Datsun Roadster Forum-311s.org

I am in the city tonight at a client dinner.

Try my e mail @ vincent.vaccaro@us.pwc.com and we can hook up.

Vince

Thanks Vince, I was able to get the truck open Saturady morning, Dbrick supplied some measurement and a visual over the phone that helped alot.

The same thing happened to me.......the lock lever was under the trunk latch and the key was useless. I have removed the lock and will try to rebuild it to remove the slop and tighten up the lock lever so it doesn't happen again. I will also install the quick release wire thru the trunk so the next time I'll be ready.

Gary

Thanks to dbrick for pointing me to this post in my panic on Sunday night. I cooked a big bbq for dad's day, then changed my carb floats and also changed the air fliter in no time, then I tossed my bag and leftovers in the trunk, jumped in the roadster to test out my handy work. I looked down to see a single key in the ignition. At that point my day flashed before my eyes... the drive to the park... the sputtering car (half sunk float), the run into my place to grab the original set of keys (I had made the mistake of taking the trunk key off the ring to open the door while keeping the car running) and subsequent events that lead to me not only lock my house keys AND trunk key in my trunk, but ALSO my spare set of keys. That takes talent!

Anyhow, I used a good solid wire hanger, and lots of patience... 45 minutes worth... I used the hook end as the business end and straitened out a good 14 inches below this. I could hear where it was scratching. I did the straight run up from the bottom grommet. I tried the license plate hole method for a minute, but it simply made no sense so I sent back to the grommet technique. Anyhow, thanks again... 2 peices of wisdom... NEVER seperate the drivers key from the trunk key, and carry a smart phone with a bookmark to 311s.

A real man admits when he makes dumbass mistakes, and especially if they're funny

learning a lot at your expense.... wish i had some advise....but i dont. if you have a friend that has a flexible scope camera you could take the taillight out and have a better assessment of what is going on.

Ha! In case I was not clear, it did work out for me after 45 of trying. But going in through the liscence plate hole did not work for me.

Taillight won't come out from the outside unless it's not bolted on!

shifty wrote:Taillight won't come out from the outside unless it's not bolted on!

Unless of course you have a 3 foot long stick handy, like Shifty.

I know this is an old post but I think I have the same problem. I just bought this car and when I went to look at it the seller had the trunk open, as we got ready to load it on the trailer the trunk got closed. When I got home I cannot open the trunk. The key goes in and turns (maybe not all the way but close to 90 degrees) but it won't unlatch and now the key wont come out. I did finally get the key out with the use of some pliers and can get it back in but it won't release the latch. I will try the wire tonight, but I was wondering if you were able to get yours open and how. Thanks for any additional help.

It's all patience and visualization, which is tough if you didn't get a good look. Anyone nearby with a Roadster, easy to practice with the trunk open..

I have added a safety wire , that hangs out of the truck floor through the rubber grommet.

Thanks to the Roadster community I now have trunk access!
Found the problem and will be installing the backup wire!

I know this is an old thread, but pertinent.
I’m a victim too now. Keys are either lost or in my trunk.

Anyway, i have tried the license plate hole trick with the bent wire, nope. I got no grommet on the trunk floor.

I’ve been looking for pics of the trunk latch but to no avail.
Theres plenty of pics of the parts alone, but none of them installed in the trunk.
Anyone know where to find some?
Thanks

Ran out and made a quick video on my 1970 roadster for you. I took still pictures but they didn’t help the visualization that great. This is looking along the back wall toward the drivers side.



The license plate hole really should work. Make sure you are putting pressure down on the lid so that it doesn’t take much force to move the latch.

Dude!!!! You’re awesome thanks! You realize you’re now the only one on YouTube with this vital info?
Great thanks