‘69 Full Size Vacuum Trunk Release

Canadian Poncho · A Poncho Legend!

‘69 Full Size Vacuum Trunk Release

North · Guru

nice! If you want to get OCD that switch is correct but not the nut, believe it or not inline tube repro's it. $8 on eBay. I imagine this is not high on your priority list! btw, I'm curious now if the US model glove boxes were made in Canada also (like kick panels etc) or the canadian made ones were just for canadian built cars.

North · Guru

btw2, Some remote trunk release correctness details:

...the power trunk latch shouldn't have any body color paint on it or the bolts that hold it but the manual latch and bolts should be covered in body color overspray (cars were painted with the latch installed unless it was ordered with a power trunk, in which case the latch is added later.

...the trunk torsion bars were adjusted differently with a factory remote trunk install, with a manual trunk the lid should pop fully open gently if you unlatch and immediately release the key. A power trunk should only pop up an inch or two on its own but still have enough tension to stay fully open if you lift it by hand to the fully open position. This was typically done by lowering the right side torsion one notch (usually from middle to lower notch). The reason for this was to avoid the trunk lid from flying open when you pop the button, especially on a windy day.

...the release wire ran under the passenger seat (with the blue rear speaker wire and rear antenna cable if applicable) and then clipped onto the passenger side hinge with two clips, then into the trunklid to the latch. The portion of the wire that went from the underside of the package shelf to the inside of the trunklid had a black cloth shielding to protect it from wear around the hinge movement, the shielding was held in place with something similar to a hog-ring at each end.

...US cars took their power for the switch from the extra tang on the dash courtesy light (standard all models), Canadian cars took it from the clock if so equipped, or the orange clock feed wire if no clock

4SPEED427 · A Poncho Legend!

North wrote:
btw2, Some remote trunk release correctness details:

...the power trunk latch shouldn't have any body color paint on it or the bolts that hold it but the manual latch and bolts should be covered in body color overspray (cars were painted with the latch installed unless it was ordered with a power trunk, in which case the latch is added later.

...the trunk torsion bars were adjusted differently with a factory remote trunk install, with a manual trunk the lid should pop fully open gently if you unlatch and immediately release the key. A power trunk should only pop up an inch or two on its own but still have enough tension to stay fully open if you lift it by hand to the fully open position. This was typically done by lowering the right side torsion one notch (usually from middle to lower notch). The reason for this was to avoid the trunk lid from flying open when you pop the button, especially on a windy day.

...the release wire ran under the passenger seat (with the blue rear speaker wire and rear antenna cable if applicable) and then clipped onto the passenger side hinge with two clips, then into the trunklid to the latch. The portion of the wire that went from the underside of the package shelf to the inside of the trunklid had a black cloth shielding to protect it from wear around the hinge movement, the shielding was held in place with something similar to a hog-ring at each end.
...US cars took their power for the switch from the extra tang on the dash courtesy light (standard all models), Canadian cars took it from the clock if so equipped, or the orange clock feed wire if no clock

A lot of excellent information there! I think I speak for many of us if I say thank you and we appreciate your knowledge of these cars.

gtodrive · Guru

Thanks John! A lot of great detailed information! As far as the correct nut goes, it is already on the way. biggrin I like the one that came with the switch Clint set me though, it has more of a finished look. Thanks again for all the info!

North · Guru

by the way, the earlier posted schematic...

...is identical to the drawing in the US assembly manual, same drawing and same part numbers

North · Guru

On a sort of related subject, I was trying to help a fellow member here about the mirrors used on 69 Canadian cars.

I did confirm with the canadian assembly manual and a US MPC that the non manual outside mirror is indeed the US Pontiac mirror (rather than the chevy one) but I hit a dead end on the remote mirror. The assembly manual does have a page for it but it is clearly the 68 page (It's even marked cancelled) with a round mirror and vent windows.

Does anyone have a canadian parts book or a survivor 69 with its original factory installed remote mirror (my 2+2 has a manual mirror)?

North · Guru

Looking at online pics it appears evident the remote mirror was also US spec but it would be nice to document it.

seventy2plus2 · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

North wrote:
On a sort of related subject, I was trying to help a fellow member here about the mirrors used on 69 Canadian cars.

I did confirm with the canadian assembly manual and a US MPC that the non manual outside mirror is indeed the US Pontiac mirror (rather than the chevy one) but I hit a dead end on the remote mirror. The assembly manual does have a page for it but it is clearly the 68 page (It's even marked cancelled) with a round mirror and vent windows.

Does anyone have a canadian parts book or a survivor 69 with its original factory installed remote mirror (my 2+2 has a manual mirror)?

You've got me a bit confused, as you mention non manual outside mirror, then remote mirror. I figure there are 2 types of mirrors, a manual, and a remote. A non manual would be a remote. Can you offer clarification?

North · Guru

Sorry, meant to say non-remote or manual and I blended both, probably due to blended whisky

gtodrive · Guru

So, my 2+2 was equipped with the D33 option, remote control outside LH rear view mirror. The first picture is the control bezel that was mounted on the door panel. The previous owner put dual sport mirrors on the car and I am leaving it as is. The second picture is from the assembly manual, however, this was cancelled and they were installed at the Fisher Body Plant. The date on this sheet is 1968. I have never seen a round mirror on a '69 American Pontiac. I am not sure if Canada used round ones or not? The bezel that was on my car, matches what was used for rectangular mirrors, on American Pontiacs. The bezel shown in this diagram is not what was installed on my car. I hope I have added a bit of clarity, but probably not. confuse

North · Guru

I saw that page, it's the old page, hence marked "CANCELLED". If you look it's clearly for the 67-68 style (round mirror, vent windows etc). Your first pic of the oval shaped bezel is the US Pontiac version used on all 69 cars that didn't have vent windows and it was new that year. The straight out style control bezel shown in the schematic was still used on 69 Pontiacs that still had vent windows (only A body with 4 doors, 2 door posts and wagons).

The US assembly manual is also missing the correct page for the correct 69 remote mirror.

-- Edited by North on Wednesday 29th of December 2021 03:22:02 PM

gtodrive · Guru

North wrote:
I saw that page, it's the old page, hence marked "CANCELLED". If you look it's clearly for the 76-68 style (round mirror, vent windows etc). Your first pic of the oval shaped bezel is the US Pontiac version used on all 69 cars that didn't have vent windows and it was new that year. The straight out style control bezel shown in the schematic was still used on 69 Pontiacs that still had vent windows (only A body with 4 doors, 2 door posts and wagons).

The US assembly manual is also missing the correct page for the correct 69 remote mirror.

All I know for sure, is the door panel and remote mirror bezel on my car were original and are what came with the car from the factory.

seventy2plus2 · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

The remote mirror on your 1969 would be the same as my 1970's.

gtodrive · Guru

This might clear it up. The escutcheon, according to the part number shown here, is the one I showed a picture of before. Outside mirror would be rectangular or the same as used on the American models.