Substitute hood release

[vangremlin]

One of the things on our Eagles that is sure to fail sooner or later is the hood release.  Has anyone tried to find a suitable substitute, other than a pair of vice grips?  It seems to me there must be something out there that is more available, sturdier, and adaptable to the Eagle.  I will make it a point over the next few months as I visit the junkyards to look for something that could work.

Any suggestions on vehicles that would have a cable/handle that would do the job?  Thanks.

[MudPuppy]

I could've swore Tennessee_Farmer posted awhile back a "fix" for our hood releases but after looking I can't seem to find it. Might have been a thread lost in one of the 'great deletes' or from the switch-over. Either way, I wish it could be reposted.
It was something along the lines of an "L"-shaped bracket with the cable bolted to it.

[drock87]

I will take a pic soon. One of the PO's engineered it, and it works remarkably well. And more "socially acceptable"  than vice grips....

[MudPuppy]

Found it in the pedia... knew I hadn't totally lost my mind.

http://amceaglesden.com/guide/index.php?title=Hood_Release_Handle_Repair

[eaglefreek]

My big Eagle was repaired before I bought it. It looks like a generic T handle. It says hood on it but it is mounted horizontal and "HOOD" is sideways. it is held in place with a cotter pin, I believe. It works great since you can get a good grip on it. It looks like one of them in the pic below from this link http://www.amazon.com/Dorman-03323-Hood-Release-Cable/dp/B000CO8ZP6

[vangremlin]

Thanks for posting these options.  Drock87 I'm still interested in seeing the solution on your car.  Eaglefreek, how is yours mounted under the dash?

I picked up a couple cables from the junkyard yesterday that look like they might work, one from an Explorer and one from a Silverado.  Since my hood release cable isn't broken, I guess I'll have to go get another Eagle with a broken handle to experiment on!

[drock87]

Ask and you shall receive! I'd actually forgotten, so I just ran out to the car and snapped these. As I mentioned, I didn't do this (PO at some point I guess), but it seems to be a ridiculously simple and cheap way to have a hood release that is a step up from Vice-Grips without the effort of recabling. It is just a round metal bar of some sort tied well with good rope. I can tell you it is durable...I have had the car almost 2.5 years and who knows how many times I've opened the hood (lol). Plus, you can grab it firmly and give a nice tug instead of worrying about breaking something.






And with a wider view of the dash, it doesn't look all that out of place.

[eaglefreek]

Eaglefreek, how is yours mounted under the dash?

Yup, I think the handle is attached to the factory cable. I'll check it when there is more light to confirm.