Trunk Compartment

[Jason Edge]

The trunks used grey tweed-like fabric and  grey speckle pattern interlocking cardboard panels.

All models had the grey tweed fabric on the floor pan, very rear trunk wall and up and over the package shelf hump.  The floor pan mat was a single piece that covered the entire bottom floor pan. Any additional mats, carpets, etc are not original and something that was added later.

All models other than Fleetwood and Eldorado had the interlocking grey speckle pattern cardboard: 2 interlocking pieces on left and 2 interlocking pieces on rear, and 1 at very rear.

For the Eldorado and Fleetwood, these cardboard panels were covered with the trunk fabric mentioned above.  

NOTE  The 1963 Coupes, and 1964 Coupes and 4 window Sedans had the spare mounted up on the hump below the rear package tray.  Other body styles had the spare tire mounted in the floor pan via a J hook, large black painted metal pan and large wing nut.  Fleetwoods and Eldorados have a form-sewn cover made of the trunk lining material over the spare tire. Other models with the spare in the floor could get this cover as a dealer option.  

Below are some sample pictures:

 Note spare tire mounted on hump below rear package tray in a 1964 Coupe Deville.  This would be the same location for the 1964 4 window sedans.   Also note that the commonly used 235/75/15 radial is too wide to fit in this area and has to lay in the trunk floor. 

 The Jack "J" hook and base were held in place by black painted metal brackets attached to the right side cardboard insert, and held in place with 5/16" hex head short metal screws on front and flat speed  nuts on back.

 Note the Spare Tire mounted on right side of trunk floor on this 1964 6 Window Sedan Parts Car:

  

 Note the Spare Tire mounted on right side of trunk floor on this Fleetwood 60 Special with the tweed fabric cover :

Trunk Hinge and Torque Rods

[James Barnes]

Thanks Jason, I'll give it another try with some help.

[Jason Edge]

James,  I use a very long crowbar when remove them. It takes a bit of force but pushing them outward until they pop down to the next position is not too bad. At worse it pops off the bottom and it is loose but can be reinserted into the first position again. Probably good to have a helper or a stick propping trunk lid up. I have the advantage (or disadvantage in this case) of parting 60 of these out and is second nature popping the rods with the crow bar. Get some leverage and support the trunk lid and shouldn't be too hard.

[James Barnes]

Jason, The problem is that they don't move easily. I have tried using a long pipe for leverage to no avail.

[Jason Edge]

 James, I would just move each notch down one notch to bottom position.  It sounds like want more torque from your post if I am reading your post correctly.  If that makes it works go the other way. If a bit to much you could bring one side back down to the middle.

[James Barnes]

Does anyone know how to adjust the torque rods? The shop manual only says that if they are in the top position, the trunk is easiest to open and most pressure needed to close. Both of the rods on my car are in the middle position but when the trunk is unlocked, the deck lid only moves open a 1/4" or so. I have to open it the rest of the way and when I close it, with slight pressure it slams shut. Hoping I dont have to remove the lid to adjust at least one of the rods to the top position.

[Kurt]

The torque rods assist in lifting the trunk just like hood springs do with the hood. Without the assist it would be heavy to lift open & slam shut as soon as you let go. You can adjust the rods to provide more or less force as necessary. It's not supposed open all the way though. It was the Eldorado Brougham that would open the trunk all the way & close it automatically as seen here:

https://youtu.be/kBVx9ZnhXO8

[Logan Robb]

Wondering what the purpose of the torque rods are for? I shall investigate on my own further, but if someone would like to chime in. With doing zero research, my guess is that it has something to do with the trunk operation-such as having the trunk lid pop open when the button is pushed. Not sure of this as my 64 Fleetwood trunk does NOT pop all the way open when the button is pushed. Thinking now I should look into that if the deck lid is to open all the way. 

[Jason Edge]

Joe, I had my interior guy make a new trunk mat and add new fabric not too long after I bought the car. The tweed material is sort of similar to the original but is missing the cool strands of blue, green, and red thread. It has served it's purpose well but have a roll of 3 yards of the original stuff  from SMS ready to go back in.
On the cardboard I have swapped out a couple of times with cardboard from parts cars but this is the worse looking part of my trunk. I have tried to touch it up with blue grey paint, etc, but in the right light looks pretty bad to me. My plan is to send out a trunk cardboard set to SMS to have them make a new set with the correct pattern, beaded seams. etc. It is still on my To Do list.
As far as carpet.. there is no carpet in our trunks from the factory. Only cardboard or the tweed fabric. If anyone has carpet in the trunk it was installed after the fact.

[Ted Mandalakis]

Does anyone know the dimensions of the wood chock that is displayed above?

[Jason Edge]

Added to our Help Topics page.