Hi all,
I've been thinking about this for a long time, and finally got it together and all done this weekend.
I wanted a secure, inside-the-cab hood release, so here are my build notes and pictures.
First, remove the front radiator cowl and hood latch, and make these cuts:
First cut the big cowling piece here and cut the Latch piece here Set them back together creating an open space
like this Grind off the latch rivit and hammer pound it flat.
Cut it into two pieces, and place it together.
Original hole A, will need to be fattened up to match the size of the hole in the latch plate.
When you get it in place, mark where hole B will be drilled, the same size as A. C bolts together.
Drilled Flattened Latch Pieces On the bottom side of the small piece, countersink the hole C. You will use a flat head bolt in here to hold these latch pieces together.
countersink latch piece Bolt these two halves together now, and tighten the bolt.
latch pieces bolted together Then your latch handle piece looks like this
new latch handle Find a bolt that is the same size as the hole in the latch plate, and will fit your new latch, now that you drilled the latch hole bigger. Put the bolt up through the latch plate and add a washer, and some grease
bolt with washer add a gob-o-grease Install your new latch handle, and another gob-o-grease
install handle Put another washer and nut. tighten down the first nut just until the handle doesn't wiggle. Add a lockwasher and another nut, and tighten them against each other.
locknut Don't forget to drill a hole at the end of the lever arm
lever arm hole Completed latch assembly, ready to install
completed latch assembly I added an S hook at the end of the latch. I thought about an adjustable turn-buckle, but didn't have one laying around today. But I might add that later on.
latch handle S hook Drill a hole through the radiator bracket
radiator bracket hole Next, fatty up the hole in the corner of the radiator bracket. Don't drill into your wires running through there.
radiator bracket corner hole Now it looks like this
radiator bracket Put a bolt with a nut, up through the existing hole in the bracket.
nut and bolt ready for a clamp Drill a hole in the firewall. Not at the X. Better out toward the driver's side. I removed the hood springs a long time ago, but if you have springs, just drill centered below them.
Drill through the firewall here Then drill an appropriate size hole in this handy bracket.
handy bracket I got a six foot all purpose cable from my local FLAPS
for less than $7.00. ( see, almost free! )
Generic Cable release, six foot. Shorten, cut to fit later Take the nut all the way off, then put the release cable only through the handy brake bracket, and then put the nut back on. Finger tight is gonna be good enough, because it's too cramped for a wrench. then poke the cable trough the firewall, run it along the fender, and through the radiator bracket holes.
run the cable like this. clamp to fender bolt at arrow poke it through the radiator bracket holes, and clamp here, too cable routing and clampthen a quick spray paint, if you're so inclined...
quick toot-o-paint Then, later, or tomorrow, flip the whole assembly over and attach the cable to the S hook in the latch.
attach cable Now attach the super security metal panel, by adding nuts to the same screws that come down holding the latch panel to the cowl piece.
nobody's gonna get in here! Bolt the entire assembly in place. It should work now.
all back together oops, forgot. Drill a hole, or cut, to make space for the hood latch pin to clear as it pokes down through
drill or cut for latch pin clearance Carefully close the hood, and give it a try!
Here . . . Pull on this Nobody will be able to just reach up there and pull or push your super secure latch handle.
super secure latch cover super secure latch handle cover two Video. Check it out.
It Works! You can view all the pics all at once in my photobucket
All the pics all in one place. Inside Hood Release