#1  
Old 08-13-2020, 03:38 PM
Aaron65's Avatar
Aaron65 Aaron65 is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: Michigan
Posts: 216
Default Help! How can I break into my Firebird's trunk?

I put a new trunk lock cylinder in my '74 Firebird last month. I bought a set for the doors and trunk so they all matched. Today, I went to open the trunk and I think that somehow, the rod came disconnected with the mechanism. The cylinder turns and there's spring pressure against it, but it's not actually doing anything as far as opening the trunk.

What's the best way to get into this thing? Remove the rear seat? Can I even fit through there? (6', 180 lbs.)

Any advice will be really helpful.

__________________
1974 Firebird Esprit
1953 Buick Special Riviera
1963 Riviera
1963 Thunderbird
1965 Mustang
1965 Skylark Sport Coupe
1965 Dart 170 Wagon
1965 Corvair Monza Convertible
  #2  
Old 08-13-2020, 03:47 PM
johnta1's Avatar
johnta1 johnta1 is offline
Ultimate Warrior
 
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: now sunny Florida!
Posts: 21,237
Default

You won't fit through there.



Other than a locksmith, you could try using a long extension 'thingy' with like a flat screwdriver blade on the end. Hopefully the shaft is not in the latch. Or try to push it out with the extension tip or wedge it in the latch slot.

Twist it to open.

(have to visualize how the latch is hooked up and works)

Or try unscrewing the bolts that hold the latch.


__________________
John Wallace - johnta1
Pontiac Power RULES !!!
www.wallaceracing.com

Winner of Top Class at Pontiac Nationals, 2004 Cordova
Winner of Quick 16 At Ames 2004 Pontiac Tripower Nats

KRE's MR-1 - 1st 5 second Pontiac block ever!


"Every man has a right to his own opinion, but no man has a right to be wrong in his facts."

"People demand freedom of speech to make up for the freedom of thought which they avoid." – Socrates
  #3  
Old 08-13-2020, 04:01 PM
Sirrotica's Avatar
Sirrotica Sirrotica is offline
Ultimate Warrior
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Catawba Ohio
Posts: 7,194
Default

Get a piece of 3/16" long pre made brake line from the local auto parts store, flatten the end in a vise, or with a hammer. Put it through the trunk from the back seat and stick it in the latch, turn it and you're in.

I've also used hose clamps, or duct tape, to attach a flat bladed screwdriver to a long stick to accomplish the same results.

Your choice..................

__________________
Brad Yost
1973 T/A (SOLD)
2005 GTO
1984 Grand Prix

100% Pontiacs in my driveway!!! What's in your driveway?

If you don't take some of the RACETRACK home with you, Ya got cheated

  #4  
Old 08-13-2020, 04:16 PM
Aaron65's Avatar
Aaron65 Aaron65 is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: Michigan
Posts: 216
Default

Sounds good, well...not really, but thanks for the tips, guys! Why does it have to be the car with the smallest back seat that pulls this stuff?

__________________
1974 Firebird Esprit
1953 Buick Special Riviera
1963 Riviera
1963 Thunderbird
1965 Mustang
1965 Skylark Sport Coupe
1965 Dart 170 Wagon
1965 Corvair Monza Convertible
  #5  
Old 08-13-2020, 06:40 PM
242177P's Avatar
242177P 242177P is offline
Ultimate Warrior
 
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Vancouver, BC
Posts: 1,709
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Aaron65 View Post
Sounds good, well...not really, but thanks for the tips, guys! Why does it have to be the car with the smallest back seat that pulls this stuff?
Just think of how annoyed your trunk monkey must be.


The Following User Says Thank You to 242177P For This Useful Post:
  #6  
Old 08-13-2020, 08:52 PM
NeighborsComplaint's Avatar
NeighborsComplaint NeighborsComplaint is offline
Ultimate Warrior
 
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Elgin
Posts: 2,468
Default

My body shop went through this when they installed a repo decklid on my GTO. The original decklid had a reproduction lockset that I always had trouble unlocking. I would get a twist with spring-loaded resistance as the lock cylinder rotated with the key but I would have to do this multiple times while I bounced the car to get it to unlock.

They aligned the decklid, installed the lock and shut the decklid only to find it would not re-open.

