Stuck Trunk lid

[Mo_Gearhead]

My car is a long hood (1969).

During reassembly of my restoration project, the (not yet properly adjusted) trunk lid locked ...and would NOT open!! Read all the posts here, then pushed, bounced, pulled, jerked, (cursed!) unscrewed the handle at dash ..etc. (no help). You cannot remove the front pan on these cars as the bolts are only accesssible from INSIDE the trunk!

Here is how I got in. I pulled the rubber seal that seals the front pan (runs the entire width of front of the car) just below the hood. Luckily mine was new and did not tear (if yours is old, it will possible rip, so plan on replacing it). I could then see the two, front 10mm bolts on the lower latch. I was able to remove them with an open ended wrench. There is a third bolt you cannot access, but removing the two allowed the latch to "flex" a little. Then by gently prying up on the hood with a padded, wood wedge, I could just access the two, top latch bolts. As they loosened, the latch moved and the lid popped free!

Posting this as another alternative for others, but am assuming it will only work on long hoods (through 73)?