Trunk hinge repair, JWest pivot kit Options

[J123young]

Has anyone used this kit? Looking for feedback and results if worth it.

Thanks

Jeff

[amfab]

The JWest trunk plates are the best option. They are very well made.

The easiest part is installing the JWest pieces

The third hardest part is removal and reinstallation of the trunk lid

The second hardest part is removing and reinstalling the torsion bars

The hardest part is getting the old hinge pivots off.

see:
http://www.914world.com/bbs2/index.php?sho...k+hinge+breaker

...for removing torsion bars

To get the old hinge pivots off, I found the best tools were a cut off tool to grind away the pivots, a furniture pad to allow laying on the trunk while grinding, and a welding blanket to cover stuff in the engine compartment while grinding.

I would also start with a little larger hole size than the minimum recommended by the JWest instructions. This will allow more adjustability later on (the instructions say that you can do this).

After doing the install I found that one side could come up a hair to make the lid perfectly aligned. Because I used the minimum hole size, I now have to remove the plates on that side and re-drill them larger.

This means I have to undo the torsion bars again and take the trunk lid off to re-drill the holes a larger diameter.

If I would have made the mounting holes a little bigger to begin with, I would be able to loosen the plate bolts and move the pivot up a hair without the extra work.

-Andrew

[JWest]

The third hardest part is removal and reinstallation of the trunk lid


This means I have to undo the torsion bars again and take the trunk lid off to re-drill the holes a larger diameter.

You do not have to take the trunk lid off to install the kit.

Do one side at a time.

You can remove the hinge arm to get access to remove the old support.

Once the old parts are gone, using a helper to hold the lid open, install the arm on the trunk lid.

Lower the trunk lid. Install the JWest hinge onto the trunk hinge arm. Then you can drill 3 of the holes right in place with the trunk lid closed and perfectly positioned.

Put the 3 bolts in and tighten them, then raise the lid and you can drill the last hole and put the bolt in.

There is no need to remove the lid at any point in the process.