Hood Latch Tech Articles?

[DEEPWOODS]

I thought there was a tech article on a bone yard remote hood latch ,was it from a trooper ? I want to get rid of the stock latch so there is room for a electric fan Maybe it was on another bronco site? Anyone Know

 

[broncodriver99]

I remember it as well. Recall something about a VW Scirocco? I would be interested in it as well if anyone has a link. May have been a Bronco Driver Magazine article?

 

[broncokak]

I've thought of doing something like this as well, or at lease a way to lock the hood down.

 

[broncodriver99]

Found a link in an old thread here.

http://bronco.com/technical/upgrades/hood_latch.shtml

Appears that Bronco.com is down. Not sure if it is permanent.

 

[casadejohnson]

It was from a VW. I gathered the parts for it once at the junkyard and ended up not doing it. I felt that the VW parts were not very sturdy compared to what the Bronco has and the release handle was really a weak point. I have had the idea of using my old choke cable as a release since I went EFI but really I have not put much thought into the latch part of it. Perhaps its time to do a little junkyard R&D to get this together.

 

[broncodriver99]

It was from a VW. I gathered the parts for it once at the junkyard and ended up not doing it. I felt that the VW parts were not very sturdy compared to what the Bronco has and the release handle was really a weak point. I have had the idea of using my old choke cable as a release since I went EFI but really I have not put much thought into the latch part of it. Perhaps its time to do a little junkyard R&D to get this together.

Please. ;D

Do you still have the old latch? Maybe a picture of it.

 

[casadejohnson]

Please. ;D

Do you still have the old latch? Maybe a picture of it.

I think I got rid of it but I'm not sure. I'll be digging through some of my parts tubs this afternoon looking for my backup headlight switch. If I find the parts you can have them. I may have a photo, I think I had offered them up for free a few years ago. I'll let you know what I find.

 

[bmbm]

hood latch

I had a E150 that had a locking pull handle under the dash for the hood. Would like to have that setup for my Bronco.

 

[admin]

Found a link in an old thread here.

http://bronco.com/technical/upgrades/hood_latch.shtml

Appears that Bronco.com is down. Not sure if it is permanent.

Unfortunately Bronco.com has been down for several years now. Much of that info is gone for good.

But here's the text of the hood latch writeup that I had saved from way back when. Unfortunately they didn't give credit to an author, so I don't know who did the writeup. I don't think there were any pics. If there were I don't have them.

Internal Hood Latch In an Early Bronco

PARTS REQUIRED

1. Upper and lower hood latch (cable operated) from a Rabbit, Scirocco, Dasher or Fox.
2. Lever and cable assembly from a Dasher (or a Fox, cause I was told its the same length a the Dasher, a VW parts guy could verify).
3. Spring (Pep Boys #40552)

UPPER PORTION OF LATCH

Drill a 3/16"” thick X 1 1/2” wide X 8 3/4” long aluminum plate, in two places, in the extreme lower left corner, matching the holes that previously were used for attaching the Bronco secondary latch. Hold the plate with its two holes directly over the threaded holes that used to mount the secondary latch. The right portion of the plate will cover the hole that the Bronco hood pin/spring threaded into. Drill at least a 1/2” clearance hole through the plate, directly in line with this hole. Mount the upper part of the VW latch onto the plate with its pin centered over this large hole. . You need to trim about 3/4" off the left side of the latch to prevent interference with the right mounting bolt. The latch must be attached to the plate with flathead screws so that the top surface of the plate remains flat, allowing it mount flat to the underside of the hood. I used a 1/4” machine screw for the hole remaining in the latch and drilled two more holes near the left end for 10-32 flathead machine screws. Use another screw or bolt to secure the right side of the aluminum plate to the hood brace.
LOWER PORTION OF LATCH

An oval hole, matching the size of the oval portion of the lower VW latch, must be cut with a saber saw in the area where the lower Bronco latch mounts. I made a paper pattern and traced the outline of the cutout onto the sheetmetal first. Trace the hole to be cut so that the center of the VW latch hole will be on the same center as the original Bronco latch hole. Once you cut the opening and file it to accept the latch, the VW latch mounts from the underside. I used four 1/4” bolts, 3/4” long with nyloc nuts to secure it. Some slight grinding or filing may be required along the left front edge of the latch to avoid a tight fit against the backside of the grill. This will be obvious when you start to slide it into place.

I ran the cable all the way along the radiator support, though an existing hole, along the upper driver’s side of the engine compartment by where the jack is normally mounted and through the upper part of the firewall, into the interior. My ‘69 had an existing hole in the firewall and in the ‘77, I ran the cable through the center of one of the rubber plugs that holds the insulation to the inside firewall. After that, just position the cable release lever in a convenient location on the kickpanel and attach it with two sheetmetal screws. This is why a Dasher cable needs to be used, the Rabbit cable is too short to reach this far.

One more thing, the stock VW spring that pops the hood open a little after you pull the release lever is not strong enough to lift up the heavier Bronco hood. I bought a stronger coil spring at Pep Boys ($1.99), shortened it to eight coils and used it in place of the VW spring. Now when I pull the release lever, the hood pops up about 3/4" and makes it easier to reach through and release the secondary latch. The VW spring worked, and allowed the hood to be released, it just wouldn't lift it up to allow room for your fingers.

I paid $5 for the latch and $5 for the cable assembly at a junkyard. I checked at the VW dealer and they want about $30 for the latch assembly, upper and lower, and another $30 for the cable, so that's not too bad if you can't find one at a junkyard (Rabbit latches are plentiful, Dasher/Fox cables aren't).
Benefits

1. Theft deterrent
2. Allows room for an electric fan, I put in a 10" Hayden
3. No funky hood pins

 

[broncodriver99]

Thanks Jon. You are the man as usual. I remember Bronco.com being sporadic, but haven't been over there in a long while.

 

[Doyle]

I used the Rabbit latch with a release handle/cable assembly from a early 90s Explorer. Ranger should be the same part.

 

[HGM]

I used the Rabbit latch with a release handle/cable assembly from a early 90s Explorer. Ranger should be the same part.

Got any pic's??

 

[greatguy57078]

Let's see some pics and info. This sounds like another great mod!