I'm trying to install a locking rear storage cover in my car that I got from a junker. I've read the tech article on this site, but it doesn't offer much advice on lining up the cover properly.

Since my car never had a cover, it does not have the welded plates on the floor just behind the gas tank that the cover normally bolts too. My plan is to weld on new bolts straight to the floor (being careful about the tank of course) since I think it's a little dangerous to drill new bolts through the floor there and possibly poke the tank.

Any advice on lining this cover up properly? In pictures, it appears level with the rest of the carpeted floor in front of it. My car has no carpet or interior whatsoever at the moment, so it's difficult to guess what height I should weld the bolts at.

Anybody have any advice, or even better, some measurements of where their bolts are? Thanks!

 

btt

 

Try placing the piece in place and make where bolts should line up as close as possible and then
install floating bolt clips that allow you slip bolts around. They are a small housing that holds bolts
by its heads and allow for a fair amount of movement left and right or back and forth any way depending on how you spot weld them in place.

 

A few thoughts off hand...

Don't know if it helps but I would consider welding plates to the body so the forces are distributed to the sheet metal more evenly. I like the idea of the floating bolt clips too.

If you have the proper rear plastic piece then that has the shelf for the cover, after that it would be a matter of making sure that it's level. I'd use filler to make up for the depth of the carpet.

You may also want to consider when the cover is opened and flipped over the hump (compensating for carpeting of course).

It might seem like a hassle but if you tack welded plates, you could reinstall the carpet to check, move the lid over the top etc., to make sure everything works. Then pull the carpet and weld it permanently. That rear carpet is really easy to install and pull out imo.