Getting close to shaving my truck trim/handle on my 52 buick and haven't found the best solution quite yet ... Thanks Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!
I just used the stock latch and modified it to be used with a bike shifter cable to release it. I had it hooked to a choke cable before, but the shifter cable is much smoother and lighter to pull.
Hunted the wrecking yard to find a cable long enough, think it may have been a van. Cutoff the pin part of the latch and welded it to some 90 degree flat with slots in the plate to help location. Fabricated a lower bear claw type mount with a buddy in the trunk to help accurate location and bolted the whole deal solid. Still allowing some room for adjustment with slotted holes. Job done.
I have a remote release with cable back up from a 1984 monte. Had a plate welded in to mount the latch, rotated the body latch rod 90*, fabed up a cable attachment for the key slot to operate release. I guess it boils down to what you find and how well you can fabricate brackets to make it work.
Late 80s early 90s gm junkyard pick... maybe s10 blazer glass latch. I forget Has elect solonoid and a cable for emergency. Fabbed a mount plate with elongated holes for adjustments. Bent a 90 in some 1/4" round rod. Welded solid to the trunk after hacking the hole open larger. Wicked easy. Was gonna go with a mid 90s caddy pull down. Wasnt worth the extra work. Not pretty but works pissah.
Used stock latch mechanism of both 51 Ford and 50 Merc....just attach the pull cable to operate the latch in the correct location. Oh, and always use bike brake housing (nylon lined) and corresponding braided cable....(available in any lengths at your local bike shop)....you can tie this stuff in a knot and it will still slide in and out....! did I mention its cheap....?
Look for a late 80's to mid 90's Ford with a mechanical trunk/hatch release. I grabbed the cable and pull lever off a 92 probe gas tank door. The lever was mounted to the floor next to the drivers seat (door side) and the gas cap was on the passengers side. Plenty of length, clips, ect. Escorts and others had this set up too.
Well, if it was still the '50's you would go to the local junkyard and pay a buck for a GM starter solenoid then go to radio shack and buy a pushbutton for 50 cents. But I guess it ain't the '50's anymore.
Sweet. Are you using a cable to the front or just keeping it shirt under the trunk floor ? Thanks Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!
I haven't got anything for sure, but will probably use an electric solenoid for a truck opener, the doors will use them, so will probably do the same on the trunk
I used the stock trunk latch in my '55 Ford, activated with a trunk latch solenoid from a late '80s Buick Roadmaster. Many other GM vehicles probably used that same solenoid. Simple to mount and hook it up to pull the rod linkage from the stock latch. Do some looking at your friendly local Pull-a-Part place, there are probably umpteen different solenoids out there that will be simple to mount and connect to the stock latch. Either a switch from the junkyard or a universal pushbutton starter switch can be used to operate the solenoid.
The Jalopy Journal
