Massive issues with trunk torsion spring install

[jcmeyer5]

We tried installing these today on dads 69 Dart, but damned if they didn’t want to cooperate. The one that holds up the passenger hinge didn’t want to keep the slider on the cam. The driver side had no tension at all. What am I doing wrong, or do people not reinstall these things? I can’t find a whole lot of info on reinstallation. Help

 

[Dana67Dart]

The hinge support has metal fatigued at arrow.
Springs won't stay in place and will not hold trunk up. Also there is a left and right you might have them reversed

 

[jcmeyer5]

Huh. Well, that sucks. It worked when I took it apart...

eh. Maybe I’ll try to figure out gas struts

 

[Dana67Dart]

First check the suports where i noted..

Then be sure you have the left / right in the correct side.

Each spring fits into one of the 1/2 rounds, (top of the J)

There is a quick nut / oneway washer that keeps the spring centered.

What are you working on , should have asked that up front.

 

[Dana67Dart]

eh. Maybe I’ll try to figure out gas struts

Noooo dont do it. 75.00 to a welder and it was fixed

 

[Lord Sparky]

The hinge support has metal fatigued at arrow.
Springs won't stay in place and will not hold trunk up. Also there is a left and right you might have them reversed

View attachment 1715813335

Cheap metal, poor design. I had mine fail. Almost broke my teeth messing with it. Hard area to get to.

 

[jcmeyer5]

The symptoms as I am experiencing them is that the slider does t want to stay on the cam, and the spring pops out of the POCKET as a result... or maybe the spring pops out of the pocket, and as a result the cam doesn’t stay in place.

I can weld, but the area to be welded requires me to stand on my head, and the car is already painted. Don’t want to risk messing that up.

I agree with @Lord Sparky, I don’t like the design at all.

 

[4spdragtop]

There are plastic sliders used on darts. I bought some thinking I needed for cuda but cuda doesn't use them. I per side = 2 total.

 

[Inertia]

Figure out which anchor/pivot is bent .
I make a similar 2" x 3" piece of sheet metal, perhaps a little different, and sister it to the failed piece with sheet metal screws, (then weld if nec) to secure the spring a little better.
Wish I'd taken a pic

 

[Dana67Dart]

The symptoms as I am experiencing them is that the slider does t want to stay on the cam, and the spring pops out of the POCKET as a result... or maybe the spring pops out of the pocket, and as a result the cam doesn’t stay in place

Post some photos. With everting out of the trunk and some appropriat sheilding little to no chance of doing harm.

This is the before. ( In the second photo, the top is severed but placed back in position)

A few tack weldes is all that was needed.

I tried to make a reinforcement plate but gave up and figured i would do it on the replacement brakets, when the time comes, for full restoration.

Welder in the trunk!

I took the trunk lid, hinges and springs out. I also took out the spare and put a flat board down
Plenty of room.

 

[Dartswinger70]

You animal! LOL! way to go making it work...

 

[jcmeyer5]

View attachment 1715813521 View attachment 1715813522

Mine isnt broken like that. It isnt broken at all for what I can see. I'll snap some pictures tonight.

 

[cudamark]

There's usually a clip holding the center of each torsion bar together. Without it, the torsion bars can sometimes do some strange things. As has been mentioned, make sure you have them on the correct side. There should be 3 slots for the tension adjustment.