Trunk hinge for Duster/ Demon question

[moparman18064]

I am in the process of trying to hinge the trunk on a resin Demon kit. I tried the tried and true process of rod and tube, but it just won’t work due to the fact there is no spacing between trunk and rear window( no Dutchman panel) and the slope and the fact that trunk lid is curved with sharp points on ends. Has anyone out there successfully done this process, and how was it done? I even tried separate hinges per side using same method, the outer points of trunk lid hit the rear window trim. I have spent many hours attempting this and would really like a sanitary, yet functional way to do this. Help please, somebody help!

[tcoat]

Try a variation of the wire and tube method. Put some small tube that fits in the space you have under the rear glass and then small sections of wire on the truck lid. You will of course have to bend the wire in a u shape to allow it to open.

Not a great picture but more or less what I did with my van only you would do horizontal.

[handiabled]

Looking at your build pics I was wondering if moving the hinge closer to the trunk opening under the rear window trim would clearance your wires on each side.

[moparman18064]

Mar 1, 2024 9:57:48 GMT -5 handiabled said:

Looking at your build pics I was wondering if moving the hinge closer to the trunk opening under the rear window trim would clearance your wires on each side.

I did try that with smaller bends, sharper bends, compound bends, none of which worked. Every attempt always had the trunk corners hitting the window ledge. The only way I was able to make it work was to leave the lid a loose fit on the rod( I have lid frame drilled to hide rod now), so that lid would slide backwards, therefore clearing while opening, but that leads to lid possibly falling off. I even switched to brass rod and aluminum tube, still same issues.

[moparman18064]

Mar 1, 2024 9:20:20 GMT -5 tcoat said:

Try a variation of the wire and tube method. Put some small tube that fits in the space you have under the rear glass and then small sections of wire on the truck lid. You will of course have to bend the wire in a u shape to allow it to open.

Not a great picture but more or less what I did with my van only you would do horizontal.

Thank you for the idea. The problem I have will not be cured by this though. That will certainly help me with a non concave surface. This is where my issue lies. After many hours of researching and testing many options, it almost seems that something more elaborate is needed.

[moparman18064]

Solved! After many hours of struggling with all sorts of ideas, the hinges kept telling me that the fulcrum had to be farther away. I made a couple L shaped brackets out of double .030” styrene to mount the aluminum tube to. It also required the rod going in to the lid to be at a higher level than the fulcrum. The L brackets will sit just below the package tray, therefore not seen from above. I still have to pretty everything up, but now I can go forward, instead of backward. Thanks to everyone that replied.