Hood release cable question

My hood release cable broke on me two hours before the Portland Roadster Show. I managed to get it pulled out of the firewall, so now I need to replace it. This isn't a shrouded cable after it goes thru the firewall, and I was thinking about replacing it with teflon coated bicycle brake line. Anyone ever used this? I read about it being used to replace the inner cable on motorcycle brake lines, but don't know anyone who's done it. I'm just trying to think of something stronger with better flex capibilities than the wire thats in there now.

 

Any parts store should have a replacement cable. May not say hood on the handle.

 

i tried the teflon bicycle cable on my 47 plymoth and abouth two weeks of pullin on it with a stubbornly misslined hood it broke i like never got in there to get it back open the lead keeper on the hood end iwhere it broke.

 

I have to come up with that same solution for my 48 Dodge. Lowes has steel cable and crimp on ends that I think may work.

 

You'll find a good selection of cable and crimps at the fishing tackle shop. Lots of different load test ratings and flex characteristics. Look/ask for downrigger cables. I buy it at Cabella's, but I'm sure you have more choices in Oregon.

Tom

 

question? beens i now have to come up with somethin would those solder and crimp ends for like power lines that cips uses hold???

 

The best inner cable to use is stainless steel. Will never tear or break. The usual Home Depot stuff is just plain steel cable and is subject to rusting and corrosion.

 

Where would I find stainless cable? Especially since I only need about 3' of it.

 

Most aircraft cable is stainless. In your case 1/16" should be suitable. I have seen some hardware stores that stock it as well as plated cable. If not, try your local aircraft repair station.

 

I should have mentioned it in my first reply, but all of the fishing tackle shop downrigger cable is stainless. I think if you buy it by the spool, the shortest length is 150'. They might have a bulk spool you can buy by the foot off of.

My experience with the hardware store steel cable is that as soon as you get a bend or kink in it, it's going to snap.

Tom

 

Thanks for the advice everyone. I'll try the tackle shop.