You can do both with a little engineering. First, you don't use springs of any sort to hold it up when it's a trunk and you make the seat an easy click in and out deal. You replace the bottom hinges with bearclaw type latches at both corners and then have the handle twist in ONE direction (left maybe) to pull rods OUT of the bearclaws...similar to a pickup utility shell latch mechanism. When it's a rumble the rods stay INSIDE the bearclaws at the bottom and the seat pivots inside the bearclaws. You do the same with bearclaws at the top...the rods at the top stay in and pivot inside the bearclaws and it's a trunk then rig a system that routes wires to pull rods out at the top when you twist the handle the opposite direction (to the right) to pull the rods at the top out of the bearclaws. Twist right, it's a rumble seat..insert the seats, twist left it's a trunk...leave the seats in the rafters. Anyone with some welding skills and a little ingenuity can help you pull this off. Now, you MAY need a separate handle or way of actuating one set of rods (whichever you would use the least) and then hide it as a ****on somewhere.
I'm guessing you haven't done this. Rumble seats go down inside the trunk and almost hit the floor. Your way, in rumble mode, highway speed airflow would probably damage the lid. Clever idea though. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Here's a pic for Deuce. (I like smooth trunk lids too.) A cab/hood release for diesel truck dad got for me. There are two types available. A T handled model that may be a locking throttle cable, you twist it 30* of so and it locks that I used in the 32. The one in the 31 has no lock, round knob about the size of an original Ford shift knob. Solid wire in both, very smooth in operation. 1/4" Heim joints on the ends in both cars. Yeah, I know you know about remote cable releases, but thought I'd point out the nice ones from the diesel shops. Lots of other potential hot rod stuff in there as well. Hit em at the right time and you'll find a pallet of trailer tie-downs for reasonable....
So I'm clear, they not only pivot but they also swing or articulate at a pivot that is slightly higher than the extreme bottom edge of the trunk lid? And thus the bottom of the lid actually SITS on the floor? If so, then I'd adapt my method above to SEE if I could make it work, but this would complicate it bit. Thanks for the heads up...
Dam ****!!!! I was looking for instructions on how to install this rumble seat hinge kit & look what I a came across
I have a rumble seat and I love it. It is carpeted in the foot well and has nice ups. If I hall anything I have box's that can sit on the seat bottom, only lite stuff in the foot well, Grandkids love it.--TV Oh ya mine is a 32 5 window
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