[MaSnaka]

I like DV's don't panic attitude. I was looking at the assembly with another local CR owner at our tri-county club get together this weekend and saw that the latch receiving end was bolted to the firewall/body in a manner that the 4 bolts could be removed from under the dash and popped out. Hence lifting the whole assembly upwards. The only hitch was the receiver has a flange on the top that could interlock with the lip of the fiberglass body where it comes over the firewall. I'm not saying it would be easy, but between that and the side vent access there are options other than cutting. Keeping the whole assembly properly lubed will ease the operation of opening and closing the hood. My cable run is very short with the pull centered under the dash fwiw.

John