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Classic/Antique Car Repair/ford 56 tbird hood latch

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Expert: - 11/18/2010


Question
Hi I have a 1956 T bird and the cable that goes under the hood is not working. i think the end piece fell off or the cable broke. Is there a way to open the hood from under the car or somewhere do they have an alternate latch   Thanks Mike  

Answer
Back in the day when I was working as a carburetor and tune up man in a Ford Dealer we had one of these delivered off the truck with a broken hood cable. The body man in the dealer put the car up on the grease rack, that was the only lift in the entire dealership, and from under the car with a mirror on a stick a drop light and some heavy threaded rod went up from the bottom and tripped the hood latch. I have never tried this but it took him just a few minuted to pop the hood.
Brad

Classic/Antique Car Repair

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Brad Sears

Expertise

All automotive including antique and collectible. However if the car has been modified I can only answer in general terms and maybe get you pointed in the right direction.

Experience

Automotive tech instructor. Syndicated auto columnist 1970's though the early 1990's. Syndicated auto radio talk show, Ask Brad About cars, CBS Radio 70's through 90's TV Show "Last Chance Garage" 1980's PBS-TV syndicated. Auto instructor for the following companies: Fram Autolyte Holly Carter AMF Ford Motor University Of Conn Blue Hills Technical School Sugar River Technical Center Grew up in a family garage in Needham Mass and turned wrenches from the age of 14.

Publications
Manchester Union Leader, Nashua Telegraph, Motor Service Magazine, Yankee Magazine, Popular Mechanics (Saturday Mechanic early 80's), Los Angeles Times, New York Times, and lots more.

Education/Credentials
More than I care to remember. Basically Franklin Technical Institute in Boston, Northeastern University, Fitchburg State Teachers College, Tufts University, and a lot of factory schools along the way.

Awards and Honors
Moto Award winner. And much more.

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