hood release cable replacement

[timspider]

replacing my hood release cable on my 78. Looks pretty straight forward but wanted to check a couple things before I get the drill.
1. It appears that I will have to drill out one side of the slot in the pull handle just a little to thread the new cable into that and allow it to seat.
2. Does it matter whether you insert the new one from the engine bay or the footwell area? That little rubber boot that it goes through looks to be in surprisingly good shape, but I don't want to rip it by doing this wrong.
3. I can see the hole in the engine compartment right under the brake fluid reservoir. Do I need to loosen that reservoir to thread the new one? If so, anything I need to know before I do that?
thanks as always

[juvius]

tim. you don't need to drill. you loosen the nut on the latch itself so that the cable will slide out. once it's loose, get under the dash where the pull handle is and pull the cable all the way out. so, you're actually pulling the cable out of the cable housing. you will put it back in in reverse of taking it out.

[timspider]

and that is why it's ok to ask dumb questions. I did not know that the cable came out of the sleeve.
I might just use the old sleeve if no wear on it.
That was easy, thanks.

[juvius]

and that is why it's ok to ask dumb questions. I did not know that the cable came out of the sleeve.
I might just use the old sleeve if no wear on it.
That was easy, thanks.

If the cable housing is still in good shape, that would make the job much easier