Body Repairs: Tool Tray

Before the trunk floor could be installed, the tool tray had to be replaced because the rear of the trunk floor overlaps and is welded to the tool tray. The tool tray provides storage for the jack and other tools. Because of its location, it collected water and was rusted out. Before the tool tray could be removed, the under-deck lid panel had to be removed.

As the photos indicate, both the tool tray and the under-deck lid panel were "repaired" at one time. The first two pictures show the tool tray with the under deck lid panel removed. Notice how the fiberglass was simply stuffed up against the under-deck lid panel. The second two pictures show what was left of the tool tray.

The under-deck lid panel is welded to the quarter panels, spot welded to the bottom edge of the tool tray and attached to the trunk floor with the deck lid latch bracket. Removal required cutting away the panel from the rear quarters, the bottom of the tool tray and the latch bracket. The seams at the quarter panel still had some of the original lead from the factory.

Tool Tray Removal

The tool tray is welded to the rear of the trunk floor and spot welded to the skirt that is at the bottom of the wheel wells. I cut away the trunk floor and drilled out the spot welds.

I bought a new tool tray and cleaned it with DX 579 and primed it with DP 40 before installation. The tool tray sits on 2 rubber body mounts and bolts to the chassis' rear-most cross-member.

Bob Drake: http://www.bobdrake.com

EMS: http://www.emsautomotive.com

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