Hi everyone, I'm trying to install a pair of torsion rods in the trunk of a '66 F-85/Cutlass since it didn't have any ever since we bought the car. I looked online in this forum, as well as others for tips and tricks and I think I have them in the right positions. Is anyone able to verify this? I just want to make sure since the trunk still doesn't want to stay up even if I placed both rods in the middle notches (there are three in total for tension, shown in the pictures). Is there an easy way to place them in the third notch, I just used a screwdriver and used it for leverage, but still can't place it on the notch with the highest tension. Thanks!

 

kent moore tool number j21412 is the tool, the 1966 body manual shows how to make the tool.
On my 66 the driver's side is in the second spot, the passenger side is in the third

 

Thanks! I placed both on the 3rd, tightest notches, but it still doesn't open, just falls down. Is there something that I'm doing wrong in my setup?

 

Anyone got any ideas? I'm honestly stumped on this.

 

you can make the tool from a foot long piece of pipe notched on the end, with a carriage bolt through it a couple inches down,

 

here is the tool in use

 

Thanks! I believe I saw you post those pictures in a different thread years ago and it's a great idea, but my issue is more on the fact that the rods aren't supporting the trunk at all, and I placed them on the tightest positions (3rd notch, as shown in the images above). Could it be the way I installed it on the outside (the area where the U-part of the rods meet the latches)? The images are above but here's it is for clarification:

 

I had that issue before

there is a left and a right,,,

maybe

they are in wrong ....

flip em around ??

when they are a bee itch to put in that was my clue to the correct orientation

 

what torque rods are you? Looking up the part numbers , the left rod is the same for 66 & 67, the right rod is based on the car series the 3500, 3600& 3800 use one rod in 66 and another in 67 and the 3307-69 & 3407-69 use the same right rod for both years.
what is the distance from the top of the rod to the bracket highlighted in this photo, my 66 is 1/2 inch.the angle of the camera make it look larger. In the one picture you posted the rod looks taller then 1/2 inch, could just be the angle.

 

Take the rods out and rotate the ends (left side to right, right side to left) 180*. The rods do not lie flat when place on a flat surface. What 72455 said.

 

^^x2^^

And, when you perform this maneuver, you'll know for certain they're on correctly. You'll need to put some meat/muscle into torquing them in place.

Here's a couple more threads - I turned Run to rund's original image 90° to show the orientation.
https://classicoldsmobile.com/forums...5/#post1265167
https://classicoldsmobile.com/forums...install-87492/

 

For where I purchased these reproductions, it was on Original Parts Group, as shown below:


Okay, thanks! I'll see if the orientation is right and probably send pics before completely installing them again to make sure that it's in the correct position. I'll keep you guys updated.

 

Hello All,
I am experiencing a similar issue with my 1967 Olds Cutlass Convertible; However, when I compared my rod lengths with another convertible rod, it seems the part I received from OPGI was 2 inches longer, OPGI said they don't have enough details in the product page to verify if there is a one size fits all or if there are differences in hardtops vs. convertibles. (Pics of the excess lengths of the OPZGI rods)




I went to a friend's house to compare rod lengths and I was told that the Hardtops have different lengths than the convertibles. Does anyone have any additional insight to confirm if this is the case, and if so, who sales the Convertible torsion rods vs. the Hardtop rods? Here is a link of a video I took of a 1967 Olds Cutlass Convertible with the rods installed. https://photos.app.goo.gl/QFeuX35AXTLhYeY46

Thank you for your assistance