Replacing trunk hinge, Success, and hinge bolt mod. Options

[Olympic 914]

Going to have to repair/replace the trunk hinge on the car this winter. It was repaired before.... but it failed in a different spot. I wonder if the trunk lid gasket was too tight and caused this failure?

I am planning on taking the engine out to make it easier to get in there and position it correctly and do a good job welding.

How many of you have done this repair leaving the engine in?








I am not an experienced welder and trying to weld it while bent over the fender and trying to even get the mig in there seems too hard.

I have already had the engine out twice since last Oct. so I am getting quite good at it.

[Olympic 914]

OK, decided to pull the engine to do this job.

Taped cardboard all around to protect the paint from grinding and welding spatter.

Cut the old ones out. the best way to locate the position is to mount the hinges to the trunk lid, put it in place lining up the trunk and then put a couple spot welds on it to hold things. take it back apart and then weld it up right.

After getting in there I didn't like the looks of the other hinge, So I cut them both out. and ordered new mounts form RD

Got the old ones cut out.



New mounts welded in. much easier without the engine in. you can just sit on a little stool and weld away...





Didn't want this happening again, and someone else had mentioned doing a grease fitting mod to the bolts. so over the lathe for a bit to cut a grease groove, then drilled and tapped for a fitting.

I also polished off all the paint on the mating surfaces with a wire wheel in the Dremel





Easy to get a grease gun in there and put a couple squirts in to keep things moving smoothly.



Kind of looks like it should be this way.