The body shop found the "tang" on the link bar was thinner than the slot in the latch. It was rotating too far just to "take up the slack" and there wasn't enough rotation left to unlock. That particular lock just happened to be an inaccurate reproduction. I was able to purchase a different link bar that was thicker and solved the problem. I also compared the original latch to a reproduction to be sure the slotted nylon insert ( that accepts link bar) fit was the same.

In my case, they were able to take out the back seat for access and rotate the link bar

__________________
Triple Black 1971 GTO
  #7  
Old 08-13-2020, 10:24 PM
hobbygto65's Avatar
hobbygto65 hobbygto65 is offline
Ultimate Warrior
 
Join Date: Jan 1970
Location: Brainerd,MN
Posts: 1,767
Default

Last resort, drill out the lock and use a screw driver. Lock sets are really cheap at Rock Auto.

  #8  
Old 08-13-2020, 11:03 PM
ta man ta man is offline
Ultimate Warrior
 
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Clinton,Ontario,Canada
Posts: 5,348
Default

A long screwdriver would get you pretty close..or rig up something. Good time to put in a power trunk.

__________________

466 Mike Voycey shortblock, 310cfm SD KRE heads, SD "OF 2.0 cam", torker 2
373 gears 3200 Continental Convertor
best et 10.679/127.5/1.533 60ft
308 gears best et 10.76/125.64/1.5471
  #9  
Old 08-13-2020, 11:44 PM
Baron Von Zeppelin Baron Von Zeppelin is offline
Ultimate Warrior
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: North Carolina
Posts: 8,419
Default

With the rear seat out
and a good flashlight
you can use long extensions coupled together
and remove the 2 or 3 bolts that hold the latch adapter - that bolts inside the trunklid inner framework.
This works 100% of the time

So to recap - you are removing the upper piece that bolts into the decklid - that the latch assy catches onto.

Not the latch assy that bolts into the rear body panel framework.

You probably have the same condition that Neighbor had.

====================
if you can locate a screwdriver or whatnot that might fit into the link bar slot from the back side, like others mentioned, that is worth a try too.
Sometimes the rod is all the way through the slot or too deep into the slot and there is no chance to work with it.

  #10  
Old 08-14-2020, 12:51 AM
hobbygto65's Avatar
hobbygto65 hobbygto65 is offline
Ultimate Warrior
 
Join Date: Jan 1970
Location: Brainerd,MN
Posts: 1,767
Default

Have you tried pushing down on the trunk lid while turning the key?

  #11  
Old 08-14-2020, 07:39 AM
Aaron65's Avatar
Aaron65 Aaron65 is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: Michigan
Posts: 216
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by hobbygto65 View Post
Have you tried pushing down on the trunk lid while turning the key?
I did try that...nothing. The trunk opened fine until yesterday, so something changed. I'll probably tear into it tomorrow and I'll let everyone know what was wrong.

__________________
1974 Firebird Esprit
1953 Buick Special Riviera
1963 Riviera
1963 Thunderbird
1965 Mustang
1965 Skylark Sport Coupe
1965 Dart 170 Wagon
1965 Corvair Monza Convertible
  #12  
Old 08-15-2020, 11:23 AM
Aaron65's Avatar
Aaron65 Aaron65 is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: Michigan
Posts: 216
Default

Easy fix, guys...and I have nobody to blame but myself. I was able to open the trunk with a old handle-less screwdriver and a pair of vice-grips. When I installed the new lock cylinder, I used the factory-original lock rod, and the new cylinder was not designed to hold that style of rod tightly. So I just cut the aftermarket rod to length and installed it and it works well. It SHOULD hold together now. Thanks for the ideas, the advice, and the laughs.

__________________
1974 Firebird Esprit
1953 Buick Special Riviera
1963 Riviera
1963 Thunderbird
1965 Mustang
1965 Skylark Sport Coupe
1965 Dart 170 Wagon
1965 Corvair Monza Convertible
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -4. The time now is 04:12 AM.

 

About Us

The PY Online Forums is the largest online gathering of Pontiac enthusiasts anywhere in the world. Founded in 1991, it was also the first online forum for people to gather and talk about their Pontiacs. Since then, it has become the mecca of Pontiac technical data and knowledge that no other place can surpass.

 




Copyright © 2017