I'm done �� I ended up buying some 3/64" 1x19 wire rope and swaging tools off amazon and made a new cable and threaded it through the outer housing of the old cable, starting at the cockpit end, and then swaged another end on the hood latch side. I got it all buttoned up finally around midnight Friday night �� I don't think I could have ever gotten the old cable assembly out or the new one in.... I think the relay panel was the last piece blocking me but I just couldn't get under there enough to see let alone try and get it out.
Although I ended up not installing the parts I got from you, talking with you, and holding the parts in my hand (and measuring the cable and inspecting the hood latch) was very valuable and I couldn't have done it without you. Thank you!
I also rerouted the emergency release to my tow hole in the bumper
