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Listed below are the step by step instructions for building the Impala trunk
boxes.
- Assemble required tools (see tools req'd)
- Assemble all the material req'd (see material req'd)
- Empty the Trunk and protect fenders & bumper. You will be getting in
& out of the trunk often while making the templates and then fitting
& installing the finished panels.
- Next take a sheet of the foam board and cut to the approximate shape of
side door trunk panel. Leave enough material for trimming to the finished panel
size.
- Place the board against the driver side trunk rail and trace the outline
of the floor, wheel hump and taillight covering. (If you look carefully
you'll notice the area above the taillight cover is slightly different on
the drivers side. At least on my car it was).
- Remove foam board and carefully cut along the traced line with the razor
knife. (I recommend doing this on a solid work surface not in the trunk).
- Continue tracing & trimming until you have a perfect fit. This is a
time consuming process but will save you money in the long run.
- When you have a perfect fit you can trace the outline of the template onto
the MDF or Plywood. You only have to trace onto one panel since you will clamp
two panels together when you cut out the pattern. This will give you 2
identical panels and save you some time.
- Before cutting the pattern measure the location of the door from the
bottom of the panel. The door opening should be approx 10" high x
14" long. Use a square to make the sides of the door perpendicular to
the bottom. When you have marked the door location clamp the 2 MDF/Plywood
panels together carefully aligning the sides. Leave the panels clamped
together for the next step.
- Now that you have the panels cut it is time to cut out the door openings
you laid out in step 9.
Begin by drilling a 1/4" hole at opposite corners of the door.
Next using the Saber saw cut out the opening being careful to follow the
lines. These edges will be clearly visible when the panels are completed so
some extra care here will result in professional look when your
finished. Use a straight edge and more clamps if you have to. KEEP THE
DOOR CUTOUTS. THEY WILL BECOME THE DOORS.
- Next smooth all the outside edges and test fit the panels. When the panels
fit properly use a spring clamp to hold them in place against the drip
rail. Now reach thru the door opening and using a black marking pen trace
the bottom edge of the drip rail onto the back of the panel. You will use
this line as a guide for mounting the panel mounting spacers.
- Remove the panels and place them on your work surface back side up.
Measure 1/2" down from the trace line at 2 locations. Next clamp the
3/4" x 1" x 14" hardwood spacer along this line. Drill 4
pilot holes for the #10 wood screws. Attach the spacers with 4 #10 wood
screws and remove the clamps.
- The (2) 1/4" carriage bolts are installed next. Measure
the location of the two bolts on the front of the panel. The heads of the
carriage bolts have to be counter sunk so you have to first drill a
3/4" diameter x 3/16" deep hole using a wood boring bit then
drill the 1/4" hole for the bolt. Now you can insert the bolts thru the
hole and place a flat washer and nut on the back and tighten until the bolt
head is pulled into the hole.
- Next locate the 1" x 2" X 12" hinge mounting plate. Clamp
this to the back of the panel on the end you want the door to hinge from.
Mark the 3 screw locations and drill the pilot holes for the
#10 x 1/12" wood screws. Attach the mounting plate with the screws and
remove the clamps.
- Bring the panels and the 3/4" x 3" metal 'L' brackets to the
trunk. Remove the lower cargo net hold down hooks and place the 'L' bracket
over the stud used for the hook. Clamp the panel into position and
reach thru the door opening and mark the location of the 'L' bracket against
the back of the panel. Remove the panel and attach the 'L' bracket to the
back of the panel.
- The next step is to attach the doors. This step requires great care to
center the panel in the opening since any mistakes will be highly visible
when the finish material is in place. Place the door panel in the opening
and using equally spaced shims center the panel. Place the hinges on the
door and against the mounting bracket. Mark the location of the screw holes.
Drill the holes and attach the hinges with the supplied screws. You
may have to remove a small amount of material from the sides of the door to allow
for the thickness of the finish material.
- Install the panels and check for fit. If everything is to your
satisfaction take a break and prepare for the next phase, making the trunk
hinge panels.
- The procedure for making the trunk hinge panels is a little easier than
the side panels but still requires care and patients if you want the
finished product to look good .
- Cut a piece of foam board or cardboard 18" x 24". If you have
removed the side door panels you will have to re-install them for this next step.
Place the foam board against the hinge bracket butting it up against the side
door panel. Using the compass trace the outline of the floor and wheel hump
onto the foam board and mark where the opening for the trunk hinge will be.
On
your work surface cut along the lines you traced then test fit the panel. Repeat
until your panel fits perfectly. Make sure you cut the slot for the trunk
hinge deep enough so there is no interference when the trunk is closed.
- Now that your template fits the way you want it trace the pattern onto the
MDF or Plywood and cut out with the saber saw. Bevel the back edge of the
hinge panel where it contacts the floor and the wheel hump at approximately
45 degrees. Smooth the edges and place
the panel in position.
- With the panel held in place reach behind and trace the outline of the
trunk hinge mounting bracket slots onto the back of the panel. This is where
the panel will be attached with the carriage bolt.
- Remove the panel and mark the center of the slot. Drill a small 1/16"
pilot hole to mark the location on the front side of the panel.
- Using the same procedure you used to drill the hole for the carriage bolt
in the side door panels drill the counter sink for the head and then drill the
hole for the bolt.
- Next mount the panel and fasten in place using the the carriage bolt flat
washer and wing nut. If everything is to your satisfaction get the marking
pen and trace a line on the side door panel where the hinge panel buts against
it. If you can reach behind the hinge panel trace the backside also since
this will be the guide line for the bracket.
- Remove the hinge panels and the side door panels. On the work bench clamp the
mounting bracket onto the side door panel 1/2" ,or the thickness of the
hinge panel, from the front line or even with the back line and install the bracket. Test fit the panels. If all is ok then proceed
to the next step.
