Stuck hood
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 1,838
Likes: 13
From: Kingman AZ
Stuck hood
Could someone post a clear photo of the hood mechanism. I have a 1976 and cant get the hood open. Tried to open with a screwdriver throught the grommet but unable to do it. If I could see what I was up against it might make it easier.
Last edited by rayluka; Sep 30, 2007 at 03:10 AM. Reason: sp
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 2,220
Likes: 6
From: www.Z16.org North/West Pennsylvania
If your cable isn't broken, check the alignment of the hood. My friend had the same problem with his 76...I just gave the hood a yank towards the drivers side by grabbing it by the windshield. Pulled release again and it popped.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 2,740
Likes: 3
From: Aurora Ontario
Look at the first picture carefully. Notice the cable? You ar trying to recreate the action of the cable by pushing on the bottom of the tange. When you pull the cable the mechanism releases the spring loaded latch...see the spring on the latch? You need to stick in a beefy screw driver....about an inch. Push down and left (towards passenger side) at the same time. Do it standing on the passengerside of the car...use your left hand to move the screw driver. Push down on the hood with your right hand.
Jim
Jim
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 236
Likes: 0
From: michigan
on passenger side,push down with screwdriver, on driver side push LEFT and down. try getting the driver side first, if you free that one you may be able to lift the hood up enough to reach your hand in and pull on the cable to release the passenger side if your cable is not broken. good luck .You can do this---- just need lots of patience.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 1,838
Likes: 13
From: Kingman AZ
I start reading these responses and Im thinking...geez I dont need step by step. Just tell me how its done and I can do it. After reading the last posts, I actually realize I was trying the wrong ways. Thanks for the walk throgh as I wasnt thinking correctly while looking at the pics.I will re attempt this tonight after work
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Michael S. Palmer
Racer
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 473
Likes: 2
From: Champlin Minnesota
When I first joined the forum I read many post of people's cables breaking and being stuck out of their engine compartments, first thing I did was go out in the garage and practice for a few hours openeing my hood with a screw driver, I think I can now open the hood just as fast with a screwdriver as I could by pulling the hood latch.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 24,125
Likes: 15
From: Columbia Missouri
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 6,640
Likes: 287
From: Ann Arbor Michigan
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 6,640
Likes: 287
From: Ann Arbor Michigan
I just checked a couple of the parts catalogs and 68-76 have the same latches with the cable going across the hood. So the answer is no.
Here's the 71'. This is the latch you are trying to pop open. Note that the 71' has the wiper door and related stuff to make it work which yours doesn't have.
Here's the male part of the latch.
Here's the 71'. This is the latch you are trying to pop open. Note that the 71' has the wiper door and related stuff to make it work which yours doesn't have.
Here's the male part of the latch.
Last edited by Duke94; Oct 5, 2007 at 07:25 PM. Reason: Added photos
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 24,125
Likes: 15
From: Columbia Missouri
Do you have A/C? If you don't, from the passenger side, you can reach up from under the car and feel for the catch on the passenger side. It's connected via the cable to the other one so it will open both and because there is no brake booster in the way it's actually pretty easy to reach.
However, if you have an A/C box it's a LOT harder to reach.
Now its total closed. Last pic might be a tad more helpful!
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 1,694
Likes: 0
From: Oregon
ouch.. I had this problem when a new (less than a day old) Ecklers cable failed. I went through the two hole plugs. Took a while but it finally opened. Just buy a REAL GM cable when you replace it. Not a cheap repro that most of the mail order jippo's sell. By the way, I have a NEW OEM GM cable for a 1980 for sale. $40 plus the ride