Just thought I would pass along what I figured out about these beasties and how I adjusted mine. See related thread for additional info: http://www.v8buick.com/showthread.php?t=77847&highlight=trunk+lid+rod I added a spoiler to my trunk lid which made it heavier. It wouldn't stay open on it's own. A slight bump would cause the trunk lid to come down on your head or slam closed. So after reading the thread above I climbed into the trunk to attempt a readjustment. 1. Gather Tools: heavy gloves, safety glasses, vice grips, flashlight. 2. Lay in trunk on your back with lid open. Open lid has least tension on the rods. 3. Attach vice grips to rod end pointing down as shown in picture. 4. Apply downward force to vice grips while pushing up on the rod with your other hand to disengage the end from the slot. 5. Continue applying force to twist the rod into the desired slot. Pull down on rod with other hand to seat it fully in the new slot. 6. The slot toward the front of the car is least tension. Slot toward back of car is most tension. 7. Extracate self from trunk. Call for help if your contorted like a pretzel and stuck in place. I moved mine from the middle to the third position (toward rear of car) and now the trunk 'pops' when you unlock it and stays upright when open.
Seems like I remember sliding a 3/8 deepwell socket over the end of the torsion bar while wearing a pair of my old army leather glove shells. Standing from behind the vehicle it was not that tough to get it where it needed to be.
Randy, Great pics, will help me get lid back on. :gp: BTW, is that Trumpet Poly Gold on your 71? Mine is a 69 and I'm trying to figure out if I want to paint it original after body work is finished...
