Hi...I need to find a way to pop the hood open on my 80 vette. When I pull the hood release, it releases the right side, but not the left. Is there any way to manually release the hood besides pulling the hood release?
Thanks for any help!

Have you tried having a partner pull up on the hood while you pull the release?

yep...sure did. I think the cable has broken or come disconnected somehow.

I finally got my hood open and sure enough, the cable across the hood that releases the other latch was broken. I found someone that had run into this problem before who gave me the solution to getting it open. If anyone out there would like to know what the trick is, just let me know!

Hey Scott...
glad to hear you got it open!
Why don't you just tell us, so if someone needs to know later, they'll be able to find it!

What you have to do is try too look under the hood in the wiper area on the drivers side of the car. Turn the wipers on and let them stop at the highest point so the wiper area is open. There will be a plug about an inch round in the firewall. With a long flathead screwdriver, push out the plug. You should be able to see the release tab on the hood release mechanism and then all you have to do is give it a little push. It may take sometime to finally find the right thing to push. Then either order a new cable, or go to the local auto parts store and get a standard utility cable or choke cable, both look the same essentially, and dont even now a difference...the standard utility is probably just cheaper. You can usually find them on the HELP rack if you have those. And also get a cable stop, which should be right near the cables on the HELP rack. Push the cable back up ! there, and through the latch system, push the stop down and screw it tight and cut off the excess cable.

Wish I would have seen this sooner, I had that happen last year to myself, very much a sickening feeling in the gut if I do say so myself. The driver side was free on mine but the passenger side remained locked, the cable was broke. I removed the sheild behind the front tire, three bolts, had the car jacked up, and I could reach up and push the ear on the latch and open it up.

Dave
Mr69vett

Thanks for the tip. I heard a bunch of people had this problem. I remember them saying they used a screwdriver to get it open, but I wasn't exactly sure how. Thanks again, just incase it happens, which I hope it doesn't.