Hood Release Handle Orientation
 

My old '78 Trans Am had a hood release handle that I pulled toward the front of the car. I reached it above the front spoiler from the front. My current' 77 has a hood release handle that I pull toward the bottom of the car by reaching under the front spoiler all the way under the car. Due to a hand injury that I have, plus my "advanced" age, this new method is very difficult for me to achieve gracefully. Is there a simple way to re-orient that handle so I can pop the hood the same way I used to in my '78?

Sounds like someone rigged that setup for some reason. My 77 is arranged like your 78 was. You’ll have to look and see if there is a spot for the handle in its original location. Maybe that will tell you why someone moved it and if it’s able to be moved back.

It should pull forward just as your '78 did. Someone must have had it disconnected at some point in its life, perhaps from some front end repair, and they incorrectly reinstalled it. You should be able to reinstall it in the correct orientation, and if they have a jury-rigged bracket on it, you can get a reproduction bracket or a used one, they are plentiful.

Yes, 77 hood release is the same as 78.

On my '78 I relocated my release because I didn't like looking at it from the front of the car. It was no mistake and it is more difficult to reach as GoreMaker describes.

Upon closer inspection, it looks like the bracket broke at some point in the past, and someone re-installed it in a weird way with it pointed in the wrong direction to get around the fact that it broke. Where would I find a new bracket? fbodywarehouse.com lists some, but they don't have any in stock. I couldn't find any in the Ames or CI catalogs.

I wouldn't pay anything like this price, used or repro. And there's plenty of used, this was just to show pic and prices of some. They seem to be nearly always rusty as out in the weather for 40 years, look for one with only surface rust or repainted to show smooth surface, not heavily pitted. GM #547861.

https://www.firebirdcentral.com/1977.../she-2529c.htm

And not shown on the 78 ad above, should also have this retainer in place to hold handle in bracket. And to save a whole dollar, it's probably the same retainer as on non-AC kick panel cable controls.

https://www.firebirdcentral.com/1977.../she-2529h.htm

Holy crap, they think very highly of their bent metal brackets �� I'm surprised reproductions aren't available yet.

There's a chance mine is fixable, the job that was done "fixing" it is bizarre, but the entire bracket appears to still be there. I did order a new cable, and that clip.
https://i.ibb.co/j8LvJwb/IMG-20211106-202920.jpg

Is it actually damaged and repaired, or simply rebolted in wrong location? It should be inside the opening next to the LH front park light. With yours, you could just reach in and tug at the cable.

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...ffe0cffe_b.jpgHood latch and cable 77_78 Firebird4 by Aus78Formula, on Flickr

Those cables used to be 7$. I hope everyone put a few away.
I bought 4 from greens obsolete parts back in the 80’s.

No need, Taiwan has plenty.

If you want repop crap on your car, that’s up to you.

Wow, $69.95. For a repop. So what’s a GM one go for? $150

No Taiwan here

I don't recall saying that I did.

You're a hero. Mine is installed and used as intended.

Beat the ripoff nOS prices for Gennie GM...

https://www.ebay.com/itm/26524072306...MAAOSw-29ZS5NF

https://www.ebay.com/itm/17171873146...IAAOxygo9Q9DOd

https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/l8MAA...NF/s-l1600.jpg

For the record, I was able to get it fixed. The old bracket had the locator pin unbent for some reason, and a slot was ground next to it to accommodate a second bolt. I was able to heat it up and bend it again, then place it where it belongs. Now I can open the hood without struggling like a mad ape.

I also replaced the cable with a cheap $10 one off eBay, and got the right retaining clip to hold it in place. Works like a charm. I don't think the hood has ever unlatched this smoothly.