I got the new cables and have looked for a video or post in a few places for any install info.. All I have found so far is it is a pita..including a post that Gordon Killebrew took 3 hours at a meet somewhere to change them..

Any info fellas???

Craig

 

i just did this on my 85. i can help you. what do you need to know?



take off the dash panel under the steering wheel.


remove the wires from the clips on both sides of the hood latches. use a flat head carefully pry the little clips (carefully and with very little force!!) and fed the wires out. note how they are positioned so you can install the new ones.



then go back under the dash and used your flat head to gently pry out the solid plastic grommet locker pieces from the inside back out towards you, towards the steering wheel.

now pull the hood release lever under the dash and bend the wires to extract them out of the plastic handle. you may need to remove a metal retaining bracket using a philips screwdriver up between each cable housing. look carefully at how the hole apparatus is setup so you can put it back together.

now go back out and gently push the rubber grommet into the car. you will remove them by pulling them towards the front seat and out the door.

opposite to re-install.

tip for pushing the rubber grommet back through towards engine bay: pull it through from the outside wiggling as you go. then hook up the wires to the latches on either side. now put a slight (!!) amount of dielectric grease or soap on the plastic oring and push it in place. this should be the toughest part of the job and making it a bit slippery will make what has teh capacity to be a pita very easy.

DON'T CLOSE YOUR HOOD until you have verified that when you pull the hood release latch, the cables open the latches fully on BOTH SIDES. You will need to get another person to pull on the hood release latch, then YOU go look to see that they open the full amount.

if they don't and you close your hood, you are f'd.

personally, i have emergency hood release cables installed so i always have a backup.

any questions, let me know. take pics with your phone to help you remember how it was setup.

 

Thank you!

Just what I was looking for..

My large amount of broken bones makes it impossible for me to do this job..The mechanic that does the under the car work on all my vehicles said he would do it. I like to find any info to help him.. He is kinda persnickety about working on old cars and has little Corvette experience..

Thanks again..makes my day!!!

Craig

 

he should be good. not a hard job. just go easy on pulling the rubber grommet through and then put a bit of soapy water on the plastic locker ring that seats the rubber grommet in tight. That was the hardest part.

Getting the metal bracket re-screwed onto the hood release lever under the dash was a bit of a pain.

he is going to need light under the dash. i used my iphone light.

have fun!

 

I think the panel VikingTrader is talking about is the panel with the footwell light, not the upholstered panel under the steering wheel. I replaced the cables in my '84, but did not need to remove the upholstered panel.

 

yes theplastic one with the footwell light. sorry if my post was confusing. cheers.

 

just the kind of guy you'd want working on your corvette...i'm persnickety about who touches my vette....never someone like that

 

now would be the time to install the emergency release cables while you're doing this.....avoid being stuck with your hood down.....it only cost a few bucks to add the additional cables...

 

I already put the emergency release wires in... the cable broke last year..

There are no other mechanics around here that I would let check the oil..

He's a good mechanic..I get to supervise so that works for me.. I do small stuff when it's on the lift..so it's it is a good relationship..

My career was an HD mechanic.. In fact 5 years ago today a hit and run driver about killed me.. One year in rehab..

http://www.news-daily.com/news/2010/...n-hit-and-run/

Craig

 

I just sold my electa glide....I[m too old, it just got too dangerous to ride in the winter down in s fl....too many close ones due to idiots....in state and out!!!!

 

what happens if your cable(s) break with hood down? I see the comment your F'cked. How would you open the hood? Sorry, Im just curious to hear how this would be done.

 

You use "the tool", either purchased or home-made:

 

op said he installed emergency cable.....cliff's video shows the tool method..not very easy to do....emergency cables are much better.

 

I bought the tool when my cables failed. Cost around 25 bucks. After I got the hood open using the tool, I installed the emegr. cables. Took a while for the learning curve using the tool.

 

Todays update...

The mechanic is not working for a week or so....family illness.. then I expect he is gonna be covered up for a bit..

Sooo I decided to take my time and get started... the early 84 must be a little different.. After I got the panel out (three screws and a clip) I could not see where the cable went thru the firewall.. So then I took out a brace/bracket to get a better look..lots of gray foam hiding the cables..

I went outside and cut the boot off and pressed the plastic retainer inside.
Put a light outside the hole and looked inside.. cant see the plastic piece..

I am done for today as the sun is out and it's getting hot and my bones are getting real sore...

Tomorrow I am going to tape a wire to the cables and pull them in from the outside.. if I can see a way to put the plastic retainer thru and push it back thru I will..otherwise I am going to cut the retainer off and put some rtv around the boot..

Craig

 

the plstic retainer should come out to the inside.

I highly doubt it is different. There was a schwack of wires in the way of mine and i suspect you will get to it if you follow the cables from the inside back to the firewall.

Dont try and hold the cables with rtv lol. do it right with the plastic press fit retailer. put a bit of soapy wayer on it and it will press in while also pulling the rubber boot from the outside. keep wiggling and it will seat. my wife was gently tugging wigling the boot and i was pushing the plastic from the outside in.

dont shortcut. u can do it right chief.

if you have other questions come back and ask. cheers.

 

oh and as an afterthought,

try getting comfortable with the idea of doing most of this type of work on the car yourself. there are very few of these left on the road, most mechanics do not know anything about these cause they never see them and dont have the free time to visit the forum.

the vette shoppes charge too much to be economic for this type of repair on these models of vettes (for now).

anyway, this stuff aint hard...u can do this.

 

Once it cools down some tonite I will wiggle back in and take a few pics..

The cables disappear into some gray foam.. With a light shining in from the outside I can see some light but the plastic retainer cannot be seen..I might be able to pull some of the foam out of the way but it is pretty stiff..

Good prep work for getting ready to do complete weather stripping next... and yes I got the good stuff from Willcox..

Craig

 

wonder if somebody enlarged the hole, then had to usesome spray foam to lock the grommet into place??? ill take pics of what it should look like.

 

It looks like the car hasnt been taken apart previously...

I removed a bracket to move the wires over...

Looking closer it is not just foam it it a plastic backed foam...

Here's a picture..the hole is behind the plastic foam wall..

One cable is obvious the other one is at the top of the pic..