Clamshell not unlatching on driver's side

[twobjshelbys]

All things considered im disappointed by Ford's lack of support for the gt

 

[Art138]

All things considered im disappointed by Ford's lack of support for the gt

There is a unit on eBay. Is the cable release kit no longer available from Ford?

 

[Howard]

Do you have a pic of your work around?

My clamshell release looks exactly like Tomcat's photo on post #38.

 

[Tomcat]

It is significantly easier on the passenger side after you depress the two tabs and release/remove the contact switch on the bottom.

 

[B.M.F.]

All things considered im disappointed by Ford's lack of support for the gt

Ford has actually done above and beyond any other make they have ever sold as far as parts go.. There were 3 engines in stock 2.5 years ago.. Imagine that, 17 years later and they were still storing oem engines. That's unheard of. They only have to support the car for 10 years. There is a lot of stuff still available to this day.. Some stuff is gone and never coming back but there is a lot they are still storing and still selling..

 

[B.M.F.]

There is a unit on eBay. Is the cable release kit no longer available from Ford?

Obsolete yes. Not a item that gets wrecked easy, except now IMO an item that 4000 cars are going to need in the future.. Or a fix. Maybe a person could have just the cables reproduced with the rubber grommets down the road.

 

[Art138]

Obsolete yes. Not a item that gets wrecked easy, except now IMO an item that 4000 cars are going to need in the future.. Or a fix. Maybe a person could have just the cables reproduced with the rubber grommets down the road.

Thx for the heads up; just grabbed a set while available. In the interim, I did the zip lock fix for piece of mind.

 

[twobjshelbys]

Ford has actually done above and beyond any other make they have ever sold as far as parts go.. There were 3 engines in stock 2.5 years ago.. Imagine that, 17 years later and they were still storing oem engines. That's unheard of. They only have to support the car for 10 years. There is a lot of stuff still available to this day.. Some stuff is gone and never coming back but there is a lot they are still storing and still selling.

Sort of. I get they have some engines. And a while ago you could buy a whole chassis but someone bought them all up. But those aren't the every day ordinary wear out parts. It's not those kinds of things people need. They need headlights and frunk/clamshell struts. Etc.

I have to say that Ford isn't alone. The Dodge dealer was replacing my fuel pump and in the process broke one of the fuel return lines or vapor lines or something - a right angle tubing connector that was molded into the tank. The dealer accepted responsibility for this and agreed to replace the tank. The problem was that Dodge stopped making this tank. Furthermore, there was no aftermarket one either. The dealer and I tracked down one at a junk yard that fortunately was not also broken (most are). If he hadn't found one I would have forever been MIL/CEL lighted with "slow evap leak" and failed emissions. My only choice would have been to sell it to someone outside the emissions testing area. (Reality is you can cheat this particular test, since if you reset the code, and are left with only evap, you can pass the emissions test here since you are allowed one not ready. Word is that CA is going to require 100% completion and thus Nevada will soon follow.)

Oh, doesn't the same thing apply to the FGT fuel filler neck??? Are they still available???

It's unlikely anyone here can profitably make an aftermarket solution. We've already seen the amortized tooling costs of the place that was going to make headlights blew the cost way up, and they wanted a pre-manufacturing commitment before they would do it and I still don't think they've turned the source on. While there is a loyal following in this forum, it really only represents 10-20% of the total, probably under 1000 cars of the 4000 or so. The people that aren't here don't know about it and there's no practical way to get them here to build up a base for this kind of parts supply.

On the other hand, solutions that involve off the shelf stuff, like O-rings and grommets, can certainly get traction.

At one time it was suggested that someone start a topic of "logical equivalents". For example, the side marker lights are the same as a Land Rover (?) and the oil filter has a BMW equivalent (throw away one o ring)... A/C compressor as I recall had a common equivalent. Etc...

 

[Specracer]

Sort of. I get they have some engines. And a while ago you could buy a whole chassis but someone bought them all up. But those aren't the every day ordinary wear out parts. It's not those kinds of things people need. They need headlights and frunk/clamshell struts. Etc.

I have to say that Ford isn't alone. The Dodge dealer was replacing my fuel pump and in the process broke one of the fuel return lines or vapor lines or something - a right angle tubing connector that was molded into the tank. The dealer accepted responsibility for this and agreed to replace the tank. The problem was that Dodge stopped making this tank. Furthermore, there was no aftermarket one either. The dealer and I tracked down one at a junk yard that fortunately was not also broken (most are). If he hadn't found one I would have forever been MIL/CEL lighted with "slow evap leak" and failed emissions. My only choice would have been to sell it to someone outside the emissions testing area. (Reality is you can cheat this particular test, since if you reset the code, and are left with only evap, you can pass the emissions test here since you are allowed one not ready. Word is that CA is going to require 100% completion and thus Nevada will soon follow.)

Oh, doesn't the same thing apply to the FGT fuel filler neck??? Are they still available???

It's unlikely anyone here can profitably make an aftermarket solution. We've already seen the amortized tooling costs of the place that was going to make headlights blew the cost way up, and they wanted a pre-manufacturing commitment before they would do it and I still don't think they've turned the source on. While there is a loyal following in this forum, it really only represents 10-20% of the total, probably under 1000 cars of the 4000 or so. The people that aren't here don't know about it and there's no practical way to get them here to build up a base for this kind of parts supply.

