any tips on re-welding a trunk hinge?, how do remove the grill above the battery? Options

[parked 15 years]

im trying to fix the rear trunk [hinge mount to body] on the pass.side & dont know how to remove the grill above the battery.

[IronHillRestorations]

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/agree.gif) with Mark. Welding the threaded insert is a must. I go a little further and add more material to the bottom of the hinge bracket. I fold a piece of 16 gauge, sort of like a small piece of angle iron, and weld that to the bottom half. I cut a weep hole so it can't fill up with water. Wish I had a pic, sorry.

I find it easiest to bolt the hinge bracket to the deck lid (in the middle of the slots) with a washer between the lid and the bracket, and then bolt the bracket to the hinge cup with the shoulder bolt, and put the deck lid in the absolute correct postion, and then fasten the cup to the inner wall.

I've got Clecos, which are much easier to use than pop rivets or sheet metal screws, but whatever it takes. I punch holes in the flange of the hinge cup, and make my welds in the holes. After you make each weld, you've got to have someone hold a dolly behind the wall (in the wheel house) and tap the flange tight against the wall. Every time you make a weld the hinge cup will pull away from the wall a little, so you've got to make sure to get it flush prior to every weld.

Sorry, I wish I had taken pics the last time I did this.