[nytrainer]

Bought GTOwagon's power trunk release latch/solonoid (Thanks). Was wondering if anyone who has this option installed has some pictures. Attached is a picture of the underside of the trunk lid. I thought I would put the power wire through the lid represented by the dotted line. I would assume it comes out of the hole and is tywrapped to the right hinge? and then under the seat, rug to the glove box. It was not an option on this particular car but I like having one. Not super worried that I have correct harness, etc but would like to do it as close to original as possible. I do not have a trunk light either so if someone could share what and where it is I would appreciate it.
Thanks,
Dave

[ledbetter66]

do a search on rear tail light harness from 69gtocv. There is a pic in there that shows the wiring which comes out of the trunk and follows the passenger side hinge up to rear deck the pic is not the greatest but you can see it fairly well. switch in glove box has two connections one comes from your clock power lead and the other goes from switch under seats and out to trunk to release solenoid which is in the pic I'm telling you about. I think the trunk light plugs in to the harness near the driver side hinge. I hope this helps

[ledbetter66]

here's the picture for you, your dotted line I think is correct

[nytrainer]

Thanks Ledbetter for the help.

[nytrainer]

Does anyone know what color the latch mechanism should be. Right now it has overspray from the original color painted on the inside of the trunklid. Should it be silver, black, ??
Thanks
Dave

[gtohurstjudge]

Originally Posted by nytrainer

Does anyone know what color the latch mechanism should be. Right now it has overspray from the original color painted on the inside of the trunklid. Should it be silver, black, ??
Thanks
Dave

This is a question I would love to know the correct answer to. I added a power
trunk release to my car many years ago and when I purchased it there was no paint
on the latch(it was a used assembly found in a wrecking yard by a GTO vendor) Upon
installing it, I discovered that it was impossible to install the cable without the latch
being out of the deck lid, so it seemed to me that since nothing had any paint on it, it
must have been installed on the assembly line after the car was painted. Making this
assumption, I left the latch natural as it was when I bought it, but I've often wondered if
maybe the GTO parts vendor cleaned the old overspray off the latch with paint remover before I bought it. I hope someone on this forum with this option from the factory can
answer this question.

[nytrainer]

What cable are you referring to?

['ol Pinion head]

Originally Posted by gtohurstjudge

This is a question I would love to know the correct answer to. I added a power
trunk release to my car many years ago and when I purchased it there was no paint
on the latch(it was a used assembly found in a wrecking yard by a GTO vendor) Upon
installing it, I discovered that it was impossible to install the cable without the latch
being out of the deck lid, so it seemed to me that since nothing had any paint on it, it
must have been installed on the assembly line after the car was painted. Making this
assumption, I left the latch natural as it was when I bought it, but I've often wondered if
maybe the GTO parts vendor cleaned the old overspray off the latch with paint remover before I bought it. I hope someone on this forum with this option from the factory can
answer this question.

I have the option factory installed on 4 of my current Pontiacs & have been pulling this option, including correct buttons, clips, etc forever. Many years ago I used to sell them at Pate & Fall Arlington.

The '67-72 electric trunk releases for A-bodys & '69-72 GP's, being one piece solenoid & latch, will be clear zinc plated. They get washed out looking over the years, & some will have had condensation & slight rust on them, so some look much better than others. The '67, 68, & I believe all ( I hate saying all!) '69's trunk poppers had a pink wire pigtail. All the '70-72 integral trunk releases I have had & have, have the black pigtail.

On 2nd Gen F-body & '73-77 A-body style, the trunk solenoid is by itself, & the latch is separate. This is the style quite a few ------ sell on eBay as "original" GTO -SS Chevelle-442. Will require mods to the trunk mtg hole area on a '68-72 A-body. The latch for this style of power trunk release is actually different between standard trunk release & power trunk release, One will need to make sure & get they correct the latch with this style many many latches were painted. I have all colors.

[PaulatFast]

The cars were painted with the decklid unstalled and adjusted. IF the car had the power release option, the latch was changed at a later point in the assembly process. Therefore... no paint on the power mechanism.

[nytrainer]

That make sense Paul. What finish do you suggest. I wire wheeled the overspray and surface rust so it's a shiny metal now.

[PaulatFast]

That depends on what will make you happy. You could paint it. You could clear it. For propper points typre resto, I think it would be plated with a silver zinc finish.

[g68mike]

I have several original cars with documented power trunk release and all have overspray on the portion sticking out and clean no paint on the upper half inside lid. I have pulled tons from salvage yards from Olds, Chevy Buick Cadillac Pontiac and all have overspray. These were installed before being painted at the assembly plant. As was previously mentioned the wiring was also installed before paint. I believe this was a popular convenience option and was added by many owners after purchase thus resulting in the un painted latches seen. To add the option, the wiring can be routed through the trunk lids, sometimes not easily, but can be done. Just like door hinges being installed to firewall and doors and door latches being installed into doors prior to paint, the trunk latch was installed into trunk as well trunk being bolted to hinges, resulting in clean bare metal underneath. Dont forget the assembly process already had body data plate assigned to VIN, confirming what options, paint etc were assigned to each car. GM would not install a incorrect part just to remove it and switch it back out, when already knowing what proper piece was going to be installed.
Heres a pic of a couple, note, where the paint stops is pretty much the same on all.

