UGH!! Trunk won't open

[fishy68]

I'm probably whistling in the wind here but does anybody know a way to get into the trunk of a 68 Cuda FB when the key won't open it up short of destroying something? I replaced the worn out and squeaky trunk latch on my car this evening with one that seemed tight and worked on the bench and I don't know if the rod from the lock cylinder slipped out when I was installing it and I didn't see it or what but the darn thing won't open with the key for nothing. The key turns all the way but nothing I do will cause it to release. I can't think of anything to do short of drilling the lock cylinder out and taking a chance of screwing up the new paint or kicking in the passenger compartment to trunk fold down panel

 

[Unconventional]

Did ya try pushing down on the deck lid while you have the key in the unlock position?

 

[CudaJunction]

Take the back seat out and crawl in the trunk and unbolt. Or take the back seat out and use every extension you have and unbolt the latch.

 

[barracudadave67]

Remove your rear seat, so you can get at the rear panel between the trunk, and seat. Get some sharp skinny knives, or something similar, and try to move the locks down, at the top. It wont be easy. If you get one down push the panel out, and put something in the gap, work on other side. If you are lucky there might be a gap at the top of panel, to work with. Any way you have to come up with a way to get thru the panel. You might be able to drill some holes in the panel, and make some room to pull the latches down, with a hook, or some thing. You can fill the holes after. Hope this helps.
Dave

 

[rustycowll69]

I think you could drill like a 1/2in hole in the center of the plywood panel, and insert a flat-blade screwdriver with about a 2ft long shank, find the center of the latch and gIve it a 90deg twist to release it. I bought a screwdriver like that, years ago to keep me from having to crawl in the trunk on regular (not pass-through) trunks. Afterward you can plug the hole with a body plug from the hdwe store.
Funny story, at my old house, the driveway was at a significant grade from the street. I removed my back seats in my 64 dart, and I was crawling in my trunk to unlatch it with a regular flat-bladed screwdriver. Evidently, I did not have the pkg brake applied(or set well enough), and I felt it rolling backward into the semi busy street in front of my house. I nearly filleted my back trying to back my body out of there, with those sharp-edged diagonal braces behind the rear seat back. That's when and why I bought that long a$$ shanked screwdriver.

 

[memike]

I had this problem in my 66 , I used a mid size regular screw driver, a 2 1/2 fool long plastic water line (1 inch line, and duck taped the screw driver to it, removed the back seat and reached the lock with it, the screw driver fit in the notch on the latch and I turned it i,, walla it popped open, sounds like the latch is to tight

 

[4spdragtop]

Tracy any chance a thin scraper will pry/pop the fold down panel?
Rear seat is a non issue. Its a fastback with fold down rear seat

 

[Tooljunkie]

The duster i got for parts has no keys. Dont need tail panel and chose to cut a hole next to lock.
Was concerned about crawling into unknown territory.
My dart has fold down seat so pulling panel was no big deal.

 

[Daves69]

I think you could drill like a 1/2in hole in the center of the plywood panel...........

Lol, right after I just made the panel that's what I did. Center of panel and approximately 4-1/2" down. Refilled the hole with carpet remnant. So now I'm ready for the next time........

 

[pishta]

Got a spare tire in there? Maybe through the tire well drain plug? That would be some gymnastics with a screwdriver or a hook to the privacy panel.

 

[diymirage]

i have the same issue with my issue BUT the fonzy approach always works

turn the key with one hand, gently tap to the 3 oclock position of the panel (with a closed fist) and it will pop right open

 

[TrailBeast]

Or take the back seat out and use every extension you have and unbolt the latch.

Been there and done that, and fortunately I have a 30" extension for bell housing bolts.

 

[4spdragtop]

I always thought the "fonzy" approach was sticking yer thumb in her bum? Always works for me

i have the same issue with my issue BUT the fonzy approach always works

turn the key with one hand, gently tap to the 3 oclock position of the panel (with a closed fist) and it will pop right open

 

[JDMopar]

I'd try Pishta's idea. Go thru one of the trunk floor plugs with a coat hanger bent with enough of a hook to pull the divider latches. You may have to work each side separately. I think I would rather mess up a trunk mat than risk screwing up one or both of the latches trying to kick the divider out.

 

[fishy68]

Thanks for all the replies guys. I tried everything I knew before posting this short of destroying something. Prying, pushing down, yanking up, you name it. Then saturday morning we went out to clean it up for saturday's cruise night and tried again with the wife turning the key while I yanked pulled and pried. Finally gave up figuring I'd mess with it later and I turned around and opened the driver's door and heard a noise and looked back and the trunk popped open all by it's own. LOL... This time I lowered the pass compartment to trunk divider before I shut the deck lid again in case it got stuck again. Finally got it adjusted and working right.

 

[gdrill]

It was merely testing you to see how strong your love was. You didn't damage or destroy so she opened up for you!

 

[4spdragtop]

I think the wife pranked ya. Any cameras around?

 

[rustycowll69]

I had an early valiant, which if you ignored stuff long enough, seemed to fix itself.

 

[Unconventional]

looked back and the trunk popped open all by it's own. LOL

That is classic I had similar issues with the Swinger. Just lack of use most likely. Hosed it out with Brake Kleen, coated it liberally with spray Red Grease, it's happy now.

 

[Bodyperson]

Ifenya was younger when you acquired the barracuda, you would have already hotrodded a remote cable into the passenger compartment to drop the partition. When the girl heard it drop, she knew where we were going.