Hood Release Cable
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Oct 2024
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
From: Massachusetts
Hood Release Cable
Today I am trying to install a new hood release cable in my 76. I bought a new cable/bracket cable sheath and a new grommet. The hood release itself works as it should and the spring is strong enough to spring back when I operate the release by hand. As soon as I hook the cable to the release the release spring does not return the hood release as it should. The new cable is stiff and choppy even after lubricating it. What am I doing wrong?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2018
Posts: 2,315
Likes: 717
From: Marietta GA
My guess is the latches that are attached to your hood are causing some resistance. Have you looked at the lock units attached to the hood, is there old hard grease, are there springs on each hood mounted latch? Look at some illustrated parts breakdowns to make sure all parts are installed, Bubba likes to remove parts, or he will install parts from the wrong year car. Pictures may be your next move.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 2,139
Likes: 803
From: Chapel Hill NC
2025 c3 ('68-'73) of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2025 C4 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2025 C8 Stingray of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
I have found the hood latch springs on some of the C3s Ive owned needing fine tuning adjustment to work properly.
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 4,515
Likes: 5,083
From: Chester VA
The original handle on our '72, if I recall correctly, was some sort of braided wire, very flexible.
The repro I bought had the very stiff wire like you mention, and once installed in the car, it had difficulty sliding back and forth in the sheath and letting the release spring pull the release closed.
I tried lubing it, and that didn't work.
I pulled the handle and wire out from the sheath and ran the wire back and forth through a piece of rough grit sandpaper pinched between my thumb and finger, the intent being to ever-so-slightly decrease the wire's outer diameter, letting it move more freely in the sheath. After that, the release spring worked.
The repro I bought had the very stiff wire like you mention, and once installed in the car, it had difficulty sliding back and forth in the sheath and letting the release spring pull the release closed.
I tried lubing it, and that didn't work.
I pulled the handle and wire out from the sheath and ran the wire back and forth through a piece of rough grit sandpaper pinched between my thumb and finger, the intent being to ever-so-slightly decrease the wire's outer diameter, letting it move more freely in the sheath. After that, the release spring worked.
Safety Car
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 4,735
Likes: 1,635
From: Fairfax Virginia
I have found that using the Dry Graphite spray you can get a smoother action in the cable without attracting dust. I put it in the every in opening of the cable
On the hood latches that have built up crud I used a Hot Air Gun to heat the crud up which makes the old grease flexible again and you can clean it all off in a couple wipes. I don't like to use a heavy grease but I will coat the parts with light grease like Die Electric grease and wipe off any excess. A heavier grease will harden up when cold and that makes opening the hood a bit more challenging. The die-electric grease stops the squeaking that happens at the hood latches but is not heavy enough to freeze in place.
On the hood latches that have built up crud I used a Hot Air Gun to heat the crud up which makes the old grease flexible again and you can clean it all off in a couple wipes. I don't like to use a heavy grease but I will coat the parts with light grease like Die Electric grease and wipe off any excess. A heavier grease will harden up when cold and that makes opening the hood a bit more challenging. The die-electric grease stops the squeaking that happens at the hood latches but is not heavy enough to freeze in place.
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Oct 2024
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
From: Massachusetts
Found the fix!
Hey guys,
So nothing i tried was working to get this hood release to return to the in position. I tries graphite, white lithium grease, sanding and polishing the shaft behind the handle, i even replaced the hood release return spring. Nothing worked.
Today i was at the junkyard getting a part off of anotger 76. Next to it there was an 81. There was a hood release in it which was actually frozen. It is different in that its a coated black cable tge a braded cable inside. I bought it, brought it home and soaked it in transmission fluid for a few hours. I got it unstuck, cleaned it up, and lubed it up. It works perfectly! So, if you have this issue, use an 81 hood release cable.
So nothing i tried was working to get this hood release to return to the in position. I tries graphite, white lithium grease, sanding and polishing the shaft behind the handle, i even replaced the hood release return spring. Nothing worked.
Today i was at the junkyard getting a part off of anotger 76. Next to it there was an 81. There was a hood release in it which was actually frozen. It is different in that its a coated black cable tge a braded cable inside. I bought it, brought it home and soaked it in transmission fluid for a few hours. I got it unstuck, cleaned it up, and lubed it up. It works perfectly! So, if you have this issue, use an 81 hood release cable.
