C3 '74 - the hood release cable not working, how do I open my hood??!

- how do I open my hood??!!

and fix it....

advise, Thanks 

Is the cable broken, or just won't release the hood?

Bill,

the cable pulls but won't release my hood! 

not sure if completely broken, loose or just little broken,

I figure I need my hood opened up to see...

correct?  or...

Unless you have the windshield wiper cover, you should be able to reach the latch through a hole just under the rear of the hood on the driver's side.  The latch lever can be hooked through this access, but it will be hard to see.  The access is a hole about 1 inch in diameter, and is covered by a grommet, which will need to be removed (push it through if you can't pull it out).  You will need to feel around with something like a coat hanger with a hook bent on one side to find the latch lever, which is about 3 inches in from the grommet hole -- it won't be easy. . .

On my '75 I tied a piece of cable to this lever and left the end out by the windshield so I can just pull this to unlatch the hood.

When I first got my Vette, the hood was misadjusted so bad the it would not release.  I finally drove it on our rough gravel road pulling on the hood release and finally, with the twisting of the body, the hood released.

Hope this helps.  Someone else on this forum will probably be able to give you better instructions on reaching the latch lever.

Did you internet search it and watch some of the youtube videos?

I thought you pushed a screw driver or similar through the hole to push on the lever that releases the latch.

Do you have an AIM to refer to?  It would show you the parts and how they are assembled.

Sorry, that's all I got.

I have found if you pull the hood release in normal fashion, as you would to open the hood, then fully push the hood release back into place, it can release the hood.  The same seems to work if the hood will not close.  

What luck I have -- I have had no problems (lately) with my hood, but today the left side will not release.  Even using the cable I attached will not release it.  It must have shifted enough so the latch sticks.  I'll try later when I have a bit of patience again.

I got the hood open with a bit of shaking and push/pulling on it.  It looks like the hood shifted a bit to the side so the latch would not clear the hole.

Thanks for the hood tips, Fellow C3Lovers, I fixed it. 

Spring almost here in Toronto, for 'Shake, Rattle & Roarrr'

One sweet looking car! Nice work.