Hood does not open

James 47

James 47

Junior Member
Greetings to all! I'm James, I have a 1947 Ford and first of all I apologize for my poor English. I have a problem with the hood of my Ford. I can not unlock it, I pull the knob, it moves, but the bonnet does not unlock. It has a kind of bolt that with the hand runs and opens, but no.
Can somebody help me?
Thanks you!
 
If you have any gap between the hood and the upper grill sheet metal. You may be able to slip something really thin, (Slim jim, or hacksaw blade) into the gap just to the right of center and push toward the back and a little to the right. You might look up from beneath the car and see the cable where it attaches to the release to get some idea of where you need to apply pressure. Don't think you can do it from below tho, the release ear is pointing upward.
 
I keep a small wood wedge and a piece of 18 gauge sheetmetal about 1" wide and 12" long covered in tape for just this situation. Slip the wedge between the grill top and the hood on the passengers side, just enough to slide the sheetmetal in on the drivers side, to push on the release mechanism. With a flashlight you will be able to see the release mechanism. More than likely as Merc states the cable has broken or the ferrel has loosened or come off. When I had my car painted the body shop closed the hood without the cable installed and that is how I got it open.
 
A visual reference.

341757
 
Picture from my '41 might help. A stout bread knife has a tip that is more square and less likely to bend.
 

Attachments

  • Hood Latch Trick1.jpg
    Hood Latch Trick1.jpg
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Post 6 shows another safety issue with the "ferrel". Not only to rely on the set screw but the cable is bent back to help secure it.
 
James 47 said:
Greetings to all! I'm James, I have a 1947 Ford and first of all I apologize for my poor English. I have a problem with the hood of my Ford. I can not unlock it, I pull the knob, it moves, but the bonnet does not unlock. It has a kind of bolt that with the hand runs and opens, but no.
Can somebody help me?
Thanks you!
Click to expand...

James: Your English is better than a lot of folks on here. :D:D:D Lawson.
 
corvette8n said:
https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=162418

Welcome James, read through the the thread above to see how you add an extra safety cable to prevent this problem in the future.

I looked at your album nice '47, who owns the 1941 Woody wagon in your pictures?
Click to expand...


I really do not know him. I took the photo in a workshop, where they were just fixing the dynamo. It's 1941, I suspect it's not original. It has a steering wheel on the right. And thanks for your words!
 
I installed a wire loop to the place where the cable from the dash attaches to the hood latch as a way to open the hood when the dash cable comes loose. The clip in the latch that secures the cable wire has been a longtime problem. Now, I fish out the loop if needed on my '47.
 
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