- Next make the rear seat back panel. Using the 1/4" plywood cut it to
fit the seat back bracing area. You will have to notch it to clear the wheel
humps and also the wires on the rear deck. When you have the fit right mark
the rear seat bracing pattern on the back of the panel so you will know
where to mount the spacer where the panel will be bolted to the seat
bracing. 1 in the middle and 1 on each end. Remove the panel and attach the
spacers the reinstall the panel and attach it to the seat bracing. You will
need this in place when you make the template for the rear side panels.
- Re-install the hinge panels and the side door panels and trace the pattern
for the rear side panels. This will take some time and great care since you
have to make clearance for the torsion bars and the speakers plus make the
angle where it buts against the rear seat panel and the contour where it
meets the floor and wheel hump. If you are thinking about replacing the
stock speakers with after market speakers you will have to make the
clearance around the speaker area deeper to compensate for the larger
frames. When you have the pattern just right trace it on to the 1/2"
MDF or Plywood and cut it out. Once it is cut out smooth the edges and bevel
the back of the bottom edge to 45 degrees where it meets the wheel hump.
When you have the fit the way you want it square it to the hinge panel and
mark the rear seat panel where the 2 panels meet. This will give you the
location for the mounting brace. Repeat for the other side.
- With the rear side panels cut to fit remove them and the hinge & rear
seat panels. Next install the mounting brackets for the rear side panels on
the hinge panel and the rear seat panel using the marks you made during the
trial fit. Mount the brackets 1/2" in from the line you made on the
rear panel and 1/2" from the edge of the hinge panel using the wood
screws and glue. next re-install the panels and mark 2 locations at the
front and rear of the side panels for the bolts that will hold them
together. Make a mating mark on the rear seat panel and the hinge panel. You
can drill the pilot hole on the front edge will it is installed in the car
but there isn't enough clearance to drill the back ones in the car.
- Take the panels out of the trunk. Using the Forstner bit that will give
you enough clearance to countersink the head of the mounting bolt plus the
thickness of the fabric you are using drill the recess using the pilot
hole you made. Only go deep enough to recess the bolt head. Next drill the
holes for the bolt shaft. If you use 1/4" bolts use a 5/16" drill
bit so you have some clearance. Next drill the holes in the mounting
brackets for the special nuts you have to use with the bolts. You will have
to make this hole undersize so it holds the nut in place. Check the
directions on the package. When you have all the holes drilled and the nuts
inserted assemble the panels to make sure they bolt together without any
problems. You can do this on the bench if you're tired of climbing in and
out of the trunk. Take a break you probably need it.
- Now it's time to put the fabric on the panels. First mark each panel and
the doors with the side of the trunk they go on and with the word
"BACK" on the side that will not be covered with material. This is
particularly important for the doors so you can match them to the correct
panel and in the correct orientation. You will need a clean open area to
layout and cut the fabric.
- Spread your fabric on your clean surface with the good side down and
smooth out the wrinkles and creases. Place the panels on the fabric with the
back facing you. Using the marker trace the outline of the panel onto the
fabric but do not remove the panel. Make yourself a 1-1/2" spacer so
you can trace the panel outline that much from the outline. You will wrap
this material around the edges and onto the back of the panel. The outlines
will help you line up the panel and the fabric once you have applied the
adhesive. When you have all the panels marked cut the fabric on the outer
lines and label the fabric to match the panel it goes with.
- With the fabric cut to shape it is time to glue it to the panels. DO NOT
glue the fabric to the doors at this time just the panels. Lay the fabric
with the back side up and the panel with the back side down and spray a thin
coat of adhesive on both surfaces and let it set up for 5-10 minutes. Now is
the time to insert the carriage bolts into the side door panels and the
hinge panels and secure them with the washer and wing nuts since they will
be concealed behind the fabric. Do not install the bolts for the rear side
panels since they are put in during final assembly. Once the glue has set
carefully place the panel on the fabric staying within the guide lines. If
everything lines up press down on the panel to set it then turn it over and
smooth out any wrinkles. DO NOT cut the door openings yet. Next spray a
1-1/2" wide band of adhesive on the back side of the panel and
let it set then wrap the material around the edges and onto the back. Trim
off the fabric that bunches up in the corners or curves.
- Next spray the back side of the door opening and the door with the flat
black paint. With the paint dry make a diagonal cut from one corner to the
other in the opening then spray the adhesive on both surfaces let it set
then wrap the material around the edges and trim off the excess.
- With all the panels covered with fabric it is time to work on the doors.
Place the bare doors into the proper openings lining up the marks you made
previously. Place some scrap fabric in the gaps between the panel and the
door and check for tightness. If the door is to tight then you will have to
trim 2 sides of the door slightly until it fits without getting stuck. Make
sure you follow the contour of the door and only remove a little at a time.
Once you have the right fit glue the fabric to the door like you did on the
other panels. If you are not going to cover the back of the door with fabric
you may want to paint it before putting on the fabric.
- Now that you have all the panels covered it is time to assemble the doors
and install the panels in the trunk. Place the doors in the openings and
mount the hinges. Next install the side door panels in the trunk clamping
them to the back of the drip rails using the carriage bolts that were
installed in the panel earlier. Next install the hinge panel using the
installed carriage bolt to clamp it to the hinge mount and the bolting it to
the side door panel using the right angle bracket. Next install the rear
seat panel but don't bolt it to the frame yet. With the rear seat panel in
place install the rear side panel using the bronze furniture bolts. If you
didn't properly align the holes earlier this will be a little difficult.
When you have the side panels in and secure you can bolt the rear seat panel
in place and re-install the rear seats.
- That's it. Get yourself some refreshments and admire your work then go
show off to your buddies.

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