Classic/Antique Car Repair: ford trunk lids, 1978 ford fairmont, ford fairmont

Question
Hi mr benjamin...I got a sweet 1978 ford fairmont. only thing is the trunk can't stay open because the 2 torsion rods have popped out of their notches. I  see clearly how they go but  don't know how to wind them into place, is there a special tool to use...I know packards are a bit different. but a torsion rod is a torsionrod.,,,oreo from ct.

Answer
These are indeed a pain in the butt to get wound up again, but I don't know of any special tool.  You just have to figure out how to grab the ends with a long enough lever arm that you are strong enough to wind it up and stick it in the slot.  It might make it easier if you use something like a long handled pipe wrench to grab the ends.
I had to solve the same problem on my 67 Imperial, it took 3 men and a boy to hold everything and wind up the torsion bars - and there are 3 different notches they can go into, I of course picked the wrong one the first try (the lid popped open so hard when I hit the remote button that it almost broke the hinge!)

Good luck, I wish I could give you some hint, but that's all I know about that!

Dick