. Tape the top corners of the lid with masking tape to protect paint from chipping. JUST IN CASE.
  2. mount hinge onto the lid. Loop points UP.

  1. Remove all but one hinge screw (that's 3 out of 4). You may want to mark the position of the bolts with a marker.

  2. loosen the last screw.

  1. While keeping the lid half open, pull it to the side, having it hinge on the last remaining bolt. It swings open to the side. Careful now with the top corners, they will want to hit the body. Once you get this down to a routine, it's easy.

  2. place hinge loop end in the notch where it belongs, plenty of room now and no tension needed. You will noe swing the lid back where it was, using the lid to compress the spring. It loads easily, just have the 3 bolts ready within reach. You will need to hold the lid in place against the spring tension while screwing at least one of those bolts in.

  1. now spend the rest of your weekend trying to get the lid lined up right.

  2. Reward yourself with a sixpack.

:)

Jan

Reply to
Jan Andersson

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