[JOE DEYTON]

all the non powers I have had overspray. I did get one from a cutlass for my 68 gto and it did not have any paint on it.

[PaulatFast]

Originally Posted by g68mike

I have several original cars with documented power trunk release and all have overspray on the portion sticking out and clean no paint on the upper half inside lid. I have pulled tons from salvage yards from Olds, Chevy Buick Cadillac Pontiac and all have overspray. These were installed before being painted at the assembly plant. As was previously mentioned the wiring was also installed before paint. I believe this was a popular convenience option and was added by many owners after purchase thus resulting in the un painted latches seen. To add the option, the wiring can be routed through the trunk lids, sometimes not easily, but can be done. Just like door hinges being installed to firewall and doors and door latches being installed into doors prior to paint, the trunk latch was installed into trunk as well trunk being bolted to hinges, resulting in clean bare metal underneath. Dont forget the assembly process already had body data plate assigned to VIN, confirming what options, paint etc were assigned to each car. GM would not install a incorrect part just to remove it and switch it back out, when already knowing what proper piece was going to be installed.
Heres a pic of a couple, note, where the paint stops is pretty much the same on all.

I only see overspray on one of those releases in your pic? I've never seen an original with paint on it. As far as the GTOAA Judging goes, no paint on the power release.

[g68mike]

Look closer, all have same overspary pattern.

['ol Pinion head]

the one with yellow paint came of an original no repaint car? the others I have a hard time telling.

Have the original release out of my '69 428HO GP. (decklid was rusty in the seam so swapped on another deckid) it has no burgandy paint on it. My T-37 post has its original decklid & original trunk release, can double ck it again, but swear, no cardinal red paint. The T-37 is Pontiac plant car, the GP is Arlington plant car. Currently, I have a Lakewood (atlanta) built '71 GP parts car that still has original deckid & power trunk release, will ck it as well.

[nytrainer]

The side that shows on those 5 release mechs. that g68Mike posted (thanks Mike) is really the side that is almost impossible to see without really stretching. Isn't the other side the side that shows when the trunk is open?
Those pics helped though because as you can see in mine there is a broken bolt sheared off in the top hole. Also, and it worries me a little, is the hole where the actuating rod from the lock cylinder goes looks a bit hogged out compared to Mikes units. I would have blindly proceeded with the install only to realize I had to drill out the broken bolt and probably would have then installed it only to find the rod spins in this oversized hole without opening it.
Thought of swapping the non remote's "hole" but I don't think I can take this apart with those special rivets. I'll probably add some material to the rod so that it fits the hole better I guess. Mike, what do you normally sell those for? $

[gto4evr]

Originally Posted by PaulatFast

I only see overspray on one of those releases in your pic? I've never seen an original with paint on it. As far as the GTOAA Judging goes, no paint on the power release.

Paul, if they expect no paint on the power latch for judging, then what about the bolts that hold the latch in? (as in, if the latch wasn't there at time of paint, then should there just be natural bolts holding it since those wouldn't have been there during the paint process?

It does seem strange they'd paint it with the standard latch then remove later for the power. So what would happen to the unused painted latch, get put back on another car and go down the line for a second color over it? Doesn't seem reasonable that they would do that. I've been adding this option to all my cars for years and usually get them off a swap meet table so no pedigree proof but I can say the three currently in my possession don't have any overspray on them. Rust yes, paint no!

[My442]

I worked on the line at GM Framingham in 1972.

My job was on the body line: installing door hinges, doors, trunk lids, etc.

The standard latch was installed in all the cars for adjustment purposes. I know because I did it...

The interior options were done much later in the soft trim area, and these options were added then.

[PaulatFast]

Originally Posted by My442

I worked on the line at GM Framingham in 1972.

My job was on the body line: installing door hinges, doors, trunk lids, etc.

The standard latch was installed in all the cars for adjustment purposes. I know because I did it...

The interior options were done much later in the soft trim area, and these options were added then.

Period. Discussion over. There's the facts straight from the source. At least at the plant where 442 worked. Thank you for posting.

The informaton we have on these cars keeps getting better. Not worse. All current GTOAA Judges that I know communicate very well and talk frequently, even when Judging. As a matter of fact the Judging sheets are scrutnized to ensure they are consistant accross the board.

As far as I'm concerned, Power latches shouldn't be painted. I respect others opinions on the subject. It is something I will be watching more closely when I come accross original cars.