Hood latch cable on C3

[Ken C.]

I recently had the handle for the hood latch on my 1979 Coupe break off requiring the use of a pair of pliers to open my hood. My question, is there a replacement handle out there or do I need to purchase a complete new cable assembly and if I do how difficult is it to change the assembly by myself?

Any assistance would be appreciated.

[Jack H.]

Re: Hood latch cable on C3

Reproduction hood release handle assy's are off-the shelf at places like Paragon. They should offer a selection of early, mid, and late era Shark with the differences being whether the cable inside the Bowden is solid or braided and whehter the outside of the Bowden cable is nake or rubber covered.

The solid core assy's are pretty easy to replace. You simply remove the handle and its attached cable from the reproduction + do the same for your existing assy leaving the bracket & outer Bowden cable sheath in place. Now, insert the fresh new cable/handle and press + wiggle it though the sheath and re-connect to the hood catch.

The version of the cable that uses stranded wire is rather difficult to substitute in this fashion as the tip of the stranded wire tends to hit against the inside of the Bowden cable sheath and 'jam' up when you try to re-insert it...

[Ken C.]

Re: Hood latch cable on C3

Thanks for the info Jack.

I have ordered an replacement assembly and will let you know how installation went once the assemble is received.

[Ken C.]

Re: Hood latch cable on C3

Jack, I finally got a replacement cable assy. and just installed it this past week end. Took no time really to remove the old assemble, but had a bit of struggle, to say the least, in installing the new one. Anyway after about an hour of struggling I finally got everything back together and operating.

Thanks again for your help.

Ken