C-3 hood latch cable

[James G.]

I have a 72 LT-1 which I was going to do some maintenence on today and as I pulled on the hood handle the cable snapped so now I can not open the hood. I hope some one has had this happen before. Help!

[Ken C.]

Re: C-3 hood latch cable

Had that happen awhile back. I removed the drivers side grill. And reached my hand up to hood release lever and turned it. popped open no problem

[Jim T.]

Re: C-3 hood latch cable

This is a nice method for the 70-72 Corvettes. A friend with a 72 had the same problem and I told him about removing the side grille recently to release the hood. The bottom nut for the grille can actually be reinstalled with the hood up if you have a long reach, it can be seen from under the hood.

[James G.]

Re: C-3 hood latch cable

Thanks for your replys. I am going to assume that you are talking about the drivers side grille?

[Terry M.]

Re: C-3 hood latch cable

Yes, they are talking about the driver's side grille -- in the belief that the cable that snapped was the one with the pull handle on it. If it was the cable running across the hood I can tell you how to release the passenger side latch, but you have to tell us which cable snapped.

[Bill C.]

Re: C-3 hood latch cable

The illusive "cap-plug" hole on the passenger fire wall

[James G.]

Re: C-3 hood latch cable

It is the hood handle cable that snapped, I can pull the handle with the cable attached out. On a side note can I buy just the cable that the handle is attached to without having to replace the sheathing?

[Donald S.]

Re: C-3 hood latch cable

Jim,
If you can't get in thru the side grill, there is always the access hole that Bill refered to as the "cap plug". A "pictorial" on how to do it is here:

http://www.mamotorworks.com/corvette-1-0-3852.html

Don

[Terry M.]

Re: C-3 hood latch cable

That is an excellent pictorial, but I don't think there is a plug on the driver's side of the early C3s, (say 1971 and earlier), but I might be wrong. I'll have to look when I get home. I think access for us is through the driver's side grille, if the fasteners are not corroded into permanent fusion. Mean time, others with early C3s other than 1970 might look as well.

[Donald S.]

Re: C-3 hood latch cable

Terry,
You are correct, there is only one on the passenger side of my '69. I'm not that familiar with the later models, and with the ability to remove the side panels, I would have thought the plugs would have dissapeared in 70. When I read the article they make it seem like they exist on all models thru 76.
I took the time long ago to become familiar with these plugs (as the article mentions) just in case it would happen to me. I even removed the plug to make sure it would come out without destroying them in the process of an emergency.
Don

[D S.]

Re: C-3 hood latch cable

Excellent article on how to pop the hood. I sent it on to ten of my C-3 friends. When I had my engine out to be rebuilt I was detailing the firewall when I came across those plugs after removing the latches. I wondered why they were there.

[James G.]

Re: C-3 hood latch cable

Thanks again to all that replied. I will try to tackle this on Saturday while we get the remnants of Hannah. I think I will try the side grille first,and hopefully the fasteners will come out cleanly. Permanent fusion would be a bad thing!