Mondial Trunk Lid

hey Mike, mine is also hard to close but not from alignment. It is from the air that is being trap in the trunk. I have look for a means of air exit while close and did not find any. On closing, I need to apply a bit of pressure. Be careful pushing down as you might dent the lid. I guess we just have to live with it.

 

My trunk is difficult to close, but in my experience, this is a common Ferrari problem, dating back to the handmade cars.

 

yes, this is true. Mine, if i remember correctly, has this same problem, i have to slam it a couple of times or just press down on the deck lid till it clicks. I think you're right about the air since the lid itself is light weight.

 

Yep, I have the same issue. It seems a case of: if you adjust for ease of shutting, the lid position is too high. Proper visual alignment and you end up with a hard to close lid. I never try to "slam" it shut. I spread my hands about one foot apart at the very back edge above the license plate (strongest part) and push down until it clicks engaged. Just another part of the Mondial mystique.

Cheers, Hank

 

+1

 

Oh yeah, same here.

I keep a micro fiber cloth on hand to shut all the trunk lids, front, engine and rear to avoid finger prints. Each on needs a little pressure right over the lock mechanism, gently as possible. Kind of like light CPR.

Anyway, be extra careful about aligning the rear two trunk. If they are too close together, you can get the engine hood scraping the paint on the trunk lid if they open in the wrong order. I have mine adjusted so they are as far apart as possible. Small gap between but worth not doing further damage to the paint. I have a long streak of a scratch/paint wear near the rear of my trunk lid because previous owner let them scrape each other. I will be doing some airbrushing and sanding and polishing eventually on that spot.

Once the lids are pressed closed, they look fine on my car. Pretty good fits. BTY, I'm pretty sure the second Mondial photo has had the trunk release button or switch activated. The first picture though does seem a bit "hand made"


Dave

 

I've got the same issue with my trunk. I took my latch apart and reworked the spring assembly. It solved the problem for a little while.

I too am glad to see I'm not alone in this one.

 

My rear lid sits a bit proud as well. Over the years as I've looked at pictures it seems very common. The prior owner of my car who claimed to be a service manager at a F dealer told me to fling the rear lid down when closing. Never to keep the hand on the lid all the way down at risk of denting the alloy lid. So, I fling it down and it makes me feel like I'm slamming the lid on an old Chevy, but its always latched and I've seen no ill effects over the last three years and lots of use.

The engine lid I drop from about three inches and the front bonnet I give it downward thrust from about a foot up. The front bonnet doesn't always latch the first time, fighting the struts. I hate pushing on the panels.

 

Cavallinos look strange on both those shots. They US version look wrong.

 

or just reliving the glory days/showing off.
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IIRC the rear lights were reversed on color too EU vs NA

 

Mine is not an easy close too. I tried to readjust but it is not easy. Now is a little better but still have to do like Hank said. For the height it is not bad at all.
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I use my shirt tails - the front ones to close my truck with careful but deliberate pressure.
I have noticed that my front "hood" is somewhat misaligned. Not left to right.... The gaps are consistent.
The corner closest to the bottom of the windscreen on the drivers side is higher than the quarter panel.

 

I too have this issue...guess there is no real fix so that is one more thing off my list. Cool.

 

Same problem here. I always thought that someone previously installed the wrong seal. One with too much height.
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The upside to this I suppose is that there are no threads about trunk leaks

 

And if they did, a short drive would boil off any moisture in no time.

Dave

 

Be careful slamming - you could end up bending/denting the panel..

What I was told by an old Mondial friend is gentle, steady pressure on the latch area once the lid is close to the latch.

works well for me, not too uneven, consistent

 

Same goes for the front lid: Center, steady press till locked. Do not use the edges, can warp the upper lid frame.

Also, not a good idea to have the g'friend/wife do the pick on the hood.....ask me how I know, then again, DON'T

 

I should clarify about my slamming comment, I don't slam necessarily, it's just too light and I can feel the pillow of air escape when I would try to throw it down from 10 inches, after 2 attempts I would used my micro fiber cloth that I keep handy and would just press down on the crown area of the lid, never in the middle. Mine closes quite evenly with no gaps, so I'm leaving it alone. Someday.

 

My rear trunk gasket had a bad tear in it right at the latch in the middle. So I replaced it last year with a new one from Ricambi and since, despite adjusting the latch, still doesn't sit perfectly. It's enough off that I am starting to see fine folds in the trunk lid. I'd suggest that if anyone replaces that gasket, once test fitted, just shave it down a 1/4 inch, especially on the hinge side of it. Zaff once suggested the best way to close it is to pull it down, not push it down. That does work better IMHO as well.