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Trunk release cable

Discussion in 'Technical Q&A' started by CarlH, Aug 14, 2004.

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  1. CarlH

    CarlH Karting

    Feb 5, 2004
    81
    MD
    Full Name:
    Carl H.
    #1 CarlH, Aug 14, 2004
    My front trunk release cable snapped at the point where the cable attaches to the release lever. Went to Italian car parts dot com and bought the replacement part for the 308. What they sent (for a total of $50) was about 4 feet of stainless cable without any of the circular attachment lugs. After looking at what they sent I realized that I can get the same cable from the local bike shop for about $7. Anyone know where I can get the cable with the lug attached? Also open to any alternative attachment options.
     
  2. Darolls

    Darolls F1 Veteran
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    Jul 2, 2003
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    Sparky
    #2 Darolls, Aug 14, 2004
    I don't know why anyone buys from Italian Car Parts, their prices are outrageous.....a total rip-off!

    You can probably get the lugs at your local hardware store. Attach them to the cable you have.
     
  3. CarlH

    CarlH Karting

    Feb 5, 2004
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    Carl H.
    #3 CarlH, Aug 15, 2004
    Live and learn. As my father would often tell me - "You learned a cheep lesson". Well after 40 years of these cheep lessons, I am well on my way to being the smartest - brokest guy around.
    For my $50 I expected more than a few feet of wire cable. I expected a finished (OEM) product ready to install. My last purchase from them!

    Will try the hardware approach you recommended. I am a bit concerned that the crimp or solder type lugs I find there might not be strong enough for the application.

    Also now worried that the rear deck release should be updated. The front end has a backup cable, not so for the back. There was a thread a few weeks ago where someone was attempting to get the deck open with a snapped cable. Recommendations were to break in through the tail lights. Did not follow the outcome but that approach sounds nasty.
     
  4. bill308

    bill308 Formula 3
    Silver Subscribed

    May 13, 2001
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    Windsor, CT
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    Bill Sebestyen
    #4 bill308, Aug 15, 2004
    CarlH,

    Stainless wire and swaged sleeves are commonly used on sail boat standing and running rigging. You might want to check out a marine supply house or sail boat rigger.

    I did a search at West Marine and came up with the following:

    7 x 19 flexible stainless steel Wire is available from 1/16 inch and larger:

    http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=10001&langId=-1&catalogId=10001&productId=3892&catalogId=10001&classNum=10903&subdeptNum=11208&storeNum=2


    Swaged Stop Sleeves:

    http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=10001&langId=-1&catalogId=10001&productId=43275


    Swaged Oval sleeves:

    http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=10001&langId=-1&catalogId=10001&productId=3079


    Swaging tool for sleeves:

    http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=10001&langId=-1&catalogId=10001&productId=72020

    If you can describe what you want to them they can typically make it up for you saving the cost of the the swaging tool.

    Hope this helps.
     
  5. CarlH

    CarlH Karting

    Feb 5, 2004
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    Carl H.
    #5 CarlH, Aug 15, 2004
    Worth a shot. Will stop in at the local West Marine shop today.
    Thanks!
     
  6. Spasso

    Spasso F1 World Champ

    Feb 16, 2003
    14,656
    The fabulous PNW
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    Han Solo
    #6 Spasso, Aug 15, 2004
    Hi Carl,

    Actually, I believe there is a back-up cable for the rear hatch on your car. On my 78' 308 it is on the rear bulkhead, just outboard of the drivers headrest, underneath the seat belt. Same for a 1980 GTSi. It's a black plastic T handle.

    The thread you are referring to was about the right rear latch not releasing on a 288 replica because the cable between the two latches was out of adjustment. The latch was released through a small hole in the aft side of the right rear wheel well liner. My car happens to have the same hole.

    I also have pictures showing how to release the latch by sticking a small rod into a hole in the side of the latch. The owner of the 288 used a rod from a babies crib shoved through the hole in the wheel well liner..

    No broken tailights.
     
  7. tesseract

    tesseract Karting

    Dec 24, 2003
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    Charlotte, NC
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    Jeff W.
    #7 tesseract, Aug 19, 2004
    Yep, that was me. Yeah, the crib rail......

    Slightly different problem, but I feel your pain. The mechanism was not well thought out in terms of "what if something goes wrong". I looked into figuring out a decent backup system, but couldn't come up with one out that didn't just tie back to a potentially breakable cable. Figure that being locked out of access to your engine it is just part of the mystique of owning a Ferrari.

    Good luck.
     

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