Mine is broken on my 68.. The handle is gone.. Is it like the 69 with the rod,??... I have one that has a flat ' L ' shaped handle, but the big spring at the top of the handle is rusted and pitted real bad and I'm afraid it has a very limited life expectancy.. If this flat handled one is correct for the 68, can I get a new spring for it,??.,. Does anyone have a pic of the 68,, I know what the 69 looks like.. or is there a site I can go to to see a exploded view of it,??.. I hope you all don't mind all of these questions I have, but I have alot to do to these cars.. Thanks again for any help..

The flat handle is correct for '68.

You can find a lot of photos and manuals in the Library. http://thefirstgensite.com/library/librarydex.htm

I have the same problem, I have to reach my arm all the way up to my shoulder to release it. The good part about it is most people would have no idea how to get the hood open.

Thanks Vikki.. I looked in the "Pontiac Illustrated Parts Index".. under front sheet metal, and it showed the 69 handle.. Whats up with that,.??. .. I checked in the 'Ames' book and classic industries.. I could'nt find a repop.. I just can't believe they don't make a repair kit or a repop for the 68 firebirds.. ..

You can buy complete '68 hood latch assemblies, just not sure where...

I'd take a pic but everything is still snowed in up here.

The parts index covers a lot of years in a generic fashion. The '68 service manual may do a better job.

As far as I know these hood latches aren´t reproduced yet but you often find them on ebay in different conditions, ranging from mediocre to bad...
Here´s the 68 hood latch shown on it´s own (it´s an used one after zinc plating, correct would be phosphated):


front view (equal to the 67 style):



rear view (different from 67 style and will fit 68+69 hoods only but 69 style will show a different handle and a different valance support - the latter one not shown on this pic):

Here´s one still running on ebay:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1968-1967...1QQcmdZViewItem

(BTW - there´s wrong info: it won´t fit a correct 67 hood because of a different hood latch receiver - I learned it the hard way... This type of security latch will fit a 68 + 69 hood only, both spotting a slightly angled receiver).

Ask Terry or Firebird Bill, they sure will have one in stock...

did you find your handle?

Vikki was correct - there´s a new repro hood latch out now, offered for '68-'70 Pontiac GTOs and '70-'81 Pontiac Firebirds and Trans Ams but the latch itself looks like fitting 68 and 69 Firebirds, too.
In contrast to the correct 67/68/69 hood latches there´s no pre-installed handle; you obviously can screw in whatever handle will fit:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=170202488045&ssPageName=MERC_VIC_ReBay_Pr4_PcY_BIN_IT&refitem=170200694210&itemcount=4&refwidgetloc=closed_view_item&usedrule1=CategoryProximity&refwidgettype=cross_promot_widget&_trksid=p284.m183&_trkparms=its%3DS%252BI

Not sure if it shows the same dimensions and if it really would fit a 68/69 Firebird hood but at $11.99 starting bid it should be worth a try...

cool just checking because i have 1 extra

Here is a comparison of the 67 and 68 latches...hope it helps