45 An Unsuccessful Attempt To Open Jammed MGB Bootlid

[enoorkoiv]

excellent video, as an owner of a MGB gt '81' and a' 77' midget its so cool to see your enthusiasm! especially with that lock!.  Cheer Alan Noorkoiv. Coventry

[vachief]

..Try this if your car has speakers in the bulkhead like this one....Remove right hand speaker....stick a trouble light through the hole into the trunk so you can see...snap off a broom stick about 3 feet long or use a piece of conduit...now you can push on the stuck hook. It takes a few trys to get good at it, but works great. Eventually I took a grinder bit on my Dremel and decreased the diameter of the catch loop. Now it unhooks quite easily.

[patgarity]

John, Wow! You are back at it! Here's how we did it at my old shop Octagon Sports Car Center in San Diego. Tap the bezel around the push button about 30 degrees (A proper lead/tin knock on hammer is best) drill small hole 1/4. Probe hole with welding rod till the latch pops. Tap bezel back into position. p.s. I am bringing back to life my old shop too!

[brava344]

Come on, drill the lock cylinder out.

[HayateAce]

Sometimes cars win, I'm glad you've left this up as it is very funny.

Good luck J.T.

[aluykx2]

I locked myself out of my trunk once, the lock had come loose on the inside and wouldn't engage with the latch. In then end by pushing and pulling on the handle from the outside (with the key in) I was able to force the part that pushes up against the latch into place. Basically keep trying and you'll get there. The locks are not very good...

[donthuis]

In support of Hitchcock1960: I once had the half circular wheel underneath the pushlock coming loose. After a lot of wiggling I was lucky it fell off completely after which the lock came out. And indeed, then it is easy to push the lid open with a bent pushrod made on my own. So be carefull: use Locktite to secure the small bolt fastening of this special part! Only when tightly fitted, will it push far enough for the mechanism to open...

[trollhunter]

Seeing a real expert struggle like this makes me feel so much better about all the frustrations I've had with my own old car. I'm especially impressed that he doesn't wind up cursing and throwing wrenches the way I do!

Not that I've ever had this particular problem on my own car. I just reach in through one of the rust holes...

[BigLisaFan]

Interesting that the MGB has a Midget luggage rack on it! 4 slats for a Midget, 5 for an MGB.

As for the tool, why not get it in place ready to pop the latch and mark the tool with some paint? Line the paint up with the sheet metal. This way you would know if you were almost in place with the other end as it looks like you have some room to play with there.

[wesleyanreject]

I was going to suggest the same this that STROVATO suggested about this. Do you read these comments so you can address these comments?

[hitchcock1960]

This wAS me fall '07. I tried everything in the video but also no luck. Advised by yahoo grp to drill a hole into boot lid just below exterior latch. But couldn't bring myself to do it. Finally broke down called a locksmith and he used a circular drill bit to reem out center of the push button. Then latch was visable. Then popped lid with a screw driver. All I had to do then was buy a new lock, (34.99) and pay him 95.00. What a nighmare.

[bshnabel]

I know you will get it to work sooner or later.

Happy holidays John,

[strovato]

How about sticking the camera (and a light) in the trunk to get a view of what's going on when you use the tool? Might be educational for all and help you see what's going wrong.

[overdrivegt]

I find swearing a lot helps......doesn't get the job done any quicker, but helps to vent the frustration. Ah the joys of classic motoring...

[natnadvideo]

John,

I realize it may have not been your intention but that video had me in stitches. It reminds me of the wasted effort I put into trying to replace the bolts on the gearbox mount. Sad to say but my gearbox is still just sitting on the mount with nary a bolt holding it in place. Frustrating as heck.

If you get a chance do a video on that little nightmare of a job.

Cheers and happy holidays John,

Craig Fowler

[capmconnundrum]

That just looks like the kind of thing you have to fiddle with. Thanks for the demo, and thanks for demonstrating patience, which is key on old cars :^)

[Pwl47]

Ah...the best laid plans of mice and men. It takes a man of character to air his failures as well as his triumps. :-)