Just opened up Pickle's trunk to hear a sickening pop...like a piece of metal being snapped off. I assumed I'd encountered the dreaded weld breaking syndrom, but it seems not. The bolt on the left side must have been very loose, and shot off, damaging the last few threads on the bolt, and I assume (can't see in there that well, the last few threads in the "nut". So, I'm thinking I'll order the new bolt and try chasing the threads in the nut with a nice M8 1.25 from Home Depot? If that fails, Ill need to get a thread cutter and renew it. Opinions?

Ken...I think your rational is on....I was'nt so fortunate
when that happened to me(the weld)...but. if it has not been
done while you're there change the roller's to metal !'s......
much better longevity!

Ken...I think your rational is on....I was'nt so fortunate
when that happened to me(the weld)...but. if it has not been
done while you're there change the roller's to metal !'s......
much better longevity!

sorry for the carbon copy

Thanks! Thanks !

Ken, just get a new nut & bolt - make that 2 sets for L & R & the 2 rollers - to make the shipping worthwhile, then shit-can the 40 year old stripped nut & bolt & be ready for the other side to break!

You may even want to pop for the replacement hinge brackets for L & R now, since the parts aren't that much, & they will go eventually (mine went about every 5-6 years & +/-50k miles when my DD).

No reason to go tightwad on this one, cause the old weakened parts will cause more stress on the hinges. My Great-grannie always said stuff like that was: "Pennywise & pound foolish!" & she was no big spender, being born in 1878 & through many Depressions!

There's a nut? I thought it was a threaded plate. I need to go take another look.

Yeah...there's no nut...it threads right into the hinge.

Boy was I lucky! The Home Depot bolt threaded right into the hinge so there was no damage to the threads in there at all. Trunk closes perfectly. Just gotta replace that shouldered bolt and I'm good to go. Was pretty sure this was going to be a CF.

I've got to do some scrounging in the shop tomorrow. I'll see what I've got. I drill down the center and then make a groove in the bearing surface of the shoulder bolt, so you can put a grease fitting on it.

Thanks. Seems the later cars (mine is a 1970) have a different hinge. Mine is the bolt that when the lid is closed is at the top of the hinge and attaches the racket off of the lid into the hinge...the hinge rotates over that shoulder on the bolt.

Click to view attachment

This is NOT my car (thank god). Just a shot I found online to show which bolt I need.