Creating a backup hood release cable

[LarryMow]

This is simply a guide of what I did. You may be able to tweak it to better work for you and suit your needs or on hand supplies. This was done on my 93 Firebird, Im not sure if later year models or Camaros are laid out the same way. Im sure if youre inventive enough, that you can make the basic principle work in your situation.

I know we've all either thought about or actually had to deal with how to get the hood up if/when the cable breaks. Well, so far Ive been lucky enough not to deal with the problem on my personal ride, but a few weeks ago at work, I had that very problem. I didnt have to deal with the work truck but it made me come up with a solution for me and the rest of us. Below is my crude, but functional fix to the problem....best of all, it can be done in about an hour or less.

Tools-Supplies needed:
drill with a 1/8" dia drill bit
good pair of wire cutters/crimpers
13mm wrench or socket wrench
16"-24" inches of braided safety cable 1/16" in dia.
something to use as the latch end cable catch
1 key-ring big enough to put a finger in
1 blue scotch lock wire connector
1 yellow butt wire connector
2 small zip ties
electrical tape

Lets begin:

1st: open the hood and find the (2) 13mm bolts holding the hood latch in place.


2nd: remove the (2) 13mm bolts and pull the latch up out of the way, in order to access the factory latch cable


3rd: slide the end of the cable out of the end of the latch and out of the way, once youve done that, squeeze the tabs together on the cable housing and slide the cable out of the latch as well.


4th: at this point, drill a small 1/8" hole in the bottom left corner of the latch...this is where your new cable will be routed thru.


5th: set the latch off to the side, because now you have to make your cable end. I happened to find something laying around that worked good for my cause, Im sure youll be able to find something equally useful. Heres my end. I run the cable thru it, looped it back in, and crimped it several times...holding so far.


6th: route the cable into top of the hole in the latch pull (small hole behind the latch slot), your cable end should be on top then route the other cable end thru the hole you drilled earlier.



To be continued on next posting.

[LarryMow]

7th: locate the rubber flap and access hole to underside of car, this is where youll run the other end of the cable for your grab-ring. The hole is kinda rectangular and can be seen at the pencils point.


8th: creating your pull ring, open up the blue scotch lock, run the cable thru the key ring and into the scotch lock creating a loop, then close the lock with a pair crimpers. Just to make sure it doesnt pop open and fall off eventually, I also wrapped it with electrical tape and put a zip tie on each end of the scotch lock.


9th: put the factory cable back into the latch, then replace the (2) 13mm bolts into the latch and tighten down back to where it was originally. Shut the hood, lay down in front of the car, find the pull ring, and gently pull....the hood should pop open.

YOU'RE DONE!!! and you'll never have to worry about getting the hood open should the cable break. No one will no its there, unless you tell them. Its a small cable so even if someone knows about it, its easy enough to conceal from sight, but also easy enough to access when needed.

[xpbr2000]

never seen a splice used quite like that before....

Great write up!

[LarryMow]

thanks! necessity is the mother of invention....or in this case, re-invention....lol

[Throwback Bird]

That is cool and great job on the write up.

[xpbr2000]

Originally Posted by LarryMow

thanks! necessity is the mother of invention....or in this case, re-invention....lol

excess of something and the lack of another is the smelly back seat of lust and re-purposed is its spawn

[fbodyrs96]

Nice , did you post this before on another forum ? I know ive seen this exact same write up before.

[LarryMow]

yeah, its posted on the website of my car club....www.southernfbody.com I figured that I'd share it with you guys as well. It was a fairly easy job. The only thing you have to deal with, is alot of people knowing about it. Dont tell everyone about it or everything and anything under the hood is subject to be stolen since the hood can now be opened from the outside.

[AUscorp1]

That is a good idea and solution.