rcpilotp51

I know it sounds like a stupid question, but I was searching the forum and couldn't find the answer that I've been looking for.

Can the trunk open?

What i mean; is there a mod that physically opens the trunk after you press the release?

My Grandmother left me her Buick (we use it as the workhorse), and the one thing that I liked about the car was when you pressed the release the trunk would actually open.

Just wondering if I could replace the hydraulics or something, to make the trunk opening a more hands-off experience.

Maybe someone can point me in the right direction, or maybe there is a post that I missed.

Thanks
Keith

Jon316G

iTrader: (1)

There are aftermarket Electric Trunk Lift kits... mostly universal, never seen one for the RX8 specifically.
An actuator would be used to lift the truck lid.

One obstacle is the small actuator that is for your latch (that releases the truck when you unlock it).
You would need to engage that and then the trunk lift actuator and doing this with a single button on the remote might require some planning.

Here is an example that I found doing a Google search (very bottom of this page):
http://www.carolinacustom.com/pages/...inges_page.jsp

rcpilotp51

Thanks man, but the fact that the Buick does all this with a simple spring makes me wonder if there is a simpler solution.

expo1

The average age of a Buick buyer is 55, should Mazda gear the RX-8 to this DEMO? Get out and open the trunk.

rcpilotp51

HAHAHa ha uhh ...the buick is marketed as a luxury car...(no one said anything about buying one...my gma left it...lol) the rx8 is marketed as a luxury sports car...there is nothing luxurious about manual labor...plus i though it would be a cool project to figure out...

i don't see anything lazy with a trunk that opens, especially with all the work that will go into making the car do so...

When I do, you'll be envious...lol

Thanks for the comment though...anything constructive?

Socket7

you could get stronger hydrolic dampers for the trunk lid. then when the trunk lid release is pressed, the trunk would open on its own.

Sourcing the dampers might be a bit difficult though. No idea where you'd find an item like that.

rcpilotp51

thats the question im looking to get the answer. Maybe, another car has a similar setup but heavier trunk...might work.

StealthTL

iTrader: (1)

I don't think that even MUCH stronger dampers would open it. I've tried, when I made my own hydraulic hood dampers.

The 'pantograph' levers are just not set up for it, when the trunk is shut there is just no leverage to the damper - a thousand pound cylinder couldn't do it.

Always open to being proven wrong.....

S

Huey52

iTrader: (2)

LOL I'm 56 and I don't have too much trouble opening my trunk by hand.

Had an old Eldorado once and liked the way it closed the trunk for you tho' (ensured closure after lightly manual catching). Pure novelty.

Socket7

Hadn't thought about the construction of the mount... you could be right. You might need some kind of solenoid "popper" to push the trunk open to the point where you have leverage. Or redesign the mounts. maybe replace the dampers with a linear actuator. Lots of ways to do it. Personally, I'd find the method of least fabrication.

rcpilotp51

just now playing with my trunk...the route where something needs to push the trunk open would have to be the answer like a solinoid...i have some from when i ownd my miata...i have the automatic lock actuators (my locks were manuals...wanted the doors to lok with the alarm...wonder if something like that would push the trunk up to the right point


thoughts?

shaunv74

Seems like a spring somewhere near the front of the truck (near the latch) would do it provided it was strong enough. You'd probably hate it though as it would now require lots of effort to close the trunk.

rcpilotp51

i just tried to jury rig my actuator to see if it had enough force to even move the lid and no luck...that thing is meant to move a small plastic switch...at least it doesnt do anything with 12v back to the drawing board.

laythor

might look at trying something like this: http://www.autotoys.com/x/product.php?productid=2628

rcpilotp51

i was thinking that, but i would have to build a delay circuit...hmm

8 Maniac

iTrader: (1)

it is? I've heard it marketed as convenient and it has some luxuries as options... but I wouldn't quite call it a luxury sports car....

ken-x8

What year is that Buick?

I travel a lot and drive a lot of rental cars. Until a few years ago the trunk on most cars would open when you hit the remote release. I found that *really* handy when looking for my rental in a parking lot. These days most cars act like the 8 does - the lid pops, but does not lift.

Someone should complain to the industry.

Ken

kersh4w

iTrader: (3)

you drive an automatic, right?

and no, you are wrong, the rx8 is NOT marketed as a luxury sports car. the lotus elise, bmw m3, mercedes slk amg, those are all luxury sports cars.

the rx8 is simply.. "a sports car."

rcpilotp51

95 buick reagal custom

rcpilotp51

i dont give a crap about the luxury sports car crap...i was busting that guys *****...more interested in the trunk of the 8 right now HAHAHAHAHAHAHA

04RX8man

just hook a bottle of nitrous up to the trunk shock dampeners and when you hit the trunk button program it to shoot some nitrous through the shocks and that should it open it up for you

kersh4w

iTrader: (3)

just put a gallon of gas with a 5 foot fuse in the trunk. route the fuse to the front of the car through the pass through.

when you want to open the trunk, light it and and wait 30 seconds.

Pilgrim

Maybe I'm missing something here . . . won't you have to get out of the car to close the trunk, anyway? And won't there be times you want to punch the unlock button but not have the lid open, like in the rain?

Never mind. Think about an initial "kicker" to push it open a bit to allow leverage on the hinge, then fab a mount for a coil spring over the hydraulic damper to give it more push.

Pilgrim

monstermatt

I think the idea is that if you are carrying something you want to put in the trunk you could just hit the button and put the stuff in instead of trying to open it with your hands full.

As far as accomplishing it, I was just looking at my trunk and it appears that no matter how strong you make the cylinders, when the truck is unlatched but not opened the force of the cylinders is directed laterally therefore you would definitely need something to force the truck up before the cylinders could act.
Simple solution: A spring that would be compressed when you close it
Elegant solution: Linear actuator on a time delay