Lessons learned from mounting your fiberglass duck tail?

[tdskip]

Hi guys - about to dive in to mounting my duck tail on the '74. I know the final fit will need some work to get right - that can wait until I get closer to paint - but I want to drive the darn thing with the duck tail on it before it gets too hot down here.

So - any lessons learned on how to mount the fiberglass tail? I know they are supposed to be reinforced where the trunk lid goes but...

[nineball]

step 1. do not install the plunger on the lid.

after that it's just playing with it, and washers, until you get it right. once it is perfect you can reinstall the plunger, then check for the correct plunger depth. yes it is adjustable.

[puffinator]

Make sure you cut out holes for your license plate lights and if you are going to mount an AC condenser, you will need to fabricate brackets to hold it.

[Hellraiser]

Leave the grill out until the plunger is correctly adjusted.

I had it bound up with the lock because my first try wasn't ok
and had to break the thing open.

If you leave the grill out, you can always unbolt it from the inside.

[moneymanager]

I never could get the tail to work with the stock lock assembly. After weeks of trying, gave up and installed hood pins to secure the lid. Hope you do better.

[WIL84911]

I've had to enlarge the mounting holes on the lock assembly to make it work. Hopefully you won't have to do that.

[Reiver]

Drill some vents in the inner bottom fiberglass so water can escape properly. Best to have it a tad high in the back (at the hinges) and reduce down (washer spacers) so you don't chip/wear paint on the body lip where the DT rotates up and over under your back window. I also used some thin tape there.
Not that dif if it is a well cast piece.

[vash]

are you going to swap back and forth? if so get a second set of hinges. pretty easy to do the swap at that point. you dont mess with adjustments.

tips? two people really help the cause. resting the lid on your head as you reach in is a poor substitute.

get rid of the hood shock/plunger thing.

[dienstuhr]

Originally Posted by vash

are you going to swap back and forth? if so get a second set of hinges. pretty easy to do the swap at that point. you dont mess with adjustments.

tips? two people really help the cause. resting the lid on your head as you reach in is a poor substitute.

get rid of the hood shock/plunger thing.

Get a Seine carbon prop to replace the hood shock.

Things That Go: World's Trickest Engine Lid Prop???



Cheers and have fun, it's a great look!

d.

[vash]

i made mine. well JP911 made mine with one of my old hunting arrows. carbon fiber. very similar. mine mounts at the bottom and pivot up to hook on a fastener. great.

just watch out for the wind picking up the lid and letting it slam shut.

[Reiver]

In the raw and not painted yet...was actually pretty easy to install...a bit of sanding to even out edges but all of the stock furniture fit and operates as the original lid...no issue with closing/latching. Worked the first time jus adjust for height.[IMG][/IMG]

[4flyboy]

Reiver,

Who made your lid? Thx Scott