Great news! I finally fixed my front main seal leak on my 1949 Olds 88. Big project done. Bad news, can’t open my hood now! My good cable must not be aligned properly. Now the hood is desperately stuck.
question: should I fiddle with the underside of the latch plate snd hope to mechanically manipulate the latch using a long screwdriver or should I unbolt the latch assembly? I can see four nuts that seem to secure the assembly. If that’s all that holds it on should I try that? I’d hate to get the latch loose if it won’t help release the hood. I’m imagining if I unbolt the latch it will go up with the hood. What am I missing?

 

You may have already tried this, I have had someone push down on the hood while another person pulls on the cable. That could take a enough pressure off the latch so it will release.

 

If the center pin had been loosened sometime before, you could run it out of the latch to let the hood up. If not, yes, the 4 bolts will let you open the hood. Problem (again) is, how loose are they? I'd use an impact gun on them, as you can usually loosen them with a gun, without putting a wrench on the bolt heads, up top. They will spin if you just use a wrench or ratchet on the nuts. And I don't think you can access them easily from the grill opening.

 

Great advice with the impact. After removing the four bolts securing the latch I was able to open the hood.
Anyone know of a replacement source? Mine broke right at the handle inside the car.

 

California Pontiac Restoration, $20.00

 

never seen that site before. Thanks but I can’t seem to find it. 1300 parts come up for hood cable and notning comes up with the Olds 88 filter. Got a link to the part you saw?

 

If that site has it, cable for same year Pontiac Chieftain should work. This is where it helps to understand GM body platforms and interchanges.

 

California Pontiac Restoration Ebay store. Try putting that in. It's a universal "T" handle.