[Earl Ross]

I'm building a '31 Model A coupe street rod. It currently has a "rumble seat" trunk lid (latches at the top). I want to convert it to a straigt "trunk" lid (latches at the bottom). Haven't a clue how to go about it, except to take off the rumble lid rotating brackets. I know I need springs at the top and some kind of latch at the bottom.

What else is required?

Are there any kits available to do this?

What kind of bracketry is needed to mount the hinges?

How do I get the top and bottom to match with their body interfaces?

Thanks for your help.

Earl Ross

[poncho62]

Moving your post to the body forum, you will get a better response there......

[BOBCRMAN@aol.com]

I did a 30 coupe. I used ford Pinto trunk hinges. Added a lip inside the lower body edge (trunk) for a mini Bear claw latch with an electric solenoid. Worked great.

[MARTINSR]

I thought I could tell you how to do this being I have done it before. However as I start I realize it was in another time long, long ago in another galaxy.

I don't remember who sold it but there was a kit. The "hinge" on the model A is a bolt that goes thru the deck lid into the body at the top of the lid. This bolt has no treads at the tip. The tip goes into a piece that rivits in at the corner of the channel at the top. You drill a hole in the channel and rivit this piece in. The lid already has the cast piece with threaded holes as I remember, but maybe not. At the bottom the latch will all bolt in, as I remember. There is a striker at the bottom and I believe the threaded nuts are there to bolt it on.

The more I think about it, all these cast pieces are there, you just have to buy the latch, handle, striker, and "bolts" for the upper hinge. But I may be wrong.

[Frisco]

Originally posted by BOBCRMAN@aol.com
I did a 30 coupe. I used ford Pinto trunk hinges. Added a lip inside the lower body edge (trunk) for a mini Bear claw latch with an electric solenoid. Worked great.

I like this approach and feel it would be a cheaper alternative. However, the link below has the kit you need using reproduction "stock" components. The cost is around $45. You would need to fill in the rumble lid handle hole and add the deck lid latch and handle as well. I am in the process of doing the same on my '30 Ford Coupe except I need to get a complete decklid.

Rumble to deck lid conversion

They also have the alignment plates and all related parts.

[Earl Ross]

Thank you guys for responding so quickly. I'll take a look at both the Pinto hinges and the conversion kit.

Thanks again,

Earl Ross