[360Rocket]

So since having a 1970 GTO with the Judge spoiler I have always worried when displaying the car at a car show with the trunk lid open that the wind picking up could slam the trunk or a passerby could unknowingly bump the trunk to close hard and possibly damage the spoiler. So I came up with a simple, cheap solution that could prevent this from happening so I am sharing the idea here. I am posting pics to give you a visual. Hope someone else gets some use out of this.

This hole is on both side of the trunk support and just under the trunk hinges when the trunk is open.



I found at the local hardware store for $14.99 a 4 foot hollow steel bar 1/2" OD that I hit with a spray can of paint and the added a few inches of heatshrink to each end.

Insert the end of rod into each of the holes below the hinge as shown.



Most showgoers will be hardpressed to even notice the safety rod when it is in place. Most will think it is part of the car.



With the heat shrink in place, and the weight of the trunk on the safety rod, it will be hard pressed to shift out of place. It's really cheap insurance IMO.

[charles bledsoe]

That's a great idea! Your right, it does look like it's part of the car. Thanks for sharing!!

CB

[Gordon Church]

you can adjust the torsion rods so the trunk will stay open

[360Rocket]

Originally Posted by Gordon Church

you can adjust the torsion rods so the trunk will stay open

Thats true but a good gust of wind or a spectator giving ot a good elbow incidentally could be enough to slam the trunk. But since you added a good point, what location should the torsion bar be in? All the way to the top position? or all the way to the bottom position? or back or front depending how you look at it.

Do torsion bars "wear out" and need replacement?

Thanks for yours or anybody elses input.

[Gordon Church]

the pink coded rod should be in the middle position RH side

[Jeff Hamlin]

Originally Posted by Gordon Church

you can adjust the torsion rods so the trunk will stay open

Agreed, Proper torque rod adjustment is all that should be needed.
Its a neat idea, but I would be concerned if an elbow could slam my deck lid closed.
To me this indicates improper adjustment and/or worn rods.

I would also likely be the one to forget I have that holding bar in place and end up bending my hinge

If I turn my trunk key my lid pops up about a 1'.
It takes a bit of effort to close, once had it open and the wind raised it,
as the rods are designed to assist lift not close.
If I raise my lid to full open it is almost in a lock out position to really takes a good pull to bring it downward.

Correct me if I'm wrong but didn't the factory account for the wing/spoiler with larger rods? are you sure your are correct?

JM2C

Cheers

[Gordon Church]

I don't think they had a p/n for "Judge" torsion rods they where just adjusted for the extra weight….they are colour coded on the ends,according to the Fisher Body manual…. 70 A body HT is yellow/pink and vert is orange/pink

[360Rocket]

Now do you have to have the tool? or is there another safe way to change the rod position?

[MUSLCAH]

After a few beers and the show was over...I would forget about that rod ..or my buddy would just close it for me..thinking he was helping ........lol

[MUSLCAH]

Hey ...plus your trunk weather strip appears to be in backwards..

[bobslilgto]

Use vise grips with a rag on the bar to protect the paint.

[360Rocket]

Originally Posted by MUSLCAH

Hey ...plus your trunk weather strip appears to be in backwards..

thanks, yeah there is quite a punch list growing that this car needs as I slowly complete my post purchase inspection. Its an ongoing learning process as well.

[MUSLCAH]

I only noticed cus I just went through this weather strip stuff with my Goat I purchased last Sept....the previous owner had installed a new weather strip upside down.

[360Rocket]

Originally Posted by MUSLCAH

I only noticed cus I just went through this weather strip stuff with my Goat I purchased last Sept....the previous owner had installed a new weather strip upside down.

That's what happened here as well. The more I dig the more I worry cause I just find stupid stuff like this. Drywall screws holding the headlights and tailight lenses in place, The rear brake shoes put in backwards, lamp cord under the dash, modern car items and home improvement fasteners from home depot under the hood, reverse lights not hooked up, no reverse lockout switch, etc, etc. Its just a shame how there is such a lack of pride in workmanship and integrity out there. I wish I had all the money I've dumped in my lifetime to fix other peoples shortcuts. I wouldn't need to play the lottery every week! HA!

[RAIV70TA]

This may be helpful....

[360Rocket]

what I really need is to find the torsion rod I need for sale.

[north]

I've noticed over the years that the rods for power trunk release cars were adjusted very differently than cars without power trunks. With the power trunk the lid has just enough tension to lift a few inches (if hand lifted all the way open it will stay fully open but it won't get fully open by itself) but on cars not factory equipped with a power trunk release the lid wants to fly open.

This makes sense since on a manual trunk car you are holding the key and you control the opening action but on a power trunk car you wouldn't want it flying open, especially if a bit windy. I don't remember which way is which but the adjustment is made by one of the two bars being set in a different notch. I noticed this in bone yards over the years and it seems to be consistent across all the different models. I have two 69 GP's one with and one without the trunk release and they follow the pattern.

Perhaps a Judge with a factory trunk release option would be more prone to wanting to slam shut under certain conditions

[360Rocket]

My car has both the Judge spoiler AND the power trunk option. I'll have to check which slot the torsion rods are in and then find out what direction to move them in to get more tension.

[Gordon Church]

LH rod is in its lowest position and RH rod is in the middle position….this is a 70 Judge without power trunk release, and takes considerable effort to close it.

[360Rocket]

now to find a tool to safety move the rods, thank you Gordon.