TAC Tech > Exterior

Trunk filler panel screws

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Wallington:
I just went to check something for an unrelated post that I thought was fairly simple to answer, then found that the trunk filler panel is not mentioned in Assembly manuals or Part manuals, there is reference to, but then it isn't listed further when you follow that link. I'll look at some others... I wasn't terribly concerned until I couldn't find an easy answer!

Anyway, trunk filler panel, same for 70-81 Firebird and Camaro #8780126....what screws did they use and were they the same above and below the panel?  I was always surprised that they only had 3 screws along the lower visible side, especially when already had stamped bosses for 2 more. Always looked unfinished or like they'd used 5 originally then decided to cost-cut and skimp, but wasn't the case. Appear to have never used the other locations.

Mine isn't original, can't check that, and I have 2-3 different packs of replacement screws that don't match each other. I mainly buy them for different types of screws, rather than the application they suggest. Many do 'work' but not necessarily original style, many don't care.

Not only is there confusion over what they looked like and where they went, also how many to supply....5, 6 ..8?

Zinc type with Phillips-head and flange, plus sealing goo:
https://cdn.classicindustries.com/assets/images/ProductImg/G/G4156K_main-01.jpg

Same again but 5 instead of 8
https://www.firebirdcentral.com/v/vspfiles/photos/SHE-282H-2T.jpg

Zinc type with regular small flange head, similar to fan blower motor etc:
https://cdn4.volusion.store/klmat-yytxn/v/vspfiles/photos/HTR-36C-2.jpg?v-cache=1477632079

Same again but longer:
https://fbodywarehouse.com/store/var/images/product/300.300/T/1970_1971_1972_1973_1974_1975_1976_1977_1978_1979_1980_1981_camaro_trans_am_trunk_filler_screws_fbodywarehouse.jpg


Or a set of 8 blackened hex-heads from AMK that I can totally imagine there, but also rarely listed in resto shops.
https://d2zl5tj7gmc4tr.cloudfront.net/images/products/c-12971-7ak_20230607090643.jpg


Next question, for any owners of original cars. Perhaps the screw type changed over the years, various suppliers etc, that happened elsewhere too like glovebox lid and similar. Were these screws painted as already assembled at the time or bare screws as panel added after paint? I check several 'original' vehicles where I'd saved pics of trunk and spare wheels, and although not many are clear in screw types, what was clear was that some are painted and some are blackened, added after paint, or paint hasn't adhered!

FormTA:
I'm pretty sure mine were like the last ones, the blocked hex. But my car is black so they could have been painted with the panel. I can't get to that part of my white formula, wish I could because that would tell me if they were painted body color. Hopefully Larry can chime in, his car is original and white as well.

5th T/A:
I am not sure how much help I can be on this, maybe raising more questions than answers. Here are a few pictures from my 1980. I believe it was built in August or September of 1979 at the Norwood plant. A few areas where the paint has chipped off looks like the bolts were black. I don't know the length and don't want to pull one out. Looks like 2S on the heads of the bolts and a sealant was used when installing and painted over at some point. Keep in mind in 1980 they began building with metric hardware. Some fasteners are metric and some are SAE. It's very possible different screws were used in prior years.

IMG_2934 by Lawrence Alexander, on Flickr

IMG_2935 by Lawrence Alexander, on Flickr

On Ben's comment about using five, versus three screws, you can see where the center screw is installed the panel it mates to is raised slightly, versus the unused spot on the right side.

IMG_2936 by Lawrence Alexander, on Flickr

Wallington:
Thanks for the pics. The panel flexes and distorts easily, some have a gap under them, some don't. The curve over the length and taper of the pressing between the raised bosses is still roughly the same for all, still had to look twice at the illusion. The AMK screws shown were listed as 78-81, they don't seem to have anything for prior if there was a change. They are also metric.

roadking77:
I am pretty sure on my 77 they were short hex screws. Def not the long ones like the f body warehouse is showing and just an assumption but I doubt they were the black zinc oxide. I do know mine were pretty rusty. As for having philips cant say one way or the other. I did not touch them on my 79, unfortunately the trunk is covered with 2 layers and piled with parts presently so I cannot access them easily.

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