On the other hand, solutions that involve off the shelf stuff, like O-rings and grommets, can certainly get traction.

At one time it was suggested that someone start a topic of "logical equivalents". For example, the side marker lights are the same as a Land Rover (?) and the oil filter has a BMW equivalent (throw away one o ring)... A/C compressor as I recall had a common equivalent. Etc...

Hmmm didn't you sell your GT how many years ago? Do you have another? You have a lot to say.

I have to agree with @B.M.F. Ford has beyond bent over backwards TRYING to support our cars. They do not have to. People bitch that they have to prove that they own the car to by parts from Ford. Why is this? So Ford can try to inventory what they can (vs a reseller with access to inventory buying everything) . Love to know the percentage of suppliers on the program that are gone, tooling, everything. The late 2000's took it's toll on suppliers. You can't get them back.

Back on topic, this has been great thread for things to be aware of, similar to the rear suspension boots that will, or have already broken down (aftermarket replacements are available).

 

[ByeEnzo]

Both my latch grommets are broken. Only the “donut” piece of plastic left on the wire on the opposite side of the fork from the wire ball (as in pics above). I will zip tie the wires. Thanks to the forum once again!

 

[Shark01]

I'll have the car out of the trailer tomorrow and will post when I take it.

Dan, did you ever post the pictures? Curious to see what should be a better zip tie application looks like.

Thanks

 

[Vincent998]

Ford has actually done above and beyond any other make they have ever sold as far as parts go.. There were 3 engines in stock 2.5 years ago.. Imagine that, 17 years later and they were still storing oem engines. That's unheard of. They only have to support the car for 10 years. There is a lot of stuff still available to this day.. Some stuff is gone and never coming back but there is a lot they are still storing and still selling..

Actually, the often cited 10 year figure for required parts availability is bogus. There is no such federal requirement, the ten years is "customary" and decided by the manufacturer. You can Google it for yourself.

 

[Specracer]

Actually, the often cited 10 year figure for required parts availability is bogus. There is no such federal requirement, the ten years is "customary" and decided by the manufacturer. You can Google it for yourself.

Which further supports Ford's efforts to continue to try to support this vehicle.

 

[Vincent998]

Which further supports Ford's efforts to continue to try to support this vehicle.

Has Ford made or caused to be made any GT parts since 2005-2006 or are they using up NOS? Judging from the number of obsolete or no longer available parts, it would seem that the latter is the case.

 

[ByeEnzo]

My car's latch releases appear to be OK. However, I agree that many more will fail in the future. I've been thinking and looking at the photos. I'm going to try making a 1/8" thick x 3/4" long x 1/4" wide rectangular flat steel shim glued to the latch bracket with weatherstrip adhesive so that it fits under the wire and which the ball just barely clears for its entire length of travel. If it works, the ball can't fall out. Gluing it in place with rubber cement allows removal or another solution if necessary. Other thoughts?

A wood block cut to correct dimensions could serve the same purpose I guess. Double sided 3M tape could hold it also.

 

[ByeEnzo]

I placed zip ties on both driver and passenger sides as shown in post #38 by Tomcat. Made the mistake of tightening them a bit too much. That put tension on the ball wire and decreased travel of the pawl that unlocks the mechanism. Clamshell got stuck shut until I had the Mrs. pull hard on the headliner latch while I coaxed the lid open. If you use zip ties, they should support the wire, no tighter.
I may try looping safety wire around the ball end and over/around the fork.

Has anyone installed a new latch cable system? How difficult, technically?

 

[Tomcat]

I may try looping safety wire around the ball end and over/around the fork.

I THINK that is how Dan (B.M.F.) did it.

 

[B.M.F.]

I placed zip ties on both driver and passenger sides as shown in post #38 by Tomcat. Made the mistake of tightening them a bit too much. That put tension on the ball wire and decreased travel of the pawl that unlocks the mechanism. Clamshell got stuck shut until I had the Mrs. pull hard on the headliner latch while I coaxed the lid open. If you use zip ties, they should support the wire, no tighter.
I may try looping safety wire around the ball end and over/around the fork.

Has anyone installed a new latch cable system? How difficult, technically?

Not the funnest thing to install but not the worst part on a GT either. just need to use vaseline where the cables pass through the rear bulk head.

 

[ByeEnzo]

I bit the bullet and ordered an NOS cable release set (including headliner pull) on eBay. Will keep as spare. Gonna try safety wire or a small zip tie on current setup. I’m probably going to unbolt the passenger latch assembly to gain better surgical exposure. Should be able to rotate it a bit.

 

[Art138]

I bit the bullet and ordered an NOS cable release set (including headliner pull) on eBay. Will keep as spare. Gonna try safety wire or a small zip tie on current setup. I’m probably going to unbolt the passenger latch assembly to gain better surgical exposure. Should be able to rotate it a bit.

I am thinking about doing the same on the passenger side. Driver side was easy. I ordered an OEM set but wandering how long those plastic insert guides will last. Those available have probably been sitting on the shelves for a long time.