I can't find anything in the assembly manual that specifies where and how the trunk lid latch bracket is welded into the trunk. Any one have any specs or pics of how/where the proper location is?

Nothing that was assembled on the Fisher side of the plant would be in the Assembly Instruction Manual. That's Chevrolet, only.

Here is a photo of the trunk latch bracket spot welds that I just removed last week. If you need more photos let me know. I have it all apart now. I simply drilled out the 5 spot welds that were along the center tail pan gutter and then the other 4 spot welds that were on each of the two lower mounting legs of it. (two spot welds on each leg where it sits against the trunk floor surface) * I can measure where the holes are for you if you need. I used a 3/8" spot weld bit to drill them out. I am not using the original tail panel since it is rotted out below the rear bumper area.

Todd

http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm298/6781camaro/1969%20Camaro%20%20SS350/1969CamaroCoupeinsdetrunkcompart-10.jpg

http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm298/6781camaro/1969%20Camaro%20%20SS350/tailpanelgutter.jpg

http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm298/6781camaro/1969%20Camaro%20%20SS350/trunkbracecenter.jpg

Todd, can you post a pic of where those bottom two legs were welded? Mine seems to have a somewhat different shape to those two legs. They are parallel to the tail panel.

So were you able to weld in trunk latch bracket successfully? Just curious as to how it came out since I will be there soon too.

Here is a pic of a test-fitting I recently did. Would you mind posting some pics of how yours turned out?

If Marybeth's bracket is on a '67 like in her signature or album it's not the same as a '9.

Lol! Wow! It's been two years since I wrote the last post and still didn't realize it was a '67. doh! What would we do without you Scott? :) --thanks...

Todd - I'll be welding mine in the next few days. You go first!

Well, small stipulation.... I have to weld in my tail panel first. :D So, after you...:)

Welded it in this morning. When I removed mine, I cut the little feet at the bottoms off, so I had to make new ones. Found some angle in the scrap pile, cut 'em to size and welded them on.

On the install, I just ran a bead down the outside of each foot, then dressed with a roloc. I did 4 plugs in the weatherstrip channel, which was exciting on a painted car. Clamped a wet rag over the painted surface and did no damage. Ground the plugs down with a cutoff wheel (carefully!) The trunk lid shuts - I'm happy.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v61/gort69/DSCN1057.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v61/gort69/DSCN1069.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v61/gort69/DSCN1070.jpg

Al--- Looks good. So, be honest,;) how hard was it to plug weld within the weatherstrip gutter for those four welds? I am not looking forward to it at all--even though the weatherstripping will cover up the grinding or smoothed areas where the welds are.

I was even considering welding the plugwelding holes closed along the top of my brace and using my spot welder to install that connection instead. Then, I would plug weld the bottom feet with one 1/4" plug each. What do you think? It would be the same amount of work, but it would look prettier in the end. Maybe not, since you don't see it anyway? Yes/no?:confused::p:D Nutty!

Welding in the weatherstrip channel was kinda weird - I couldn't get the torch as close as I would have liked because the channel is so narrow. I left the wire longer than I normally do and started with just a tack in each hole. Once I was happy that it was lined up correctly I let it rip. Got a fair amt of spattering 'cause the gas wasn't getting in there I assume, but it wasn't that bad. I had some holes in my brace from removing the spotwelds - I welded them shut before I installed it.

I thought about plug welding the feet, but decided to bead weld it because it would be much easier to remove down the road should the need arise. Plug welds are waaaaay harder to drill out than factory type spotwelds. The metal gets much harder.

Edit - I considered not welding in the channel at all and just doing a good tack at either end or on the tops, but decided against it mainly because I already had 4 holes in the channel....

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v61/gort69/DSCN1070-1.jpg