I have seen 2 different secondary hood release levers. 1 is push up the other is pull type. Does anyone know which would be considered early or late style? My car is a January built car

 

Hi Dan. There's a few old posts on this topic. I believe the paddle, push up, was the early one, but don't know when the change was made.

 

Correct. The paddle is the first design, the pull handle the second design.

 

Thank you for the replies, looks like I need the push up style

 

The pull style (called "2nd type" in the assembly manual) was added by revision dated 10/30/67. The paddle type was the first type. Core supports are specific to each type

 

Early design is weak. The weak link is the rod from the paddle to the latch. It bends or stretches out and won't de-latch. My 09C car has the early design.
Didn't know the core was different. Thought the change was limited to the vertical brace? But that brace is spot welded in. So ya.
Mike, is your vert an early car?
I know of a 10B Fremont car with the early design. It's a no hit nut and bolt survivor Cutlass S, Z code..the cowboys of GM. Im sure it took a week or three to filter out Rev A. It wasn't a safety item so Im sure they used up some remaining stock until the cut-in Rev B part was stocked...is my guess.

 

mine is a very early build and it has the paddle type also no shoulder belts.

Gene

 

No, later build 04C, but honestly the core support I have probably wasn't original to the car. When I got the car the end of the driver's side frame horn was bent so badly that I cut it off and welded a new one on. I'm sure the original core support was damaged beyond repair. The 68 Cutlass convertible that I bought for parts had the paddle type but that was long before I cared about numbers and I have no idea what the build date was.

 

The core support has two holes in the brace. One to mount the paddle and the other to mount the pull swivel. Pick a hole and mount your release of choice.

 

I'm pretty sure the the early build 68's only had the upper hole and no pass through hole for the pull type rod.

When I was building my car I had a pretty decent core support that I didn’t use because the latch assembly was the paddle type. I remember trying to make the pull type work and I couldn’t easily do it.

 

Mine is a late '67, 12E, build and has the paddle style. So far I've not had any issues with it, knock on wood...

 

I think you are right. The paddle cars I checked (five) had pass through holes, but two cars and the one convert (11C) had no hole. Still learning.

 

My core support came from a Vista cruiser as mine had rust where the battery sits. I can’t really remember which handle was on my car. My car Left the assembly line January 10 of 68

 

My 442 is an 11A build & it doesn't have the hole in the center brace for the pull rod. If I remember right from my other '68, an April 68 build, there was also a little plastic bushing that snapped into the hole in the center brace to keep the pull handle from rattling.