Rear Decklid Alignment. Not the usual fore aft

[aseyc]

Hi guys. I tried asking this question on the TGO but no one seems to reply there. Here goes my issue.

I am noticing that the deck lid has an alignment problem. Not the usual sticking out problem which can be fixed by moving the deck lid inwards or adjusting at the body to hinges.
My decklid sits like a 1cm lower than the rear fender only on the front part (glass side) at both sides. The rear part is flush. It looks to me like there should be something between the metal decklid and the glass to allow the metal part to raise up but then I don't think its possible as it would be a perfect way to collect dust and water. Can someone take a picture of the gap between the glass and the decklid?

I am attaching mine here

[Geo]

I will take a pick shortly and post. There is no spoiler on your car?

[aseyc]

No I removed it as I am currently restoring the car. I am getting a fiber spoiler instead of the factory rubber one. Took it to a guy to make a mold out of the rubber one.

[Geo]

Mine is exactly the same. Hard to tell with the spoiler on. It stands out a lot more with it off.

[aseyc]

Thanks for your reply. Am somehow a bit relieved as its true with the spoiler on you don't notice it.

[Geo]

I will get you a pic too but you're all good!
Cheers!

[aseyc]

[Roadrunner]

I can't remember for certain but I may have had a somewhat similar problem when I started off on my GTA.
Not quite as bad as your picture though.

I scanned some pages from my service manual that may help you.
There is a rubber weatherstrip that runs along the front edge of the hatch to keep debris out (#1 in figure 7-6). It also provides a nice clean edge.
When I did this back in the 80's I was able to buy the piece from GM. When I did my GTA I think I used this
M-D Building Products 1033 Weatherstrip
It squeezed down to about 1/8" thick.

I now have less than 1/8" variation in height between quarter panels and front/back/left/right corners of hatch panel.
You can achieve some adjustment in height by varying the size of the butyl adhesive you use (you can sort of mold the butyl like clay).
Although it could have been like that from factory, it was not acceptable to me. To get mine right, I made several trial and error dry runs on re-assembly.
The butyl is relatively easy to work with and remove if you don't like position.
After I was happy with fit-up, I removed fasteners from the studs one by one and filled each hole in the glass with urethane to give a little extra prevention angainst creep.

[aseyc]

Well this is what I was thinking originally but the issue is that when I put on the aero wing, the step on the wing matches the difference between the decklid and the glass. This must mean that there shouldn't be a higher step between the metal and the glass.

To be able to achieve the right height using the said rubber weatherstip would end up in a 1cm step which is quite strange IMO as it will end up as a dust / debris collector.

Also, in Geo's reply he said that his is also the same.

I was thinking maybe shimming the hinges to raise the whole hatch but there is not much height to play with to align the glass to the roof perfectly.

[Geo]

Guys I could be wrong but then it would be a flaw from when it was built. I'm the original owner of the car and it is in mint condition and never had to restore it. I never looked at that portion until someone asked about it.....

[aseyc]

Geo any chance you could attach a photo of your decklid?

[aseyc]

Although the problem is different I found a thread in TGO where it shows someone else decklid also like mine.

http://www.thirdgen.org/forums/body/...t-problem.html

[TTOP350]

Yup, that's fairly normal

[aseyc]

Thanks for your reply. I am still trying to get this friggin decklid to align fore aft.

Strange thing is that when I install the driver side hood strut the decklid goes outwards but I cannot figure out from where the hood is being misaligned. The decklid to glass part doesn't move as I marked it with and without strut and it doesn't change.

Any ideas?