Here's the deal,

I was at a local bone yard yesterday looking for one of those interior hood release gizmo's for my 75 F-250. Although I did find one that was in great shape at a very reasonable price (providing that I would remove it myself). Problem is that it just happens to be currently attached to a 1981 F-150.

So first of all, what I need to know is can I use this type of hood release on my 75 F-250? The under hood latch on the 81 has a five bolt pattern and mine only uses three bolts. The 81 also has an additional manual release "safety latch" mounted right next to it.

Second, if I can't use the under hood hardware from the 81 on my truck. I'd like to know if there's any way that I can install the interior hood release handle & then connect the release cable to the existing hood release hardware on my 75? If so, would it also be possible to remove the existing exterior hood release so that only the interior handle will be able to release the hood?

Any relevant info would be greatfully accepted & sincerely appreciated!

Thanks,

Larry Bailey a.k.a. "75 SuperCab"

 

You can use the cable from that truck and the hood latch from a van around the same year. The handle from the truck bolts right into the dash of your truck and the van latch will fit perfectly on your 75 without any modification. You have to use the cable from the truck because the cable from the van won't be long enough.

 

Nope.

You can use the 81 underdash locking hood release in conjuction with the pre-80 locking hood release mechanism though.

How much do they want for this whole set up that won't work on yours ?

 

I didn't see any type of locking hardware on the 81 at all! The handle in the cab just said "HOOD" on it! Did they offer both locking & non-locking hood releases between 78 & 81?

 

You can see the standard locking hood release in my gallery.

the Evolution album near the last pic

 

I'm a bit confused about the conflicting information in the answers I've received?

One person says that the release cable & handle will work with a different hood latch?

"You can use the cable from that truck and the hood latch from a van around the same year. The handle from the truck bolts right into the dash of your truck and the van latch will fit perfectly on your 75 without any modification."

What do you think about the answer provided by 78f-150 Supercab?

Another person gives me the impression that it won't work at all?

"How much do they want for this whole set up that won't work on yours ?"

75 SuperCab

 

I did this to my truck, I know for a fact that it works. I think Mil1ion was disagreeing with something you said, not what I said. I didn’t get the locking handle though, I just got the one that says “HOOD” because it is much easier to find.

I think this is what he disagreed with:

"I'd like to know if there's any way that I can install the interior hood release handle & then connect the release cable to the existing hood release hardware on my 75"

The existing latch on your 75 isn't built to accept a hood release cable.

 

ok, the easyest way to find a locking hood latch, is to find a late70s-early 90s van, and pull the hood latch, it is the exact same part as the 73-79 fseries locking hood latch. now you need a way to open it, the vans cable it too short, so you have a couple of options, the hardest one to find, is an original 73-79 locking cable which has a big silver handle with a lock cylander in the middle. this part is, depending on where you live, hard to find. the other choice, it to find an 80s fseries truck, wich has the black t handle with HOOD printed in white on it. this has the same basic length as the 73-79s, so just hook that up to your 80s van latch, and boom! you have a hood latch that requires entry into the cab to open!

 

That silver handle with the lock was also avaliable in the 80's trucks. 1980 to 1986. It was part of the security group option.

That handle is the normal standard handle, without the security group option.

 

Very Cool! I can make that happen pretty easily!

I do have one final question though.

Once I've installed the "HOOD" handle and the "locking latch" on my truck. When I activate the hood release from inside the cab, will I also be required to manually release any type of a "safety latch" from under the hood?

Thanks for all the great info & especially for the lightning speed responses!

Larry Bailey a.k.a. "75 SuperCab"

 

Yeah, there is another latch you have to open under the hood as well.

 

also when installing the locking latch, make sure you have a buddy handy, thatway you can actually open the hood, untill you get it adjusted properly. its kinda hard to sit in the cab pulling the release and bang the hood at the same time

 

OK! Now you've got me curious about how to go about making the proper latch adjustments? As it stands right now, I've already got to pull the manual release handle while pressing down on the hood to get it to release!

Could this problem be related to the fact that the back edge of my hood near the windshield doesn't seem to want to line up flush with the opposite edge where my windshield wipers are mounted? Right now the rear edge of my hood sets about 1/8" to 1/4" higher than the opposite side.

Even if this is not the cause of my hood release problem. I would still like to know how to go about making the proper adjustment to realign my hood so that it sits at the same level as the other side when it's closed.

Thanks again to everyone for all your help! As I'm sure you can already tell. I'm not a master mechanic by any means! However, providing that I've got the ability to acquire whatever information that I may need. I am very capable of holding my own on just about anything that needs to be done on my truck!

That's the main reason why I love this web site so much! Seems like there's always someone out there who has already been faced with the same type of problem at some point in the past. The best part of all,is that everyone I've been in contact with has ALWAYS been very willing, if not eager to share their knowledge with anyone who needs help!

Gentlemen, for that you have my sincere appreciation as well as my respect for the level of expertise that you have acquired as well as displayed on these old trucks!

Larry "LB" Bailey a.k.a. "75 SuperCab"

 

As for the hood not popping. I loosened the bolts along the grill/rad support and give it a tug outward a scouch, it was the reveal line between the grill and hood that bothered me, not the hood not popping (got a double bonus). In so doing the hood now releases without the help of my forearm thumping on it.
A "little" oil on my hinges took care of my hood setting down flush with the cowl.
Got my van latch at the bone yard for $5.00, just need to get the t-handle position inside the cab determined and I'll be good to go. Any suggestions ?, knee/leg clearance seems to be my issue while shifting.
I have a couple pics in my gallery, although its a 1-ton dually i think its starting to look pretty cool.
Good Luck on your hood adjustments, HoBo.labo

 

Correct .....about that assumption.