Making an emergency front hood release

[porscheboy1]

If the pull knob in the cabin and it does not release the hood it is a PITA to get the hood open. You have to remove the front bumper, locate and drill a hole in the bulkhead behind the bumper, fabricate a hook on the end of a heavy gage wire and insert the wire into the drilled hole and try to open the latch by moving and twisting the wire. I developed an easier method, installed it on my 78SC and it works.

Reference the pictures below. I fabricated a small aluminum plate with two holes in it and attached it to the movable hood release latch using the latch holding screw. I then took a 2-20 mild steel rod with a threaded end and attached a threaded steel clevis to it, attached the clevis to the other hole on the aluminum plate while running the other end if the steel rod into the right fender well through one of the grommets that route the electrical wires to the lights. I bent a hook on the end of the rod inside of the fender well. You could also make a 360 degree bend in the rod and tie a length of 80lb fishing line to it. If you need to open the hood with the emergency release just remove the left front wheel and remove the windshield washer fluid tank. You can then pull the rod to release the latch. This is a lot easier than removing the bumper.





The threaded rod and clevis comes from my stash of stuff for building radio control model airplanes. You can get it at Tower Hobbies.

Regards,
John

Life is good.

1965 356 SC
1978 911SC
1982 911SC

[rayporsche]

Cool !!!! thanks for sharing...

[NY65912]

You sir are a very wise man!

[McLaren-TAG]

The ounce of prevention indeed.

[Dpmulvan]

Good job! I often think about mine breaking after 35 years of use, time to do something similar.

[pors1968]

If you break the cable the Hood will pop up.Same for deck lid.

[GH85Carrera]

Also carry a piece of heavy string trimmer line to open the gas filler door.

[porscheboy1]

Reference the Porsche workshop manual Volume VI, section 8, page 3.1-1/2. It gives instructions on how to open the lid lock when the control cable breaks. It is as I described in my post. There is some confusion here. Maybe some years of 911s have the lids pop open when the cable breaks and some don't. Anyone know?

[RSBob]

Did something similar for the rear trunk of the 914 which has an electric release. I have had to use it twice and it was a real life-saver. Your idea is excellent.

[bkreigsr]

Originally Posted by pors1968

If you break the cable the Hood will pop up.Same for deck lid.

hood - False,
deck lid - False

[pors1968]

Originally Posted by bkreigsr

hood - False, TRUE for 65-73 false 74and up
deck lid - False

MY bad if you have 74and up that a good set up for hood

deck lid true wont lock if no cable tension 65-89 they have a spring for safety

[bkreigsr]

The spring will not pop the lids up unless the catch mechanism is released - all lids, all years. The catch can only be released by the cable. Cut your cable off at the handle and see if your lid pops up. Also holds true for the gas fill lid.

[JSV798]

On my old 2 litre car (long gone) both hood and engine lid had self-releasing catches if the cable broke. I thought it ingenious. My present car (78 SC) only the lid releases on cable break. I recently changed the cable and it is necessary to pre-tension the cable to get the correct adjustment. You don't have to cut the cable to prove this: just lift the lid, disconnect the cable and the lid won't now latch. But be careful if you don't get the adjustment right then you the can't release the lid. I removed the grille while I did this job.

[pors1968]

That true for 65-73 Hood and rear lid 65-89 And i dont have to cut my cable i did check mechanism all year i have about 20 in box.

[DRACO A5OG]

Nice Work! Easily reversible