Thread: C5 gto
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Old 07-22-2017, 09:03 PM
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heinke heinke is offline
MetalShaper of the Month Jan 2018
 
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Prescott, AZ
Posts: 487
Post Making GTO trunk lid (cont.)

I’ve made more progress on the trunk lid by completing the AL 3003 frame for attaching the trunk skin. The first step prior to starting on it is to adjust the square tube SS frame to the proper height. I adjusted to make sure there was at least 3/16” gap between this frame and where the top of the trunk skin would be. I’m using .063 sheet for both the skin and the mounting frame so these together gives 1/8”. The extra 1/16” is to make sure the skin would only contact the mounting frame at the very outside edge.

Checking frame spacing with 3/16” round rod and ruler simulating where the top of the skin will be.



Next was to mock up mounting for the trunk latch. I built a bracket from SS sheet that will add extra support under the trunk skin and hopefully keep the trunk skin from warping if someone presses on the latch to close it. I also made up a latch catch from piece of rectangular tube. I’ll cut this catch down and make it look nice later.



Now for the skin frame itself. I started with the longest section which is at the bottom of the trunk lid. This was cut to fit the trunk opening and have ¾” to fold down on inside of the mounting frame.



Next was the top of skin frame. I had to first eliminate all the “C” clamps temporarily holding the frame to the hinges. I made some screw plates, cut slots in the square tube to insert them, and mounted the frame to the hinges with some ¼” screws. Notice the bottom skin frame now has the inside edge cut and folded. The fold line is curved so I did the fold on a combination of bead roller tipping wheel and power hammer flanging dies. I also had to shrink the folded edge so it would fit the curved horizontal plane for the trunk lid. I’m purposely keeping the join/weld lines away from the corners as I want these in low stress areas.



The right-side piece joining top and bottom is welded in and now I’m making a cardboard template for curved portion of skin frame. I decide the best approach for this piece was welding in the flange around the curve.



Here’s the sheet for curved portion ready to tack in place. I’m able to tack the pieces in place using the SS frame to hold them for a close fit.



And now here’s the skin frame all welded, trimmed for fit to SS frame and metal finished.

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