Re: First Time Owner of a 1966 Toronado
Posted: Sun Jul 26, 2020 8:40 am
If you're strong enough to keep the release lever pulled (clamp a vise grip to it) with one hand while you lift the hood with the other, you might not need a helper.
But if the cable isn't fully opening the lever, you'll need to poke in there with a rod or long heavy screwdriver and move the release lever TOWARD THE PASSENGER SIDE to release the latch.
The click you hear when pulling the release is the main latch. It closes to the passenger side and opens to driver side. The secondary latch is a hook that retracts toward the passenger side as long as tension remains on the release cable.
As long as you're still pulling on the cable, the hood will probably open. My guess is that the little piece of spring steel wire in the pics above isn't popping the hood clear of the secondary latch.
Keep tension on the cable and lift the hood an inch or so to clear the latch then you can release the cable and use both hands to open the hood.
You can re-tension the spring in a vise or just pull up on it in place to get it to pop the hood clear of the second latch. I added the second spring as a bonus to really throw the hood clear of the latch. It now jumps up with a 2+ inch gap to get your hands in to open the hood.
Go to the Board Index at the top of the page, then scroll down all the way to the bottom and click on Parts Information. 1966-1970, then Body and Trim, then Salvage Parts.
John Dorcey has 50 parts cars. I'm sure he can get you a new hood release handle/cable etc. Get an helper spring too.
But if the cable isn't fully opening the lever, you'll need to poke in there with a rod or long heavy screwdriver and move the release lever TOWARD THE PASSENGER SIDE to release the latch.
The click you hear when pulling the release is the main latch. It closes to the passenger side and opens to driver side. The secondary latch is a hook that retracts toward the passenger side as long as tension remains on the release cable.
As long as you're still pulling on the cable, the hood will probably open. My guess is that the little piece of spring steel wire in the pics above isn't popping the hood clear of the secondary latch.
Keep tension on the cable and lift the hood an inch or so to clear the latch then you can release the cable and use both hands to open the hood.
You can re-tension the spring in a vise or just pull up on it in place to get it to pop the hood clear of the second latch. I added the second spring as a bonus to really throw the hood clear of the latch. It now jumps up with a 2+ inch gap to get your hands in to open the hood.
Go to the Board Index at the top of the page, then scroll down all the way to the bottom and click on Parts Information. 1966-1970, then Body and Trim, then Salvage Parts.
John Dorcey has 50 parts cars. I'm sure he can get you a new hood release handle/cable etc. Get an helper spring too.