I am currently in the process of restoring my 91 RS and am in need of some insight. Right now I just have a manual latch system for the rear hatch and want to install the motorized version. The previous owner has goobered up the bracket he installed. My question is where are the mounting holes for the new bracket assembly (pics attached).

Thanks in advance..

Hupzer

 

OMG. I am so sorry for you. You'll need to rip all that out and weld in the mounting bracket from a late 91-92 car. Those years have a pull-down with a tan-colored molded plastic frame.

Lon

 

He will need to determine which came with his car, the early 91, or late 91-92 setup before doing so.

 

Lonsal is correct. I just did this on my '84 Bird. Converting from non-motorized to motorized. I found a motorized unit out of an '89 formula, drilled out all of the spot welds, and rewelded it to my bird. Not to hard of a project but drilling spot welds sucks. Good Luck

 

Again, OP before jumping into what wont work, because your car is a 91 you need to first determine which hatch motor your car came with factory, then get the appropriate bracket.


And to answer your question about the holes for the bracket, there are none, the bracket is spot welded to the body from the factory.

 

Does it really matter? Since he has to replace the bracket, shouldn't he be able to use either style?

 

Yes, it does matter, I wasnt just posting because the keys on my keyboard needed testing.

 

Please test your keyboard further and explain. I am thinking like afremont is in that either bracket will work since you have to buy a motor anyway and then wire it up. And you could probably find bracket, motor and wiring complete for an easy swap besides the spot weld drilling.

 

The tail panel that the taillights and lock cylinder attach to is different on the late 91/92 cars the lock cylinder is in a different location.

So no, you cannot just swap the bracket and be done, and I wouldnt put the spot weld drilling down as a small feat either, there are a LOT of them.

If you havent got the hint, i've done this, or rather attempted it, after drilling out every one of the spot welds on the early 91 car to remove the bracket, drilling all of the spot welds to remove the bracket from a 92, and then using rivets to install it in place temporarily to hold it for welding, discovered that the lock cylinder isnt going to lineup and allow the motor to bolt up, and it would have to be relocated if this were to work.

 

I was just wondering what the special thing was that would prevent the other bracket from working since it has to be changed anyway. I guess the hatch itself must have some difference, since I sure don't know of any body difference that prevents using either bracket.

EDIT: Never mind I see the post now. So the body is different then. I wonder why.

 

It interfered with bolting the motor on (the lock cylinder), so i'm guessing they redesigned the whole back panel to relocate it, not quite sure how they didnt just design the new setup around it.


Technically it can be done, you'd just need to get a section around the lock cylinder from the back panel, carefully cut out the original and weld it back in.

I just called the waste of time a loss then, and put the earlier 91&earlier bracket back in the car.