Rear hatch not closing flush (1 Viewer)

[wpns4l]

My newest 80's rear hatch doesn't close flush at the top. It has a clean title but this still leads me to believe it's probably been crashed or something at one point. Could someone please post pics of the top seem area where the hinges for the hatch are so I can compare to mine.

 

[Broski]

Post a picture of what your talking about.

 

[wpns4l]

 

[wpns4l]

It closes and latches/locks fine but it's not flush at the top. It sits flush on the sides though. I sold my other 80 though so I can't compare them myself.

 

[Broski]

Must be all that dirt keeping it from closing HaHa Just kidding something is defiantly not right.
Hears what mine look like.

My guess is the hings are bent. for reference

Do the hings move smoothly

 

[wpns4l]

Yea moves smooth and looks like where your hinges mount to the body is raised also. I thought maybe it should be flat there but doesn't look it.

Guess I'll end up just taking the whole thing off

 

[ppc]

A previous owner most likely had the hatch up and tried backing out of the garage and tweaked the hinge mounting points.

 

[YMT]

Factory doors and hatches had a seam sealer or similar product applied to the perimeter of the hinges, at least on all the rigs I've worked on (several were parted, and several have been builders, not just TLCs).

Check and see if your rig has had that seal broken. It may have been a simple body panel swap due to damage, or, it may indicate that the panel hasn't been replaced; then you can check the hinges. It doesn't take much damage to bend the hinges, ever so slightly, that they won't sit correctly.

If the seal is broken, try to get it as close as possible to the original location. Hinges are still very cheap in classifieds- I threw out several sets since there wasn't any interest.

Hope this gives you something the check, especially if it's a simple fix.

 

[leonard_nemoy]

Just back it into a tree or two.....