billet grille on a 97

[catdaddy614]

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.

 

[Charlie]

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.

 

[MONMIX]

some people just keep a screw driver in their glove box and use that.
You know, stick it in the grille to reach.

 

[97layinframe]

yeah i got one on my 97 i just use a screw driver

 

[tac40]

Sorry for the six-years-late reply....

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.

--mike

 

[MONMIX]

great thinking.
Thanks for sharing.