Anyone got any good tips to changing a hatch???

Gonna put my notchback on

 

Get someone to help you - it's heavy. 13mm on top, 5/16 at struts.

 

No doubt, LOL. I had a friend help with mine and I only thought my shocks were completely shot. I held it up while he unhooked the shocks, and when he did it seemed like the weight doubled . Take the hatch off with the hinges attached, that's the easiest way. Before you put the new one on put a little silicon under the hinges to prevent leaks.

 

So remove the hinges from the car, leave attached to the hatch?

 

I don't know about the notchback; does it have hinges attached to it? If so, you'll have to remove the ones from the car. I just left mine attached to the car because I was just removing the hatch for paint.

 

If you remove the hinges from the car you can unbolt them from inside with the hatch lowered. Then simply lift the hatch from both sides and the whole thing comes off, hinges and all. If you try to remove just the hatch and leave the hinges you will have to unbolt it with the hatch up, which is more difficult IMO. Removing the hinges also gives you a good opportunity to repaint them if needed.

 

So Ill remove the shocks first, both are blown, then re close and unbolt hinges from the car and remove hatch.

Only fun part will be drilling new holes for the stock wing, mahbe if I take that partoff the stock glass, whole metal piece it can be layed on top to help.