New 300zx, couple mechanical questions

[Turnips]

I recently bought a used 1990 300zx for really cheap. Some things need fixing but I've got a couple questions about two things on the car I cant figure out.

There is a pin and wire that doesn't seem to do anything located under the steering wheel near the hood release. The writing on the underside of the tube says Z-LOK, is it some kind of aftermarket lock system?




Also about the hood. I heard if you jack the car up improperly it will bend the frame. I'm not sure if that is the case or the hood is just bent.




Anyone know about these two things?

[javadave]

Not sure about the hood being bent, but yes, the pin and wire is whats left of an aftermarket hood lock. It used to probably take a round key to unlock. The other end of it is the bracket on the drivers side of your stock hood release assembly. When the keyed cylinder on the lock was pressed in and locked it would slide a rod out of the assembly under the hood, thereby locking it shut.

The hood could be bent due to someone prying on it while the lock was engaged, trying to get it open.

[itsa300zx]

The hood is prob. due to someone jacking the car up at the radiator support, therefore pushing the hood latch up also. Does the stock latch still work, and/or is the cable still attached to the latch?

[Metacom]

The hood latch is adjustable, from the pic it looks like yours is set to too high. After adjusting it down, then you adjust the rubber bump stoppers on the sides...how-to-adjust-the-hood-t394491.html

[ThisIsSparTTa]

To figure out if your radiator core support is bent just check out someone else's. It will be pretty obvious if yours is higher than it should be.