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Explorer Maintenance - Modifications - Performance Upgrades - Problem Solving - Off-Road - Street Explorer Forum Covers the Explorer, ST, Sport, Sport Trac, Lincoln Aviator, Mercury Mountaineer, Mazda Navajo, Ford Ranger, Mazda Pickups, and the Ford Aerostar
I was looking at billet grilles online, and I was wondering how you would pop the hood, it doesnt seem like you can reach your fingers to pop the latch.
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The pictures are probably from a 98+. They had the hood catch in the space under the hood when it pops, not in the grill. I believe you would need to make some sort of extension bracket to hit the catch.
I was searching for this topic as I too have the same billet grill on a '97 Sport that I purchased last year. I wanted to add a few pics to show anyone that runs into this issue just another variation of what can be done. Here are a few picks of the hack that I implemented on mine. I used an old 1/4" brace that I found lying around the garage. Mild-steel rod from a hardware store would work just as well. I drilled a small hole in the existing lever and screwed this scrap bracket on to it, then added a few tack welds. I pushed a little vacuum plug onto the end and wrapped it with black tape. That's it.
Now I can reach down just below the bottom of the grill where there's ample space for my hand and fingers and move the lever-extension to release the latch. Hope this helps someone that might run into this again.