Ancillary Bonnet Release

Here's a great addition you can make to your MG for under $7 - an extra bonnet release cable. This idea has been discussed on the MGB Experience BBS. Daniel showed me the setup on his 72 GT when he dropped by and I then simply had to install this on both cars. It only takes a few minutes and it is a real convenience - especially if the existing bonnet release were to fail.

I made a trip to Lowes to pick up some 1/16" ferrules for under $1 a package. You get two ferrules and stops per package. Pick up an extra package in case you ruin one like I did. The next stop was Performance Bike shop where I splurged: $5 each for teflon-coated mountain bike brake cables. Sure, the regular cables are a lot less expensive, but you'll see why I spent the big bucks in a minute.

The new cable must attach to the release arm similar to the standard cable. The options include drilling a new hole in the existing arm or feeding the cable through the same hole as the return spring. I chose the latter and looped the cable up through the hole and back over toward the driver side, fastening the ferrule as close as possible to the arm (red arrow).

A new hole was drilled in the support under the bonnet latch and the cable fed through on its journey toward the driver side wing (green arrow).

I ran the cable through the rubber grommet where the headlamp and signal lamp wires run, avoiding the need to drill another hole in the body. This is why I used the teflon-coated cable. I do not want the cable to wear through any insulation and cause a short! I looped the cable back on itself and secured with a stop and ferrule. Its a good idea to strip the teflon off the cable where the ferrule is attached to avoid slippage. The picture shows the LE which has the wing removed as part of the sill repair project. To release the bonnet, reach under the wheel well, slip your finger into the loop and a quick tug.

The later model cars provide a lot less room to work. I had the front bumper off on the LE and this made it much easier, but its a tight space between the hood latch and the twin fans - make sure you get that cable tight or else your plastic fan will meet an untimely end.

That is all there is too it! In a few minutes you can have an extra bonnet release that provides convenience and a backup in case the original cable breaks or seizes.