Register now to get rid of these ads!

Cant get hood up

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by bullnose52, Jul 28, 2012.

  1. bullnose52
    Joined: Feb 9, 2012
    Posts: 10

    bullnose52
    Member

    I have a 48 chevy fleetline that has a few modifications. The hood latch cable came unhooked from the latch. :eek: How do i get the latch to release? Need some help on this one.:( thanks bullnose
     
  2. When I was 14 years old, this also happened to me. I messed up the grill trim! I did learn one very important thing, that to slow down, and think things thru before screwing something up. I can not remember how I finally got the hood open???
     
  3. Normbc9
    Joined: Apr 20, 2011
    Posts: 1,121

    Normbc9
    Member

    I took mine to an auto body shop and they had it opened and fixed withing 1/2 hour. I'll bet you could do the same with a shop that has a diagram of just how and where that shielded cable was mounted. If not try a old Chevy restoration source. It is simple but frustrating if you don't have the right information.
    Normbc9
     
  4. 49ratfink
    Joined: Feb 8, 2004
    Posts: 22,601

    49ratfink
    Member
    from California

    I just looked at a picture in a Chevy manual I have. can't you some how get underneath it through the grille or from under the car?
     
  5. 49ratfink
    Joined: Feb 8, 2004
    Posts: 22,601

    49ratfink
    Member
    from California

    here's an idea:

    [​IMG]
     
  6. TheEngineer
    Joined: Jul 17, 2012
    Posts: 239

    TheEngineer
    Member
    from New Mexico

    Here's some pictures from my 48 Pontiac. It should be the same. Mine was off so I could get pictures from the top and the bottom. In the top view, I held it up so you could see the angle the cable comes in. In the bottom view, my thumb is pointed at the Cable clamp. You should be able to see in through the grill with something like a dentists mirror. Then you can use something like a slim Jim to slide between the hood and the grill to push on it.
     

    Attached Files:

  7. TheEngineer
    Joined: Jul 17, 2012
    Posts: 239

    TheEngineer
    Member
    from New Mexico

    Yep. It's the same.
     
  8. jcmarz
    Joined: Jan 10, 2010
    Posts: 4,631

    jcmarz
    Member
    from Chino, Ca

    Have you tried Viagra?
     
  9. Cutlassboy68
    Joined: Dec 3, 2011
    Posts: 593

    Cutlassboy68
    BANNED
    from Boone, Nc

    Jcmarz!!! You beat me to it!!

    You should be able to finangle to the latch system, Just take a hook and push the mechanism in the same direction that it would be pulled in. Than reconnect everything before closing the hood again...
    Dont unbolt it, it could give you more problems.
     
  10. Deuces
    Joined: Nov 3, 2009
    Posts: 26,404

    Deuces

    The wifey got me some free samples...:D:D:D..:rolleyes:
     

  11. I guess this shows there are 2 in every crowd:D:D Love it!!!
     
  12. 37_chevy
    Joined: Aug 8, 2010
    Posts: 168

    37_chevy
    Member
    from Nebraska

    Somebody has a post about a tool he made to do this. Search 46 47 48 Chevy and you should find it.
     
  13. 37_chevy
    Joined: Aug 8, 2010
    Posts: 168

    37_chevy
    Member
    from Nebraska


    They forgot to include the "warning":
    If your hood stays up for more than 4 hours, consult a mechanic.:rolleyes:
     
  14. Deuces
    Joined: Nov 3, 2009
    Posts: 26,404

    Deuces

    If it makes her happy, then why not!..:):D:)
     
  15. so i'll add what i know ... very little but this may help some one
    we had a 52 Olds it had a hood release cable we shaved the door handles and added electric release solinoids
    all fine until the battery went dead ..
    ya can't open the doors when the battery is dead
    ya can't open the hood cuz the doors won't open
    ya can't get to the battery cuz the hood won't open

    after almost resorting to breaking glass or damage to the grill

    i noticed the hood release cable ran from inside the car to the latch thru the front wheel well all though securely mounted with cable clamps along the way i was able to loosen a couple just enuf to pull the cable sideways and release the latch..

    after the first try i reworked a couple of the cable clamps and added a length of wire so that tugging on the wire would pull the cable sideways and thus release the latch...
    came in handy as the leaving odd lights, radio or cold weather affected battery charge quite often..

    good luck
     
  16. Magnum Wheel Man
    Joined: May 11, 2011
    Posts: 424

    Magnum Wheel Man
    Member

    I couldn't get the latch open on my Studie M-5 ( internal hood latch & broken cable ) mine needed a push, as the cable pulled towards the firewall... I used a long thin screw driver to push the piece that the cable was supposed to pull... if yours routes to go forward, maybe you can get a long thick hook of somekind ???

    my wife has some rug crochete type hooks that may be strong enough to trip the latch ???
     
  17. Mr48chev
    Joined: Dec 28, 2007
    Posts: 35,546

    Mr48chev
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    Is there another one close by that you can look at to see how you can slip a rod or thin piece of flat bar in under the lip of the hood at the correct angle to push the release?

    Or you might make a tool to catch it from the bottom side if you can look in through the grill to see the bottom side of the latch.

    This Borrowed photo shows the latch in the panel
    [​IMG]

    This shows the latch it's self
    [​IMG]

    you should be able to take a rod and put a 90 in it about and inch or so from the end and make a tool that you can slip in and get in the hole and push the lever with.

    Unless access to it is blocked off I think it may be easier to get to through the top slot in the grill.
     
    Last edited: Jul 29, 2012
  18. Cutlassboy68
    Joined: Dec 3, 2011
    Posts: 593

    Cutlassboy68
    BANNED
    from Boone, Nc

    Ever get it open?
     

Share This Page

Register now to get rid of these ads!

Archive

Copyright © 1995-2021 The Jalopy Journal: Steal our stuff, we'll kick your teeth in. Terms of Service. Privacy Policy.

Atomic Industry
Forum software by XenForo™ ©2010-2014 XenForo Ltd.