Locking hoodlatch question
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Senior User
Joined: Nov 2003
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Locking hoodlatch question
Anyone installed a locking hoodlatch to keep people out. I'm concerned some about the area I'll be staying at while I'm at the Nascar Tech and I have quite abit of money under the hood. Will a newer F-series latch work the same or need I modify mine or what? Just lookin for a simple junkyard solution.
Posting Guru
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 1,133
Likes: 3
From: Dracut, Massachusetts
the best thing to do is find a locking latch from one of these year trucks. i personally have 2 and i let another one go. they arent that hard to find. most ranger+ had them. check ebay i see them on there from time to time. or you could go cheepo and weld a chain to the hood, and then put a pad lock on the end of it, attached to the core support. it does work, but its a PITA!!!
More Turbo
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 736
Likes: 3
From: South East, Michigan
e-bay is a good source, I've seen a couple on there in the last week or so.. If you have a good "pick n pull" yard in your area thats a good choice too. Most all of the 78 and 79 Broncos had them installed from the factory with the same key as the ign. and doors. This is a direct bolt in for your truck also. Make sure you get all the bolts, screws, the cable and the key if you choose a "pick n pull".
Post Fiend
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 11,945
Likes: 3
From: Spokane, WA
I bought one off ebay for $25 a while back. I've installed the latch but not the cable (I'm lazy that way) so I have no cover plate on the latch, I can reach in there and pop both levers separately to open it. Even at that it's very tricky and I'm the only one who's figured out how to open it.
Anyhoo check ebay, there aren't any listed now that I could find but they pop up all the time. Also check your junkyard. What's cool about the stock Ford cable latches is they use a lock and key in the cab too so even if someone breaks in they can't get the hood open. Here's what the cable portion looks like (this didn't have the latch with it):http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...spagename=WDVW
Anyhoo check ebay, there aren't any listed now that I could find but they pop up all the time. Also check your junkyard. What's cool about the stock Ford cable latches is they use a lock and key in the cab too so even if someone breaks in they can't get the hood open. Here's what the cable portion looks like (this didn't have the latch with it):http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...spagename=WDVW
Junior User
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 54
Likes: 0
From: Norfolk, VA
If you're running short of Ford Trucks/Broncos, also check the vans. I have found some vans down here in TX that had them as an option and they are the same that were used in the Trucks & Broncos as far as I can tell.
You just need to Grab the Cable, with should be attached to the latch that you will need to mount in the cab to pull. The latch should have a locking mechanism in it that accepts a key. Like previously mentouned make sure to grab the key as well, although I've found ina few instances that a different key can be used if jiggled into the right position.
You will also need to grab the whole hood latch, along with the plate that keeps people from mucking with the cable. I've seen prices on eBay that have almost made me want to go into business selling these latches ($60.00+), while I got mine @ a junkyard (Pick N' Pull @ San Antonio) for around $20.00.
You just need to Grab the Cable, with should be attached to the latch that you will need to mount in the cab to pull. The latch should have a locking mechanism in it that accepts a key. Like previously mentouned make sure to grab the key as well, although I've found ina few instances that a different key can be used if jiggled into the right position.
You will also need to grab the whole hood latch, along with the plate that keeps people from mucking with the cable. I've seen prices on eBay that have almost made me want to go into business selling these latches ($60.00+), while I got mine @ a junkyard (Pick N' Pull @ San Antonio) for around $20.00.
Lead Driver
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 6,619
Likes: 340
From: Albuquerque
They are available new from some of the aftermarket suppliers. Try the link below for sponsors. They aren't cheap new though.
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FTE Chapter Leader
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 3,322
Likes: 20
From: Rhode Island
for one of my trucks, I grabbed the locking latch out of a ford van . Not sure of the year. just look at the latch. It looks exactly the same as the non locking one.
As far as the cable. I grabbed a non-keyed cable out of a 80-86 ford truck. The cable assembly will work just fine with the earlier latch assembly.
As far as the cable. I grabbed a non-keyed cable out of a 80-86 ford truck. The cable assembly will work just fine with the earlier latch assembly.
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