1965 Hood Release Handle

[Clark K.]

When I pull the hood release handle on my '65 Sting Ray, the handle needs to be pushed back in. Is this normal? If not, what do you recommend I do to fix it?
-Clark

[Russ S.]

Re: 1965 Hood Release Handle

Do your hood latches on the firewall have their springs intact?

[Michael M.]

Re: 1965 Hood Release Handle

I take mine out and grease with silicone grease. I am sure any slick grease might help. Mike

[Jeff P.]

Re: 1965 Hood Release Handle

Same thing with my '66. I've greased/lubed the latched. made sure of the cable routing. Lubed the inside of the cable with graphite. Did a rain dance and prayed over it! I still have to push the release handle back in after I release the hood! I just learned to live with it. I would love hear of any other ideas.

[Dan H.]

Re: 1965 Hood Release Handle

Make sure there is NO play or space at the cable stops on the cross cable between the female latches. Adjust those, then the 'slop' can be adjusted out of the dash cable.

[Wayne M.]

Re: 1965 Hood Release Handle

Make sure there is NO play or space at the cable stops on the cross cable between the female latches. Adjust those, then the 'slop' can be adjusted out of the dash cable.

This is the solution to many of the complaints above. A test is to pull the under-dash handle out slowly, until the driver side latch pops up, then see how much more movement is needed before the passenger side pops. Adjust the cross cable stops so that left and right release almost simultaneously, and this will assure that you have the maximum spring pull-back of both female hood latch assemblies.

[Michael G.]

Re: 1965 Hood Release Handle

When I pull the hood release handle on my '65 Sting Ray, the handle needs to be pushed back in. Is this normal? If not, what do you recommend I do to fix it?
-Clark

Nothing to fix.....it is normal. The cable is not spring loaded and only returns partially due the springs on the latch. Keep all moving parts lubed up and your good to go.

[Dan H.]

Re: 1965 Hood Release Handle

If you expect to PV your car, the handle should return without assist to at rest position. At rest means no gap to be manually pushed in.
Dan