johngammel

I bought this C4 emergency hood opening tool for my '88 Anniversary. I appears that the only way this would actually work would result in damaging/ruining the seal and scratching the hood. The vendor hasn't been able to provide an actual demonstration video of the tool in use or any technical assistance.

Who has actually used this tool and what was your experience?

92ragtop

Send it back, and just install some emergency release cables. Tons of threads on that topic.

waddiejohn

Install the emergency release cables NOW. I sure wish I had. I haven't found tons of threads on this subject but maybe I'm not searching right. I'm pretty new at this.

MITCH

I am surprised about all the post about this problem and tools and cables.
My hood got stuck and I took the wheel off and took off the upper plastic wheel well and reached in and open the hood by pressing on the latch end where the cable goes and it popped right open.
Hope this helps
Mitch

corvetteronw

Here's mine. Easy to do and inexpensive:

antfarmer2

I used stainless steel fish leaders

corvetteronw

Found this:

chadk

I really dislike the look of the "what if" cables dangling under the hood. I like your idea much better. Can anyone vouch this technique works?

How about preventative maintenance and inspect/replace the cables? Is there a common area where the cable(s) break?

antfarmer2

The fish leader tuck and hide

ghoastrider1

I have the tool and have had to use it a couple of times. This is a good video posted by Corvetteronw. If you take your time and DONT get pissed off ( like I did), you wont hurt the seal. Best to go past the the lock and then bring the tool back towards you. On the pass. side, flip the tool to the left to release the lock, same on the drivers side but to the right. I had to use it three times. Second was cause I tripped and caught myself on the hood..snap/clunk, locked. Cussing, I reopened it. Third time the wife leaned on the hood..clunk/snap locked. I then installed the emerg cables AND replacement cables. It works and is simple to use ...the second time you need it. If you lived closer, I would help.

johngammel

The car in the video doesn't have "fender" seals like mine does (see pic). I will give it another go and maybe have yet another person try it out. I do have pulls on my '61 but they are fishing line leaders and just blend in because they are short and just go straight back. The pulls as shown cut through the long seal and I likely loose a lot of NCRS points if I do that.

I give this a little more time and maybe have a different person try it as well.

VikingTrad3r

once u get it open, install the emerg cables and be done with it.

Goldcylon

The tool is time consuming unless you have a lot of practice. My argument is that if you cant get it open in an emergency its worthless. The cables that everybody mentioned already and that I have solve the problem in both emergency and non emergency events when you need access to the hood and the factory pull brakes. Just my thoughts

MavsAK

The hood release tool does indeed work. It will probably scratch the underside of your hood, at some point.
I needed it after mine snapped the plastic retainers under hood. Glad I bought it, I had the hood open in less than five minutes.
Definitely get some hood emergency release cables though.

redrose

'best' to get a fellow c4 to open his hood, 'practice' with his hood up so ya can see/learn.

PAINTER MAN

I opened the hood on a friends 86 using this method.