I own a 1974 Corvette with a broken hood release cable. The car is not running. It did run when I parked it 9 years ago, but now I want to drive it again. Does anyone know how to reach from under the car to pop the hood? I have tried and have not been able to get it.

 

My '72 has a hole on the firewall on the passengers side where you can push out a plastic plug and use a long handled screwdriver or metal rod to contact the hood release. This is from the back of the hood.
Don't know if it is the same for a '74 but don't despair I am sure someone will give you more info. If you go back on previous posts you will find more info, I have seen it before.

 

Very exact thing happened to me about 6 mos ago. Took it to a body shop and watched them as they jacked up the front (high enough for someone to crawl underneath and have some elbow room), using a flashlight (shined it up in the hood release area) and a long thin metal tube, he crawled under the car (driver side), and reached up and pushed the lever (the one that normally is triggered when you pull the hood release) and the hood popped open....took about 5 minutes (that includes jacking it up).

Now, I purchased a C4 "emergency hood release" cable...you can get it from Ecklers, Corvette Central or Mid America. I have one attached to the driver side lever only, and have it hanging down (secured and discreet), so all I have to do in an emergency is reach under and pull.



Good luck!!

 

This works best. I've done it on a '72, '78, and '82 so far. You might want to consider attaching a wire to the latch and letting it dangle down somewhere you can get to it. That's what I did on my '82 the second time that happened!

 

You didnt mention which cable? Is it the handle/cable or the cable that connects the 2 sides?
I had the exact same problem a few weeks ago.. I'm not sure if your 72 is different than my 68 but I just removed the vent behind the hood and then I was able to reach in there and push on the release with a screwdriver.. By the way, you can get just the replacement cable/handle for about $19

 

Thank you to everyone that replied. I will try all those suggestions till I find one that works for me.

Thank you!

 

Haole, You from the kind?

 

no, but i go there often

 

Luckily GM engineers put holes in the firewall to get this done. I have had to do this more than once. First time original cable failed, second time replacement cable failed, third time the second replacment cable stretched a bit from use. It takes a little practice or time....I suggest anyone who has not had to do it yet, do it when you can practice.....saved my *** more than once. First pull the inside latch handle from inside as the latch closest to the handle shuold pop in most cases unless the handle connection is at fault. In my case, each time the far side latch was at issue. Take a medium length screwdriver and run it through the hole (long driver actaully makes it tougher due to the angle of windshield hit screwdriver). This is where it is a little tricky. Typically I stick my middle finger in the hole (no jokes here guys) and feel the latch mechanism. It is narrow and there is kind of a notch where the screwdrive needs to go. Once you think it is right put some pressure on the screwdriver blade and it should pop open! If you can practice, do it with the hood up so you can see where the screwdriver needs to go, and study how to trip it. It definitely helps to have a mental visual. I have done it now enough with my car and helping others that I can get it open in under 5 min. When you install the new cable there are a myriad of holes to connect to, so that can be a bit tricky. Be prepared that over time the new cable may stretch some, so check it regularly to see if you need to re-snug the tension. As part of my routine maintenance now I check this cable. The worst was twice I had to do this procedure at a car show for judging, and I didn't want them to take notice I had the issue as I could have a lost a point or two for this had they seen it. Luckily I was discreet enough and fast enough for no one to take serious notice. If you are just using your car as a driver or play car then the emergency release cables would be nice, but in my case my car is judged and I would lose points having those on my car, so you have to decide what to do. The release procedure is fairly easy once you learn. If I had a '68 I would definitely have the cables as Chevy learned they had that issue after release of the new C3, and didn't add the holes until '69.

 

I fabricated a hood release tool. Took a 2' long, 1/4" metal rod, bent a curve in the rod so it would slide down along the windshield and into the firewall hole. I wedged a small piece of wood on one end so as to have a handle to exert pressure. On my '72, the hood latch (on the hood) is about 4 inches from the firewall hole. With the hood closed, the rod can be placed in the hole and the latch is easily found - apply pressure and the latch will operate.

 

This shows you how to do it...

http://www.mamotorworks.com/corvette-1-0-3852.html

I had to do it on my 81

 

My hood latch wouldn't open once. I just drove the car up on blocks and from underneath reached up beside the booster cylinder and opened the latch. Not an easy task at all!! You can't see it but if you bend your arm just right you can get a finger on the latch to open it. It turned out that the hood latch had got way out of adjustment and wasn't releasing properly. I have long arms and was the only one who could reach it but it is possible.

 

When mine was stuck shut, the cables or latched would open it. It was pretty far off and jammed down so I had to go through the front grills and loosen the hood hinge bolts to get enough play to get it off. I guess this is last resort, especially since it means you have to readjust your gaps.

Sean

 

Gm put a little groove on the underside of the hood on the 71. Don't know about other years. It points right at the release lever. Would have to remove the grill behind the hood to get at it though. My 71 only has the hole on the passenger side for releasing the hood latch, none on the drivers side.

 

Thank you to everyone that replied. I found the hole in the firewall and stuck a piece of rebar through. The directions I had said to push the bar towards the passenger side to release the latch. On my 74 I just had to push straight in to hit the tab that popped it open. Non the less, its open! I did try to get my hand up from underneath and i could reach one latch but I needed to get to the other latch. I will be back on the road soon! Thanks again to everyone. I didnt know what to do.