Cant Open Hood!!
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 172
Likes: 0
From: Charlotte NC
Cant Open Hood!!
Hey guys,
Ive been in the C5 world for the last 5 years or so and just bought a '76. I brought it home and the hood release cable snapped in half. Any way to get the hood open without dismantling the whole front end?
Thanks!
Ive been in the C5 world for the last 5 years or so and just bought a '76. I brought it home and the hood release cable snapped in half. Any way to get the hood open without dismantling the whole front end?
Thanks!
Pro
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 577
Likes: 6
Luckily on a '76 the cable that actuates both latches is on the firewall. Assuming that cable is still connected to both latches you just need to reach the latch on the driver's side. There are several ways you can achieve this. First, you can remove the splash plate from the underside of the driver's side and reach up between the washer tank and brake booster and try to manually actuate the latch. This can be difficult. In the wiper trough on the driver's side there is a rubber plug that can be removed and a long screw driver can be fed in to push on the latch and release them.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 1,223
Likes: 174
From: Fort Wayne IN
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 3,399
Likes: 278
From: Olmsted Falls, Ohio
All good suggestions.
After struggling with my hood a couple of years ago I used a similar idea of the "emergency pull cable" given in one of the previous links. It is tucked up under the dash for future use.
Of course not that I'm ready for the next time, it will probably never happen again.
After struggling with my hood a couple of years ago I used a similar idea of the "emergency pull cable" given in one of the previous links. It is tucked up under the dash for future use.
Of course not that I'm ready for the next time, it will probably never happen again.
Advanced
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 89
Likes: 0
From: Toledo Ohio
All good suggestions.
After struggling with my hood a couple of years ago I used a similar idea of the "emergency pull cable" given in one of the previous links. It is tucked up under the dash for future use.
Of course not that I'm ready for the next time, it will probably never happen again.
After struggling with my hood a couple of years ago I used a similar idea of the "emergency pull cable" given in one of the previous links. It is tucked up under the dash for future use.
Of course not that I'm ready for the next time, it will probably never happen again.
er works.)
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Racer
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 417
Likes: 0
From: Red Deer Alberta
Pro
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 577
Likes: 6
I think pins are the next best thing to the stock latches but you lose the security of keeping others out of your engine compartment. I have always wanted to design a central latch of sorts so there is only one latch to line up, one cable, and one access point for emergency hoop opening.
Racer
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 458
Likes: 55
From: Southeast Ohio
After my 3rd cable broke, I went with hood pins. The other methods all work, reaching up from underneath, loosening hood hinges,etc. but if there is something like a carb fire or another reason you need to raise the hood NOW, The hood pins were best for me.
I installed my hood pins yesterday and it was by far the easiest thing I have ever done to this car. These pins are threaded the same as the spring latches and screwed right into place. The hardest part was drilling into the L88 hood, but it is done and I think it looks great.
I installed my hood pins yesterday and it was by far the easiest thing I have ever done to this car. These pins are threaded the same as the spring latches and screwed right into place. The hardest part was drilling into the L88 hood, but it is done and I think it looks great.
