On my 78 the handle for the hood latch comes through the grill and I would like to change it. What have you done to change your hood latch handle from coming through the grill? I'm wanting to change so I can put on a nicer looking grill and not have a grab hook sticking through.

 

At least yours was put where you can easily get to it,my 80 and the 81 i used to have,you have to reach under the nose,pull the handle with one hand,and grab the hood and lift with the other hand.You almost have to be a contortionist to do it haha.An idea i had,although i haven't gotten that far yet,is to buy a universal hood release cable,and run it inside the car like how the modern cars are.

 

I've grabbed hood releases from the wrecking yard and converted them to make cars remote release. Usually requires me to make a bellcrank to change it from pulling forward to pulling sideways.
Some of the cars at the wrecking yard have nice releases that pivot and make it easier to pull.
I've also gone the other route and converted cable releases to manual on cars.

 

seeing this topic, i would actually like my hood locked, hate the grill latch. ill have to browse around the pick and pull and see what i can find to make it work.

 

It is an added security feature to have the interior hood release.

 

Another way you might do this is with hood pins on the 2 front corners, I've seen guys put small locks through the holes in the pins, or like we used to do here around chicago in the "old days" , run a chain over the inner support on the hood and a padlock under the bracket thats at the bottom. The hood pins will keep the hood down, the lock keeps the honest people honest.

 

That is a 78 only item. I like it. Any 79 and later will be longer and have a handle on the bottom. I may have one I would be willing to trade. I like mine but its seized. Just needs a cable really. You can adapt a TA latch too. Those mount a "T" handle to the bottom of the bumper. I like those better than the 78. Look it up, it wouldnt take much.