Paint and Body Where to Start Fiberglass Trunk Lid Fitment?

Cool Beans · Feb 2, 2019

Evening Stangnet! I've finished my tailight replacement redo and I think it is near perfect! +/- 1/16". Original trunk lid fits and latches perfectly. I treated myself to the Shelby style trunk lid and end caps from Fiberglass Specialties in Nevada. The fitment is . I've read they all suck, so I wasn't disappointed when it didn't fit 100%. The lid is warped. It's also not square. The frame I think is fubar as well. The lid sits hard in the trunk rim before the edge flushes with the quarters. Also, after I install the trunk striker, it sits high by 1/2". I've contacted them about this.

My question, for this trunk lid or any future replacement...

Where do I begin to fit the lid? The end caps have too much extra material so the bumper wont sit flush. At least 1/2" needs to be cut away. I started to rough it in at a 3/4" projection from the leading edge of the fin to the taillight panel because it gave me a 1/4" gap on the passenger side corner. This leaves the driver side This is how I know it isn't square. How do I proceed? I'm not afraid of fiberglass work (I work on boats) but I have no idea how to do this right.

Thanks!

First picture shows lid sitting too high with striker bolted in. Second picture is the OEM (yet rusty) lid sitting perfect on a petrified seal. Third pic is to show off, lol

horse sence · Feb 2, 2019

There has to be atleast 3/8 inch between the bottom of the lid and the trunk lip for the gasket to set the lid flush with the quarters ,the new tail panels have this lip turned up slightly . You can take a piece of wood and set it on the lip and carefuly hit the wood with a rubber hammer untll the lip bends down where it needs to be.

horse sence · Feb 2, 2019

With a fiberglass lid i have found it best to use the gasket for the 69 shelby convertible ,it is hollow and compresses easier so you will have a little more play and still get a seal

horse sence · Feb 2, 2019

Fiberglass is thicker than the steel lid so by the time you have the top of the lid and the bottom under bracing bonded together you can have as much as 1/4inch thicker than the steel lid or more ,so bending the lip is about the easiest option

Cool Beans · Feb 3, 2019

All good advice, thanks! I noticed that the frame area on the trunk lid is tapered, and off center. The latch area sits flush, but either side tapers up to a 1/2" gap. It's weird. That sealing edge is not flat. I need to get a picture and send it in.

horse sence · Feb 3, 2019

If its a Dynacorn tail panel ,they do turn up to much

The Shemdogg · Feb 4, 2019

I got the same parts from KAR mustang, they fit decent, took a bit of fiberglass work to clean em up n make em fit. The trunk lid is a bit warped, be sure to remove the trunklid supports- theyll warp the lid easy n fast. Took a ton of adjusting everything on the lid n I still have to slam the trunk for it to close. But my car looks schweet and it was definitely worth it.

shem

Cool Beans · Feb 4, 2019

You mean the trunk lid rubber bumpers? The lid has a little too much curve and is sitting on the drivers corner. I assume I'll just grind the under side away until it sits where I want, then glass the top side until it is right?

Cool Beans · Feb 4, 2019

To you both, and I appreciate the help so far! Pics attached of what I assume should be a straight edge along the trunk lid seal. This is the part that sits hard on the panel edge. I feel that this is wrong. The top skin isn't bonded to the inner frame here and is sunk in.

horse sence · Feb 4, 2019

There should not be a bow up by the spoiler ,it should arch up slightly .
Shelby removed the bumpers from the trunk lid and moved them to the tail panel ,he used hood adjusters so they would be adjustable ,i will see if i have some pics

horse sence · Feb 4, 2019

I couldnt find any coupe or convert pics but i did find some fast back and a 69 ,you can see the gap you need for the trunk lid and tail panel ,you can also see the placement of the hood adjusters for bump stops . All years are pretty much the same when dealing with fiberglass

horse sence · Feb 4, 2019

I didnt have the latch inplace on this lid so my spotwelder is holding the lid down ,it has the hood adjusters in place to align the lid with the end caps

Cool Beans · Feb 5, 2019

all those pictures are fantastically helpful! I had no idea about the hood bump stops to be used on the trunk. Makes sense. The stock bumpers don't work :/ Which I have have 2 new ones I can't do anything with, lol.

dasent · Feb 18, 2020

have a similar problem with my 67 fb deck lid its 1/4 " high in center top ...how can i get this thing down ??

horse sence · Feb 18, 2020

I have had to cut the under bracing and pull the center down and reglass the under brace .

dasent · Feb 18, 2020

horse sence said:
I have had to cut the under bracing and pull the center down and reglass the under brace .

Pull it down ?? like put something heavy on it and then glass it ?

horse sence · Feb 18, 2020

dasent said:
Pull it down ?? like put something heavy on it and then glass it ?

You would have to make a card board template of the back window panel ,turn the lid upside down ,cut the under brace and weight the ends until they fit your pattern ,then glass the underbrace

dasent · Feb 18, 2020

horse sence said:
You would have to make a card board template of the back window panel ,turn the lid upside down ,cut the under brace and weight the ends until they fit your pattern ,then glass the underbrace

Yikes ..ok thanks for the reply and help ...im not a glass guy so will be interesting

horse sence · Feb 18, 2020

dasent said:
Yikes ..ok thanks for the reply and help ...im not a glass guy so will be interesting

Easiest thing you can do . Cut the under brace up to the the bottom of the top skin . Grind away any gell coat about 1 1/2 inches on both sides of the cut ,cut strips of fiberglass mat to lay in where you ground ,grind in a little deep but dont grind through ,wet the mat with resin and lay in place ,press out air bubbles with a small natural bristle paint brush and let it set up ,wait a day and you can sand smooth and ad filler if needed

horse sence · Feb 18, 2020

dasent said:
Pull it down ?? like put something heavy on it and then glass it ?

Yes put somthing on both ends until it flattens out to where you want it,that is with it up side down

Paint and Body Where to Start Fiberglass Trunk Lid Fitment?

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