Finally, I have a use for my "smart" phone

[oldguy668]

I decided AFTER I did my trunk aluminum that I wanted a remote trunk latch. I will not be using the FFR latch and the license plate will be on the bumper, so the bump will be exorcised from the lid. Now I have to hire a dwarf to stay inside the trunk so I can design and install the VW latch system OR I can find a camera that will bluetooth real time video to my Iphone. Any ideas?

PS: I just need the camera. I already have a dwarf.

[David Hodgkins]

Wait. What?

:)

[michael everson]

Joe if you have 2 apple devices just use Face time. I have to do that from time to time to adjust trunk latches.
Mike

[oldguy668]

Mike, you're a freaking genius. I never even thought that I would have a bonafide use for TWO of these insidious devices.

Dave, it's all good. I just want to be able to see what's going on inside the trunk. No dwarfs will be harmed.

[edwardb]

Did something similar locating the switch for my trunk light. Almost every camera or smartphone has a timed shutter release. 10 seconds or whatever. I positioned the camera inside the trunk pointed to the area in question. Then started the shutter countdown, closed the lid, and waited for the flash. Then noted the position of the hinge, switch, etc. that I was working on. Took a few times, but got exactly what I needed.

[DaleG]

Great idea! I also am installing a remote trunk latch (maybe cable operated) and was pondering how I would eyeball adjustments; same with the trunk light. Thanks.

[frankeeski]

You guys are way over thinking this. Follow the link.
http://thefactoryfiveforum.com/showthread.php?12909-MKIV-Trunk-Lid-on-a-MK3-How-To

[oldguy668]

Overthinking? I'm putting a VW latch in an FIA body. I have no starting point. I need a height for the latch and strike and then I need to figure out the fore-and-aft and side to side locations. I should have done it before the aluminum went in, but now the camera is my only option. This ain't my first rodeo.

[edwardb]

I forgot that I saved a few of the pics I made with the trunk lid closed. Here they are just for grins. The goal here was to install a switch for the trunk light, e.g. turn on when the trunk lid was opened. I decided a NC momentary switch could be mounted behind one of the trunk hinges, right up against the top of the body, and could be pushed open when the lid closed while still being up out of the way and also easy to wire. A more traditional pin switch could have been used somewhere around the perimeter of the trunk lid. But for several reasons I didn't want to go that way.

First made a card with some index marks and taped in the target location. Then propped the camera pointing to this area, closed the lid, and determined where the hinge fell on the index marks:
http://i867.photobucket.com/albums/ab234/edwardb123/Factory%20Five%20Mark%204%20Roadster%20Build/Final%20Assembly/th_IMG_3037_zpsm5vrh8du.jpg (http://s867.photobucket.com/user/edwardb123/media/Factory%20Five%20Mark%204%20Roadster%20Build/Final%20Assembly/IMG_3037_zpsm5vrh8du.jpg.html)

Then figured out the possible location for the switch, marked on the card, and confirmed with another pic:
http://i867.photobucket.com/albums/ab234/edwardb123/Factory%20Five%20Mark%204%20Roadster%20Build/Final%20Assembly/th_IMG_3039_zpsqbjnl5dj.jpg (http://s867.photobucket.com/user/edwardb123/media/Factory%20Five%20Mark%204%20Roadster%20Build/Final%20Assembly/IMG_3039_zpsqbjnl5dj.jpg.html)

Then made a bracket for the switch, using the angle and distance determined by the pics, temporarily taped in place to confirm the location and that it worked properly. It did. Subsequent to this picture, bonded the bracket to the underside of the body.
http://i867.photobucket.com/albums/ab234/edwardb123/Factory%20Five%20Mark%204%20Roadster%20Build/Final%20Assembly/th_IMG_3046_zpsulyrhdjm.jpg (http://s867.photobucket.com/user/edwardb123/media/Factory%20Five%20Mark%204%20Roadster%20Build/Final%20Assembly/IMG_3046_zpsulyrhdjm.jpg.html)

Would have taken tons of trial and error without having these views of what was happening with the lid closed.

[Scott L]

Too cool. This would have made setting up the latch for my drop butt much easier. At this point I am also using the camera on my phone to take pictures of where I park at the airport, and the room number for that nights hotel. It's not all bad.

[frankeeski]

Overthinking? I'm putting a VW latch in an FIA body. I have no starting point. I need a height for the latch and strike and then I need to figure out the fore-and-aft and side to side locations. I should have done it before the aluminum went in, but now the camera is my only option. This ain't my first rodeo.

So if this "ain't your first rodeo" then you've done it before? But you have no starting point? Joe, are you sure I'm the one that's confused? :)

It's not hard, read the thread I wrote. You did read it right? It really shouldn't matter which electric latch you are using (VW or Ford). It's going to go in the bottom portion of the center of the trunk. Start with the electric latch and center the latch mechanism in the drop down portion of the trunk. Then fabricate your own catch out of some steel rod. Weld that to a backing plate and use industrial 2 sided tape to line it up with the latch. This will allow you to temporarily line it up and mark it to glass it in. One of the pieces, either the latch or the catch is going to need to be adjustable, I chose the catch. One reason is so that it can be fine tuned to make it work properly to begin with. The second reason is so that you have some adjustment later on when the fiberglass lid moves, they all do.

[oldguy668]

The FIA trunk is configured differently than the MK4. I did my 2 previous MK4's before I put the aluminum in so i could see what the heck I was doing. The space in the FIA trunk is much narrower so I'm starting from scratch. Mike's suggestion was as simple as it gets and will cut lots of time off the alignment process.