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Old Jul 30, 2024 | 08:45 PM
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Default Help hood not opening

Hello Corvette owners I went to do some work on Mt 80 tonight freaking nightmare passenger side will not open. This happened about a month ago and I used the old cable emergency cable to pop it. Tonight I am yanking on it and nothing. I popped the grommet have used every tool in the box and nothing. Can anybody reccomend something I can use it is tuff to get around the wiper Arm and can't pry off. Any help would be appreciated I am pulling my hair out trying to get it open. Thank you very much for any help. Brian
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Old Jul 30, 2024 | 09:01 PM
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Hi Brian, is Mt. 80 a 1980 Corvette??
If so I think it's the same as my 77. Let me see if I can get some pics to help you.
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Old Jul 30, 2024 | 09:18 PM
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Brian,
Back when I had my 82, I took several pictures and a few videos of the hood mechanisms in action. The reason was to help me open them in the event of what happened to you.

If you PM me your email address I will send you what I have.

I recall I had to make a long, slow bending rod to go into the grommet opening. A straight rod or screwdriver would not clear the windshield. I think used some old steel brake line tubing. I practiced a few times.

Have you tried to pull the corner of the hood on the driver side while pulling the cable?

Darryl
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Old Jul 30, 2024 | 09:23 PM
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Don't know if this will help, but I'll try. OK.
Passengers side.

Looking at the latch with the hood open of course. note the extra release cable. Or back up cable. Think about adding these after you get it open. See the plug in the firewall?

Looking straight down on the release mechanism. The tab directly between the 2 cables is the tab you need to push straight down.

My screw driver blade right on the release tab. See the firewall plug. You want to go through that hole on a slight angle, tip of your tool to the fender. Handle towards center of the windshield.

Kinda blurry, but that little tongue shaped bit left of center in this pic is what you need to push straight down.
Hopefully this will help.
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Old Jul 30, 2024 | 10:13 PM
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Originally Posted by btwilson
Hello Corvette owners I went to do some work on Mt 80 tonight freaking nightmare passenger side will not open. This happened about a month ago and I used the old cable emergency cable to pop it. Tonight I am yanking on it and nothing. I popped the grommet have used every tool in the box and nothing. Can anybody reccomend something I can use it is tuff to get around the wiper Arm and can't pry off. Any help would be appreciated I am pulling my hair out trying to get it open. Thank you very much for any help. Brian
Thank you all very much the solid info I appreciate it. 🙏 I tried a hail Mary and had my wife push down on the corner while I pulled the hood release. Bam opened right up I guess it was not fully latched, I tried for three hours and started to panic. Ita Miller time. Thanks again Brian
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Old Jul 30, 2024 | 10:30 PM
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3 things.
1. Really glad to hear you got it open.
2. Sounds like the latch is out of alignment. Check, realign.
3. Install emergency release cables!
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Old Jul 31, 2024 | 12:19 AM
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Originally Posted by 4-vettes
3 things.
1. Really glad to hear you got it open.
2. Sounds like the latch is out of alignment. Check, realign.
3. Install emergency release cables!
Will Do good advice.
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Old Jul 31, 2024 | 04:46 AM
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Go to a Fishing store and get some pre-made steel leaders, the clevis end hooks right on the lever and let the other end hang out the grommet. They are thin enough you can put the grommet back on and they are coated so no rust...

something like these:
Amazon Amazon

60
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Old Jul 31, 2024 | 02:30 PM
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Originally Posted by 1860army
Go to a Fishing store and get some pre-made steel leaders, the clevis end hooks right on the lever and let the other end hang out the grommet. They are thin enough you can put the grommet back on and they are coated so no rust...

something like these:
Amazon

60
I will do just that thanks
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Old Aug 2, 2024 | 03:31 PM
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The passenger side of my 68 wouldnt release due to misalignment even with the lever retracted. Had a whole lot of fun pushing, pulling, twisting, etc. Finally popped open. I immediately adjusted it the best i could and lubed it very well. So far releases when it should. Had a hard time adjusting it due to 50+ years of the car being subjected to road hazards, accidents (?), aftermarket parts, bubba fiddling with it, etc.
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