Topic: HELP ! CAN'T OPEN HOOD !
in Forum: C3 Body
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Lifetime MemberModerator
Duncanville, TX - USA
Joined: 11/8/2003
Posts: 20214
Vette(s): #1-1974 L-48 4spd Cp Med Red Metallic/Black deluxe int w/AC/tilt/tele./p/w-p/b/
Am-Fm/map light National/Regional/Chapter NCRS "Top Flight"
#2-1985 Bright Red/Carmine Cp.L-98/auto
Member: NCRS, NCRS Texas, Corvette Legends of Texas
I think if you you jack it up, and get under it, you can get to the hood release. You have to remove the splash panel, and the vapor/charcoal cannister, but after that, you can reach up and get ahold of the release mechanism.
Joel Adams
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Adam's Apple is right on. Use a half inch wrench and wera a long sleeve shirt; you will draw blood. this will loosen the bottom part of the hood latch from the body. Then from the top just pull the hood up and pull the cable.
Finally, when you put it back together, install an emergency cable that can be yanked from somewhere near the left splash panel. If you have the extra cable, the primary one will never break again but may forget where the emergency one is.
Good luck! Don't use a hole saw.
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I just checked out my 74. If my hood ever got stuck and did not unlatch this is what I would try....
First knock out the plactic plug on the drivers side. Use a flashlight and you can see it, even with the hood down. It is 3/4 inch dia. Use a short screw driver or wooden dowl to knock it "in" and out. Use a coat hanger with a hook shaped like a "L" bent slightly back. It is about 6 inches from the 3/4" plug hole to the latch. With the hook pointed "up" towards the bottom of the hood, pull it towards you. This pulls the hood latch in the same direction as if everything was operating correctly.
Good Luck.......steve
Steve, Lifetime Member #129
74 coupe 4 speed 350, 54K actual miles,
all original; paint, interior, engine,
split bumper. #'s match. 2nd owner, no stress cracks.
I'll get it, eventually . Right now, it's a lil too cold to go messing with it . Also, it will be going into the shop for steering surgery, so, I might just let them take a crack at it ! I'm not using it much right now, so, I can wait a lil longer .
Too bad my signature isn't showing, or you could see the monster 
Lifetime MemberGreensburg, IN - USA
Joined: 9/24/2003
Posts: 5188
Vette(s): Previous: 1984 Silver / Charcoal Coupe, 1988 Maroon Coupe / 1989 Artic White Coupe / 2001 Speedway White Roadster / Present:1976 Stingray Black / Black, Auto, 350 slightly modified (355 hp) Luxor Wires Redline Tires. / 1989 Roadster Bright Red...
Bill, sorry about yesterday (bad day / long day at the office) Anyway here is the lowdown:
The coathanger trick works but ya gotta make it hook on both ends. If ya hook the cable in the areas of the actual cowl rise on yer hood ya should have both sides of the cable in about equal distance. Give er a good pull E-V-E-N-L-Y.This way will spring both sides latches.
Another way mentioned previously is to punch out the plastic grommet in the cowl firewall. Take an object and push the trip latch forward on the hood. This is the latch that your cable striker usuall pushes forward. By doing this you are acheiving the same method the cable would do when you pull the handle under the dash.
You need to fashin something to push the trip latch. I used a piece of gas line hose 24" long and was able to 'git er done' but had to use alot of patience and finess. I would reccomend using something more like a 3/8" copper line or something in a small diameter but stout enough to do a reasonable amount of pushing.
I measured the hose and it is 15" from the latch to the hoods end. It is a dead straight shot to the trip latch. I would leave extra length on the rod to have a nice working area for yer hands.
I had trouble at 1st using the latter method becuse I have a wiper cowl cover from Mid America. Once I lifted the cover and had better access to the hole it wasn't too bad. But its still working in the blind and takes some patience.
Good Luck!!!
The coathanger trick works but ya gotta make it hook on both ends. If ya hook the cable in the areas of the actual cowl rise on yer hood ya should have both sides of the cable in about equal distance. Give er a good pull E-V-E-N-L-Y.This way will spring both sides latches.
Another way mentioned previously is to punch out the plastic grommet in the cowl firewall. Take an object and push the trip latch forward on the hood. This is the latch that your cable striker usuall pushes forward. By doing this you are acheiving the same method the cable would do when you pull the handle under the dash.
You need to fashin something to push the trip latch. I used a piece of gas line hose 24" long and was able to 'git er done' but had to use alot of patience and finess. I would reccomend using something more like a 3/8" copper line or something in a small diameter but stout enough to do a reasonable amount of pushing.
I measured the hose and it is 15" from the latch to the hoods end. It is a dead straight shot to the trip latch. I would leave extra length on the rod to have a nice working area for yer hands.
I had trouble at 1st using the latter method becuse I have a wiper cowl cover from Mid America. Once I lifted the cover and had better access to the hole it wasn't too bad. But its still working in the blind and takes some patience.
Good Luck!!!
in Forum: C3 Body
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