jeromio Posted August 2, 2001 Share Posted August 2, 2001 Went to check my oil this morning. Broke the damn hood release cable. Ugh. So, anyone have any ideas? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DavyZ Posted August 2, 2001 Share Posted August 2, 2001 Jeromio, JTR recommends unbolting the hood from underneath and then very carefully lifting it just enough (from the front of the car) to get to the cable & latch under the hood. You just bought yourself some headache. Bummer. Davy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pparaska Posted August 2, 2001 Share Posted August 2, 2001 Yes, I did that to a bud's V8Z one day. Luckily we were in his driveway. Like DavyZ said, undo the hinge to hood bolts and lift front of the hood carefully. Try getting a really long screwdriver or something to move the latch arm that the cable hooks to toward the left side of the car (do this from the side of the hood on the left side). Oh, if it's a RHD car, do it from the right . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fl327 Posted August 4, 2001 Share Posted August 4, 2001 i did the same thing, one day i went to open my hood, and i pulled the dang hood release cable all the way to my shoulder trying to open that sucker!! what i did is a little bit wreckless but worked regardless, i bent up the driver side inspection lid where it meets the hood, opened it, slid my arm through, very painful might i add, and opened the latch, only to find it all messed up bent and broken, went with locking hood pins after that, and invested in a battery shut off switch... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drax240z Posted August 4, 2001 Share Posted August 4, 2001 Nice idea fairlady. Hope it never happens to me, I'd never get the 28" pythons in there! (haha) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest jcp240z Posted August 4, 2001 Share Posted August 4, 2001 I had this happen to mine. Easiest way to get it open is to take it to a lift. From underneath you can reach up on the drivers side with a long (36") scccrew driver or pry bar. You go in at a slight angle and can catch and pop the arm the cable pulls on. Took only 5 minutes once I had it up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DavyZ Posted August 4, 2001 Share Posted August 4, 2001 You trying to fix things with your feet again, Richard? Davy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drax240z Posted August 4, 2001 Share Posted August 4, 2001 Yup, I'm a Planet of The Apes reject. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeromio Posted August 4, 2001 Author Share Posted August 4, 2001 I got it. Drove it up on some ramps. Tried using a long screwdriver, but I couldn't angle it enough to pry the latch. Ended up using a smaller one and shoving my hand waaaaay up there. Took awhile cuz I couldn't see what I was doing. But, I got it. Now I have to replace the cable..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Anonymous Posted August 5, 2001 Share Posted August 5, 2001 quote: Originally posted by Drax240z: Nice idea fairlady. Hope it never happens to me, I'd never get the 28" pythons in there! (haha) I donno, I think I'd keep my python out of a Z's access panel. Sorry to hear your only 28" keep working at it.. Regards, Lone Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Mileski Posted August 6, 2001 Share Posted August 6, 2001 I have always added an extra little cable or wire and ran it into the passenger compartment where I could activate it if the stock cable failed. It never has but some of these comments shows its not a bad idea. Mike Mileski Tucson, AZ 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drax240z Posted August 7, 2001 Share Posted August 7, 2001 Lone, notice I said python(s). I like to refer to it in plural, as the sheer image of 56" is too much for most people. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeromio Posted August 7, 2001 Author Share Posted August 7, 2001 Obviously Drax has no troubles with hoodlatches since he can just use his python whenever this issue arises, without even getting out of the car. Sounds like walking from one place to another might give him trouble though.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drax240z Posted August 7, 2001 Share Posted August 7, 2001 Naw you just tuck it into your sock. Ahem. I was talking about arms... what are you guys talking about? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phantom Posted September 10, 2016 Share Posted September 10, 2016 It's a bit more challenging for me with an LS1 and a triangulated strut tower brace but the front hood bolts sound like a good start. After that I'm going to hood pins. It'll never happen again that way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
calZ Posted September 11, 2016 Share Posted September 11, 2016 If you jack the car up it's not too bad to get a long screwdriver or pry bar into the latch and just pry the release arm over. http://forums.hybridz.org/topic/107117-howto-release-a-240z-hood-when-cable-broken/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Savage42 Posted September 12, 2016 Share Posted September 12, 2016 Are the hood release cables still available somewhere? You'd think after 40+ years, they should be replaced, anyway. Either that or someone could likely make a good electric solenoid setup for it with a heavy duty actuator. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
calZ Posted September 12, 2016 Share Posted September 12, 2016 The usual places have "OEM" cables for $160+. Zcardepot also stocks a reproduction cable for $86. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Mileski Posted September 13, 2016 Share Posted September 13, 2016 Like I said before in my post over 15 years ago (#11 above), if you just get a 16 - 18 gauge solid wire, you can hook it to the hood latch lever and then route if into the passenger compartment or over towards the driver's side of the engine compartment, near the brake master cylinder, and then down near the frame rail. I did have a hood latch failure since my post above and all I had to do was reach up under there, find the wire and give it a good pull with a pair of pliers and the hood popped right open, no problem. This is certainly a lot easier than converting to hood pins. Mike MIleski Tucson, AZ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pparaska Posted October 9, 2016 Share Posted October 9, 2016 Mike - I'm not sure if I took this advice from you or not - that was a long time ago. I used 2 stranded 12 gage wires twisted together and did as you said - they hang down to firewall on the driver's side. They use the bracket for the gas pedal linkage on the firewall as a "pulley" to change the direction of the force from vertical to horizontal. Blue insulation on the wires means they are hardly noticeable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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