Hello all, I have a 1978 Fiat spider that I have been restoring over the last year. Currently working on fixing bad rust on the rear upper valance. I have been able to get a replacement upper valance to weld in, however... my car has the key hole mechanism about 10” off center on the passenger side, where any new part I find has the keyhole centered on the part. To use this part, I would prefer to use this new location if possible so I don’t have to relocate the hole. The question is what I need to make the conversion.... I will attach pictures of my current mechanism, showing the 10” arm that allows the key to unlatch the boot. If anyone who has the center keyhole on their car could send some closeup photos of how the key mechanism is attached to the boot latch mechanism, I hope this will help me figure out how to proceed.
Thanks,
David

https://imgur.com/gallery/1rUbx5Y

Unfortunately many do not list the correct 1975 to 1978 upper valance that puts the license plate higher up than the bumper so there is no room for a lock above the license plate. Most sell the 1970 to 1974 version as fitting the 1975 to 1978 however you need to plug the hole for the lock barrel and relocate it to the 1975 to 1978 position plus modify the license plate mounting holes.

C. Obert notes some of this in their listing on FiatPlus:

"NEW - 1970-78, REAR UPPER BODY PANEL. 1975-78 NEED TO MODIFY LOCK HOLE."

http://www.fiatplus.com/1970-78-REAR-UP ... PANEL.html

I chose to weld in patch panels and maintained the existing upper rear valance on mine instead of replacing the entire part. It took less time and only took a few dollars worth of steel patch panel to do the work. Forming the steel was not that time consuming either and I got more practice welding with a spoon.