Passinger Side Hood Problems - HELP!

[YellowRose]

After lubricating the springs, and cable on both sides of hood releases, we went to release the hood, after shutting it and the passenger side will not release.... We are still trying to get that side of the hood to release. I need immediate help if anyone knows how to get the passenger side to release.Thanks!!

[YellowRose]

Passinger Side Hood Problems - HELP!

Never mind! We got it opened. We took a 6ft long push broom handle, drilled a hole in the end of it, screwed in a wood screw, and snaked it in under the partially open drivers side... Then Rich snagged the bottom release mechanism that the cable attaches to, and pulled on it. That released the hood on the passenger side..

As suspected, the cable did not like all that lubrication after nearly 50 years of going without it and it broke... Of course, after we got the hood open, we found the two hole plugs that allow you to get to either of the hood latches... We could have gotten in that way had I known they were there! I took some pictures of our "Good Ole Boy Hood Release System" and will post them later on, along with a picture or two of the hood release holes you can get to should you have this problem in the future...

[YellowRose]

Passenger Side Hood Problems

I said I would post some pictures of the plugged holes in the engine bay that give you access to the driver and passenger hood locks. You will see several pictures, one with the plug out, with the plug in, with screwdrivers run up through the hole from the wheel wheel and pointing to the spring loaded latch on the passenger side. Pushing to the right on that latch will unlatch the passenger side lock. Same with the drivers side. We laid a wrench from the plug to the drivers side latch so you can see where it is.

Of course, if we had known about those two holes, we would not have had to resort to the Good Ole Boy trick we used to open the passenger side latch! Rich made it out of my 6' push broom handle, drilled a hole in the end of it, and put a wood screw in. With the drivers side partially open, he was able to push the stick in, catch that spring loaded latch, pull it to him and spring the hood latch free. Whatever works! Of course, after we got it open, we found the two holes, which we had never paid any attention to in the past! Now we know, and soooo do you! Here are some pix...

[Guest]

Yes Ford thought there might be trouble down the road and gave us the two holes,but as you found out there is more than one way to skin a cat
Great Job

[Dan Leavens]

Ray thanks for the pixs and also the " good old boy " way you solved the release problem. Over the years there have been many questions asked as to why, there are so many holes ( off the assembly line ) in the engine compartment. In their wisdom, Ford decided to keep us guessing and also to keep the cost $$$ down in production of these squarebirds. My personal favourite is the fact they decided to eliminate the rubber splash guards over the wheel humps to prevent " road crud" from getting all over the engine bay??????? That would have been probably $5.00 a pair.

Dano Calgary,Alberta Canada

[tbird430]

I thought they drilled all those holes out to save weight & give the Bird MORE take-off POWER!!! LOL!!!