Hood Level and Alignment
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 30,995
Likes: 99
From: Ontario
Hood Level and Alignment
As you can see from the pic the vertical passenger side hood level is a wee bit low. The driver's side is fine. The overall horizontal/alignment/spacing is OK. I have some hood hinge shims from a reputable supplier. Would the addition of one or two bring that hood up to match the front body?
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 944
Likes: 1
From: WA
Re: Hood Level and Alignment (paul67)
paul67;
Yes, it will help, but your hood also looks high on the right side already. After you install the shim or shims, you might have to make an adj. on the hood bumper bolt on the hood catch. Is your hood latched and flushed with the rear of the surround in the pic.? If it's high in the rear now, at least you will have some room for adj. in the down direction. You can also just try shimming the most forward hole of the hinge mount, inner skirt side. This will bring it up a pinch higher.
Craig ;)
BTW, changes usually bring on other changes,(good & bad) so sometimes you must find that happy medium. :yesnod:
[Modified by Cmacsvette, 1:39 AM 10/4/2003]
Yes, it will help, but your hood also looks high on the right side already. After you install the shim or shims, you might have to make an adj. on the hood bumper bolt on the hood catch. Is your hood latched and flushed with the rear of the surround in the pic.? If it's high in the rear now, at least you will have some room for adj. in the down direction. You can also just try shimming the most forward hole of the hinge mount, inner skirt side. This will bring it up a pinch higher.
Craig ;)
BTW, changes usually bring on other changes,(good & bad) so sometimes you must find that happy medium. :yesnod:
[Modified by Cmacsvette, 1:39 AM 10/4/2003]
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 30,995
Likes: 99
From: Ontario
Re: Hood Level and Alignment (Cmacsvette)
I appreciate your comments. I will try a shim tomorrow and repost. I do recognize that there are compromises to be made: these cars were not perfect from the factory originally and will not be so 36 years later ;),
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 944
Likes: 1
From: WA
Re: Hood Level and Alignment (paul67)
Paul, don't forget, your hood pin can also be adj. to bring the back down. Most likely you will be making an adj. on the hood bumper bolt too, if your adj. the hood pin. They have a direct relationship to each other.
Craig :)
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 5,399
Likes: 985
From: Itasca IL
Re: Hood Level and Alignment (paul67)
Paul,
I just realigned my hood to correct the opposite problem--mine was slightly above the upper surround all along the front edge. Mine had no shims in it (probably removed and not replaced after it was painted last). a variety of alignment or body shims will help. You have several adjustment options with the front hinges. Shim between the inner fender mounting point and the hinge itself. You may (as I did) need to shim the hinge with different thicknesses of shims under the front and aft bolts to get the alignment correct. In my case, I had to add 1/8" shims to the rear bolts and left the fronts alone to "tilt" the pivot point down and forward. This brought the front edge of the hood into near perfect alingment and closed the gap slightly as well. Still not Lexus quality, but better than most of the midyears I have noticed.
IM me if you have further questions.
I just realigned my hood to correct the opposite problem--mine was slightly above the upper surround all along the front edge. Mine had no shims in it (probably removed and not replaced after it was painted last). a variety of alignment or body shims will help. You have several adjustment options with the front hinges. Shim between the inner fender mounting point and the hinge itself. You may (as I did) need to shim the hinge with different thicknesses of shims under the front and aft bolts to get the alignment correct. In my case, I had to add 1/8" shims to the rear bolts and left the fronts alone to "tilt" the pivot point down and forward. This brought the front edge of the hood into near perfect alingment and closed the gap slightly as well. Still not Lexus quality, but better than most of the midyears I have noticed.
IM me if you have further questions.
