1957 Hood Release Cable

[Steven B.]

I have a 1957 hood release cable that has a broken wire (inside the spiral) going to the passenger side that is broken. Is there any way to repair the break-I doubt- and if not is there an accurate repo.?

Thanks!

Steve

[Gary C.]

Re: 1957 Hood Release Cable

Steve, there are no accurate repro's available. Paragon repro's what all the vendors sell and they're wrong. It has a big nut to secure the sheath to the mounting bracket and the mount bracket is bent 90 degrees rather than with two step bends. Process for removal is to take a Dremmel tool or small die grinder and cut the sheath flanges just enough to get the bracket off of the sheath. Remove the handle. Open up the cable crimps. Use a punch to get the crimp as close to round as possible. Slide the cable sheaths totally off. Get a piece of steel gas line or steel tubing as close to the ID of the sheath and use that to make the sheath as round as possible. Then drive the handle shaft back through until it's all the way out. Might could try silver soldering a new cable to the old one. Don't know if the overlap would fit inside the cable sheath or not? Cables can be obtained from a welding shop. Take your old one with you and compare it to a Tweco Mig gun cable. Should be able to get same diameter cable and sheath or so close you can't tell the difference. I'd use a new handle rather than try to rechome on. Repop handles are small ID than the shaft and will need to be drilled out. Rechrome the bracket. Glue up in MarineTex or some other stout two part epoxy. Before reassembly check to see if handle turns side-to-side. If it does, put the groove on the top side. Drill and tap the sleeve for a small set screw. Using a set screw will keep the handle for turning side-to-side. Hope this helps. Good luck, Gary....

[Steven B.]

Re: 1957 Hood Release Cable

Thanks Gary! I will give it a try. Since the chrome on my handle is in very good shape I will probably try to reuse it.

Thanks again!

Steve

[Sandra H.]

Re: 1957 Hood Release Cable

Gary, will that work with a 1962 cable also? I have a good cable but need to put the original handle on it.
Thanks for any insight, Sandra

[Gary C.]

Re: 1957 Hood Release Cable

Sandra, not sure about '58 up cables and their repros. Other than removing the cable assembly from the bracket which's secured with a nut, the rest of the process is probably the same. Gary....

[Sandra H.]

Re: 1957 Hood Release Cable

Thanks Gary, actually I made that question dumber than it had to be.
I just assumed that since the cable/handle had been removed from the car, that something was wrong with it. After looking closely, I don't see anything wrong/broken and don't know why it was removed (and replaced with a couple of wires hidden in the dash). Or why there is an extra handle/cable. So will just re-install original.
Best, Sandra