73-80 Hood Security
 

More and more I start getting concerned about my '77 Chevy. The hood opens from the outside, unfortunately. I have only ever seen one 73-80 Chevy with a factory hood release cable, it was a 1978 I had. Since I have now racked up plenty of money in goodies (which, under the right hands, are quickly stolen off the engine) I am now brainstorming ideas to lock the hood.

Currently my ideas are:

1. Find a source for the factory style hood release cable for the 73-80. Easier said than done.

2. Install a pin on the release lever that can be locked with a padlock or using one of those trailer pin lock setups

3. Install pin near the center of the hood itself to be locked behind the grille, preventing the hood from coming open.

4. Retrofit a hood release cable to work with the factory primary/secondary latches. Sounds possible with some fabrication . . .

Pertaining to #1: LMC truck has some parts for the factory hood latch. Unfortunately, the entire freaking core support is different because of the primary/secondary latch setup difference between the two. Hmmm. . . .

Ideas? Thoughts?

Re: 73-80 Hood Security
 

Bolt cable to hood, let drop down behind grille and padlock it out of sight to the frame rail. I've done that with my car. It works. More than once I've found my hood unlatched. (did it when I actually did start finding my hood open before locking it down). Can't stand the gall of people to actually start opening things to have "a look" if you are not around.

Alex.

Re: 73-80 Hood Security
 

seen that done lots ,my self too

Re: 73-80 Hood Security
 

I have an '80 Scottsdale - external hood latch. My neighbor has an '80 Siverado - internal hood latch. This tells me the internal cable release parts are available, but I don't know if the core support is different.

Once running, I'm going to have the same problem with my truck that you are - I don't want anyone getting under the hood. I'm thinking about a set of hood pins with padlocks. The biggest problem I have with that is if I have an engine fire, I won't be able to get the hood open very fast.

I can only imagine that someone else has dealt with this and there may be other posts here that could help.

Re: 73-80 Hood Security
 

The core support is not different, but just about everything that bolts to it is. You will need a complete donor truck to gather all the parts required to convert it,

Re: 73-80 Hood Security
 

cool, wanted to swap the latch over too,gona check this out
and i guess i can put the other parts back together to work then too?

Re: 73-80 Hood Security
 

there are hood pin style that has keys to lock unlock them

Re: 73-80 Hood Security
 

Here in my neck nobody knows how to open my hood. At the tire shop i go to nonenof them knew how until the 60 year old manager showed them... I laughed lol
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Re: 73-80 Hood Security
 

Wish it was like that everywhere! At least you'd know the thieves were near retirement age!

Re: 73-80 Hood Security
 

That's a good idea. Been wanting to do something to my 74 and I think that's what I will do. Any pics of your set up like this?
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