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Old Dec 4, 2007 | 10:13 AM
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Thanks in advance for your guidance and assistance.
I'm currently starting a restoration on a C-3 and the hood release is broken. The hood is locked down. Is there any "easy" way, or good way to get it open.
Thanks guy for your wisdom and patience with a new 'vette owner.
SkipinHouston
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Old Dec 4, 2007 | 10:29 AM
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What year car do you have?

Do you have A/C?

There are a few ways but it depends on what year you have because the hood latches changed.

Take a few moments to fill out your profile so we have some of this info before hand.

Welcome to the forum.
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Old Dec 4, 2007 | 02:22 PM
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I played hell with mine. I finally got it and have practiced it over and over so no future probs. If its a 76 lemme know as they change a bit from year to year. What I mean is I got several people with great advice but only got it open after learning from a fellow 76 owner who walked me thru it step by step and it was different from a lot of other years.
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Old Dec 4, 2007 | 05:46 PM
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Thanks for the welcome.
Details.
I'm restoring this car for a friend in the State Department who will retire in '09.
The car in question is a fairly nice '73 driver - T-top, automatic, etc. Nothing special and yes, I know about the 73's
The ONLY reason she bought a 1973 is because she graduated from high school that year.
Who am I to say?
What can I say?
She's a woman.
I owned 2 65's in years gone by, but this is my first C-3 (and hopefully my last) so I'll probably be asking a lot of questions.
Anyway, the hood latch cable has snapped and the hood is locked down. I did manage to get the cowl vent off this afternoon but still can't see where the cable is routed.
As always, any hints or tricks will be more than appreciated.
Thanks guys.
Skip in Houston
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Old Dec 4, 2007 | 05:58 PM
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Originally Posted by skipinhouston
Nothing special and yes, I know about the 73's

I owned 2 65's in years gone by, but this is my first C-3 (and hopefully my last).

I love the '73...what is it you don't like?

Anyway, so long as the under hood cable..the one that stretched between the two latches under hood, is still intact, then you can do it from under the car.

See, under the hood, the two latches are attached by a single cable that spans the width of the hood. This means that if you can reach up from the driver's side, from under the car, feel the latch, and manually actuate it...you can release both latches.

It's a tight fit with the brake booster there, and the latch in question will be in the corner by the driver.

Just jack the car up enough to get under it, reach up, and feel you way around.

If that span cable is snapped, the you'll have to go in through the cowl and do each individually through the small holes blocked by grommets. A flat head screw driver is all you'll need to do this...with a little patients.
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Old Dec 4, 2007 | 07:28 PM
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Welcome to the Corvette Forum. The search function is your friend on this Forum. Not many questions haven't been asked. Here's a thread that will help you.

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show...ight=hood+open
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Old Dec 4, 2007 | 08:31 PM
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Ya that was in response to my problem. I had to do something different. Accessing thru the grommet hole didn't work. The latch from inside the car to the cable in my hood is different. I had to remove bolts from underneath the car and the vapor canister and reach up all the way to the top and release the cable going across from the drivers side to the passenger side. The latch where the screwdriver trick works isn't possible on the 76. Pushing forward on the X opens it on a 76

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Old Dec 4, 2007 | 10:03 PM
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Originally Posted by rayluka
Ya that was in response to my problem. I had to do something different. Accessing thru the grommet hole didn't work. The latch from inside the car to the cable in my hood is different. I had to remove bolts from underneath the car and the vapor canister and reach up all the way to the top and release the cable going across from the drivers side to the passenger side. The latch where the screwdriver trick works isn't possible on the 76. Pushing forward on the X opens it on a 76


I forgot to mention the plate. It's easy to take off if you don't have side pipes. You do have to take off the rocker cover to access two of the bolts.
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Old Dec 6, 2007 | 06:55 PM
  #9  
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Thanks for the replys and guidance. I knew I could count on this forum.
I took the little grill vent off at the back of the hood but I couldn't find any of the cables.
Since you gave me all this good information, I'll be hacking away and see if I can get it done.
BTW, its a personal thing for me about the '73. I just like the original 63-67 Stingray bodys; and I hated the emmissions controlled motors.
But a man's taste in cars is like his taste in women. If you like it (or her), who cares what everybody else thinks
Thanks again,
Skip in Houston
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