1964 Giulia Sprint Special engine hood

elads · #1 (**permalink**) 08-13-2004, 03:12 PM

hi all,

i have been stuck with a problem in the past 1 month... upon trying to open the engine hood from the inside lever, the cable snapped and I was stuck with an engine hood that cannot be opened.

I have seeked advice and received some interesting ideas on how to open the hood in order to fix the cable: anything from getting access to the engine hood latches via the front lamps to taking off the dashboard cover and accessing the hood locking mechanism from the inside... problem is that all require disassembly, and some (like the dash top) will require taking off the front glass area... ahhhhh

So I went to a classic car specialist who has suggested cutting a hole through the interior of the car through one of the front beams... sounds harsh!

Anyone has any ideas what is the easiest way to open the hood?? im getting desperate and only 3 more weeks left in summer to enjoy the car..

Regards

elad

**papajam** · #2 (**permalink**) 08-13-2004, 05:51 PM

Welcome to the BB, elads!

If the inner cable broke at the lever end, how long is the broken cable that's still attached to the lever? If it's only a few cm long, you can cut back the outer cable with some wire cutters to expose the inner cable enough to get a pair of pliers on it.

elads · #3 (**permalink**) 08-13-2004, 07:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by papajam

Welcome to the BB, elads!

If the inner cable broke at the lever end, how long is the broken cable that's still attached to the lever? If it's only a few cm long, you can cut back the outer cable with some wire cutters to expose the inner cable enough to get a pair of pliers on it.

**papajam** · #4 (**permalink**) 08-13-2004, 08:09 PM

Most unfortunate. Don't know if this would work on an SS but I've heard of it working on 105 GTVs. With the car on a lift, the hood latch can be manually released with a long screwdriver from under the car.

Good luck!

dretceterini · #5 (**permalink**) 08-13-2004, 08:46 PM

I had this problem on a 2600 sprint. The only way to open the hood was to wedge a board under the corner of the hood, place a thick block of wood on the fender, and pry up, using the board as a lever. It left a small dent in the top of the fender, but was better than having to cut a hole. Once you get the hood open, add a second hood cable (which can be nothing more heavyweight fishing cable or thick picture hanging wire) through a hole in the firewall into the cockpit. The secodary wire may break after a couple of pulls, but at leat it will get the hood open if it ever happens again.

116_Veloce · #6 (**permalink**) 08-14-2004, 03:59 AM

Greetings,

I would actually spend time in carefully removing the dash if that helps, it shouldn't be so difficult (ever tried to remove a 164 dash? thats difficult).

Main idea is to do anything crafty and not cause any damages to this car. Elad, you are Israeli I presume? I suppose you are not in Israel right now... I would be happy to help. If the mechanism is similar to the 105s (just a plunger that twists) you might be able to access it from under the car.

You just need the right tool for the job...

Regards,
Uri

elads · #7 (**permalink**) 08-15-2004, 07:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 116_Veloce

Greetings,

I would actually spend time in carefully removing the dash if that helps, it shouldn't be so difficult (ever tried to remove a 164 dash? thats difficult).

Main idea is to do anything crafty and not cause any damages to this car. Elad, you are Israeli I presume? I suppose you are not in Israel right now... I would be happy to help. If the mechanism is similar to the 105s (just a plunger that twists) you might be able to access it from under the car.

You just need the right tool for the job...

Regards,
Uri

116_Veloce · #8 (**permalink**) 08-15-2004, 07:35 AM

Take the dash apart, see if you can access the cable first, before doing any further damage... Perhaps using a piece of stiff wire with a strong hook in the end you could pull the mechanism? Is there no cable AT ALL showing inside the car???

elads · #9 (**permalink**) 08-15-2004, 08:39 AM

no cable... will try to get the dash out, problem is that the some of the screws are mounted right up agnst the windshield and prob ill need to tak eit off before being able to dismantale the dash... dont want to do that if i can aviod it.

**ossodiseppia** · #10 (**permalink**) 08-15-2004, 11:13 AM

Don't those old Giulias have some rather large fresh air vents? I think they go partially thru the engine compartment. It might be possible to gain access thru that.

120 · #11 (**permalink**) 08-15-2004, 03:52 PM

since I have a giulietta ss I am not sure if the under dash metal work is the same or not. on a giulietta ss it is possible to fiddle with the latch from underneath. but it takes the patience of the supernatural and thin hands. I have neither. still I managed to get mine open. even had my wife try to help, what a trooper, in the end it came open nevertheless.
I think I used a vice grips on a long screw driver and another lever in the other hand, as you know there is dxxx little room and as you can imagine this is not something a real mechanic will trouble themselves with.
Although it may be cheaper my way, the removal of the dash is prolly your best method. This is something anyone can understand, it takes a wishful hope to open the hood from underneath, nothing but tools to do the job via the dash removal.
Far less discomfort too.
As to getting there from another route, not only not likely, not humanly possible. That is unless you have the NASA budget and staff at hand. wait a minute, you know those tools doctors have that go in through the belly button and...