46 deluxe hood release cable

[mike d]

Does anyone know how this cable is routed thru the engine compartment?

[big job]

Mike just from inside follow cable thru fire wall then it goes along left fender apron then
into the so called lock. Mine is hard to release. I will come up with a plan to get rid
of it cause if it breaks - its all over. It will be a welded lever 'down' to the grill like a
53 to 56 truck. sam

my uncle always said "locks are for prisons"

[FortyNiner]

Along the DS inner fender using clips mounted to the fender bolts.

[mike d]

thanks guys, does it go thru a hole in the radiator support?

[woodiewagon46]

Mike, there should be a small hole, it think it's about 1/2", in the firewall about level with the fender top on the drivers side. The cable goes thru the hole and there are special clips that attach to the same bolts that attach the inner fender shield to the fender. The cable end attaches to the inner hood panel that holds the hood release assembly and is secured with a small round brass stop.

[woodiewagon46]

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No, not thru the core support, it goes along the passenger side of the radiator to the hood release.

[mike d]

thanks again

[TJ]

Originally Posted by woodiewagon46

No, not thru the core support, it goes along the passenger side of the radiator to the hood release.

Didn't you mean the driver's side of the radiator?

[RKS.PA]

Originally Posted by big job

Mike just from inside follow cable thru fire wall then it goes along left fender apron then
into the so called lock. Mine is hard to release. I will come up with a plan to get rid
of it cause if it breaks - its all over. It will be a welded lever 'down' to the grill like a
53 to 56 truck. sam

my uncle always said "locks are for prisons"

Big Job,


I think there were some posts a while ago about ways to prevent/survive a broken hood release cable on these cars. Several good ideas after lubing up the cable and latch. (Might be 51merc who posted what he had done that seems like a real good idea.)


I went to Home Depot and got what I'll describe as a stainless woven gate latch wire....snap hook on one end and a loop on the other. Attached this to the eye on the latch where the cable goes through. The loop hangs down where I can grab it through the grill bars. Worked great when I tested it but hoping I never need it!!

[51 MERC-CT]

Yep, added an aux. cable pull just in case the bowden cable broke.


1

[51woodie]

Mike. The cable on my '46 Deluxe Coupe, is clipped along the drivers side fender, and passes between the rad support and the inner fender. There is a small hole in the hood locking plate where the inner wire passes thorough to the hood release. In one picture there is a loop of mechanics wire, that I connected to the hood release, and I can access from underneath the car in case the release wire breaks.

My hood release was very hard to pull when I first got the car. In fact, a PO broke one of ear off the handle at one point, pulling on it. I disconnected the inner wire at the latch end, pulled the wire out of the outer housing, and found it to be very rusted. I cleaned the wire with steel wool, squirted some ATF into the outer housing and reinserted the wire. Working it back and forth 20-30 times loosened it up. I also lubed the latch parts, so now the hood can be released with a light pull of one finger. As far as the wire breaking, this can be caused by overtightening the set screw in the lock collar. There was enough slack on mine that I could set the lock on a fresh section of the wire.

[woodiewagon46]

Sorry, yes I did mean drivers side. Sometimes the wire (cable) does break or the little clamp will get loose and prevent the hood from opening. I carry a plastic shim, the type carpenters use for doors and windows. You can slide the shim in to help lift the hood up a little and I also carry a 1" x 12", 16 gauge piece of sheetmetal to slid in against the release mechanism. You can also use a long thin screwdriver to push against the release mechanism.