Hood latch disconnected

[Nazarethk5]

The hood latch on my 86 blazer has disconnected at the latch in the front. The hood is shut, so how do I get it open?

 

[blazin' j]

holy crap...good question...

 

[K10 KRAWLER]

Other than smashing your grille or drilling a hole in the hood, you can pry up on the hood, and squeeze a......1/2'' or 9/16'' (i cant remember) wrench in and remove the two lower bolts holding the latch to your rad support. but you may mess up your gap.

 

[toomany]

Edit: ^^^^ Beat me to it....FWIW, It's a 1/2" bolt head too.

I've had the cable break on mine (actually it came disconnected from the latch). I pryed the hood up with a pry bar, then was able to use a 1/4" extension and socket to get to the latch adjustment bolts. Not exactly the best solution, but it worked. It didn't do any damage to the hood, but I dinged the trim around the grill.

 

[K10 KRAWLER]

Edit: ^^^^ Beat me to it....FWIW, It's a 1/2" bolt head too.

I've had the cable break on mine (actually it came disconnected from the latch). I pryed the hood up with a pry bar, then was able to use a 1/4" extension and socket to get to the latch adjustment bolts. Not exactly the best solution, but it worked. It didn't do any damage to the hood, but I dinged the trim around the grill.

Mine broke last year, but now That I think of it, your right, I think I used a ratchet and extension, not a wrench. either way, you can take it off at the rad support, or at the angle bracket holding the latch on.

 

[GsxrMike]

OR

JK!

 

[Fordum]

This is quicker<G>.

 

[GsxrMike]

This is quicker<G>.

This might work to but I don't think it would be very cost effective!

 

[K10 KRAWLER]

I think Gm made this tool, for this exact problem!

 

[Nazarethk5]

Thanks for the help guys I ended up using toomany's strategy except I used 3 wood shims that where hammered in. And then unbolted the latch itself with a u joint ratchet.