1960 Deck Lid latch rubber bumpers

[Joe M.]

The passenger side rubber bumper is smashed and the driver side looks like new. The rear of the deck lid on the passenger side looked a little low; so I added a set of shims under the arm. One set of shims did nothing as far as bringing up the deck lid on one side. I added two sets of shims under the passenger side arm and that brought it up too high. Is there an adjustment that would make the latch come down even on both bumpers?

[Donald H.]

Re: 1960 Deck Lid latch rubber bumpers

Joe,

How does the edge of the decklid fit where it meets the seat separator look? I assume that if the bumper is smashed then that side of the deck lid is down closer to the seat separator on the passenger side.

If it is, then maybe you need to shim and raise the front edge of the passenger side of the deck lid. Have you tried a single/half shim between the deck lid and the hinge at the front of the hinge, i.e. under the front single bolt of the hinge. I believe that you can do some fine tuning of the trunk lid and deck lid by where you place single shims. If you place shims under all three bolts it should raise the whole assembly, if you put shim under the back two bolts it tilt back to front and under the front single hinge bolt tilt front to back. Of course these are subtle changes.

My paint and body guy (35 + years of corvette painting and body work) showed me this when we were putting the trunk and deck lids back on my 60.

Don

[Joe M.]

Re: 1960 Deck Lid latch rubber bumpers

The deck lid is slightly below the seat separator on the passenger side; even with one set of shims. Maybe I could insert a single shim under the bolt at the top of the arm and tilt the front back enough to relieve some of the pressure on the rubber bumper. It would not take much. Thanks for the info Donald.

My car is almost ready for Lone Star Regional on October 11-13. My To Do list is down to two items, 1) paint the bolt heads on trunk and deck lid and 2) buff entire car with glazing compound to remove swirl marks; followed by two coats of Maguiar's wax. It will be my last attempt to achieve Top Flight. I think I have spent enough money and time in the past 11 months to get there.