to answer that one question, no, when the hatch is closed it doesn't budge a bit, it'll open and close right, but that damn motor hums, so if i took the motor out, and didn't weld a thing(don't have welding skills)would it all work the way it does now??? i have plenty more to worry about on this car right now, lol, but i just wanna fix it quick and right. thanks for the help again!:hail:

 

No, it would not work. When you pulled the motor out, the whole assembly would drop down to the bottom of the tracks. If you wanted to get ahold of a non-electric rear latch assembly write me an e-mail, I have 2 cheap.

 

I took mine out and had to take small c clamps and JB weld to make it stay where it needed to. It's held for over a year with no problem.

:hail:IROC-Z

 

The mounting pattern for a pre-86 manual latch assy is different than the 86-91 hatch pull-down units. It will not fit without modification. I can't guarantee it will fit even then, since I've not modified one to fit. 82-85, 86-91 (first design) & 91 (2nd design)-92 all have a different style brackets welded to the body that they mount to.