Classic/Antique Car Repair: ford 56 tbird hood latch, hood latch, hood cable

Question
Hi I have a 1956 T bird and the cable that goes under the hood is not working. i think the end piece fell off or the cable broke. Is there a way to open the hood from under the car or somewhere do they have an alternate latch   Thanks Mike  

Answer
Back in the day when I was working as a carburetor and tune up man in a Ford Dealer we had one of these delivered off the truck with a broken hood cable. The body man in the dealer put the car up on the grease rack, that was the only lift in the entire dealership, and from under the car with a mirror on a stick a drop light and some heavy threaded rod went up from the bottom and tripped the hood latch. I have never tried this but it took him just a few minuted to pop the hood.
Brad