My original cable that came with my 1963 Jaguar 3.8s had a chrome knob, I am not sure if it was original but it broke. I purchased what was the replacement from SNG Barrett but after a week or so the plastic knob that was attached to the cable on the inside broke off with the male shaft. I think that end knob is glued to the inside end of the hood release cable where there is a maybe a 3/8" wide cast metal end?

Does anyone know if there is a better quality hood release cable?

 

I am thinking that cable was attached to the end of the knob so it is defect ??

 

I agree the cable should be soldered to the end of the shaft that is attached to the plastic knob. You could have it re soldered but best to send it back to SNG for a replacement and have them look at the batch in case they are all defective. Nice to see there is an original part on you car!

 

True, while there is a replacement, to me some of these replacement parts are just not as high of a quality as the original. SNG will send me a new one for free which is good and they have been a great source for parts.

 

be sure to remove, clean, regrease and reassemble the bonnet (hood) latch to make life easy on the cable

 

How hard was it to pull? If the bonnet catch is stiff or the hood fitting is quite tight pulling on the catch when closed (making the catch stiff) it might increase the load on the cable when you pull it over what the cable is expected to be able to.

 

The hood released worked fine for about 1.5 weeks releasing with very little pulling, but then one day I pulled and the entire handle and base came off. What I believe happened was that the just did not properly crimp the cable; the cable goes into the hollow portion of the handle and that rod is crimped but not done right. I have now installed a new one from Moss Motors and am getting a backup new one for free from SN&G. It is a pain to do because you have to take the front grill out as there is no room otherwise. This happens on many old cars, where some part is no longer available but an aftermarket one is but they are not always as good as the original. You have to make due in those cases as things will wear out....

 

in your heavily modified S type, I imagine removing the radiator is not an option to make it easier to remove the grille.
​​​​​​but it isn't easy with a stock radiator either.

I have removed the 6 grille nuts and washers through the small access panel under the grille but it left my arm swollen, scratched, and hurting for over a week.
Cutting a larger panel would help.

 

Yep, it is a pain the ***! but doable if you are patient.

 

My experience years ago was that instead of the nut turning on the stud, a couple of the studs twisted off the grille. Drilling and tapping the grille to replace them added to the pain. This last time, I did it all with the radiator out of the car which was much easier. A Jaguar engineer of the day recommended making the little access hole bigger.

 

replace all the 8mm nuts with Wing nuts and reuse the Star lock washers. Finger tighten only, no ratchet or socket. The grille is going nowhere.
When the studs break off it's because they are over-tightened. We all have a nasty habit of overtightening things.

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Good advice!