48 Trunk won't open

48fordconv

Senior Member
Can't open trunk on my 48 Ford. Handle will only turn a little bit trunk won't open. How do I get trunk open?? It is a Bob Drake handle.
Thanks for any help
 
Can't open trunk on my 48 Ford. Handle will only turn a little bit trunk won't open. How do I get trunk open?? It is a Bob Drake handle.
Thanks for any help
i cant remember how that handle fits does it have 2 screws to hold it if so remove screws pull handle then insert flat blade screwdriver Z& turn trunk should open if not you will have to go in from rear of car
 
You may have tried this, but push down on the lid while turning the handle. Sometimes there is too much pressure making the release hard to turn.
 
Had the same thing with an after market handle a few years ago. the internals are not as sturdy as the originals. There is a pin in the locking mechanism that has slipped. If you keep working at the handle eventually that pin will break or fall out. Once that happens you should be able to pull the handle out and then open the trunk through the hole with a screw driver with a square shaft or something similar.

I checked this out too on my Tudor. There is almost no way I could figure out how to get into that area from my rear seat or any other direction if I could not get the handle off. . The cross members make the opening too tight to crawl through. I was happy that thee pin did fall out and the handle came off!
 
If you take the bolts out of hinges on the decklid you can raise the decklid up. Don't take the bolts out of the support arms. Take a ratchet with several extensions through the opening behind the rear seat. When I buy an old junker that I strip for parts I get the decklid opened that way. It will work on 41-48 Fords and Mercury.
 
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