thanks for posting this.. kinda curious how to adjust mine, myself...
Hood alignment problem
Thread Starter
4th Gear
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
Hood alignment problem
Hi, I am seeking some advice on a hood alignment issue. I have a very nice 1980 with original paint. The hood alignment needs some adjusting.
It is about 3/8" high on the passenger side windshield end, about 1/4" low on both sides mide fender (about 12" back from front, perfectly flush at the front and MOST CONCERNING the gap on the passenger side is very wide with almost no clearance on the driver side. The hood touches the side at the windshield end when you close it.
I purchased the rubber spacers to address the drop on the sides, but am now nervous to put them in if this would cause a stress paint crack by changing the stress & bend of the hood - any advise here?
Also the side to side clearance has to be addressed - can the hood bolts at the front be loosened & the hood slightly moved - is this something I should do or am I best to take it to a body shop to have done?
thanks in advance for any feedback/comments
mike
It is about 3/8" high on the passenger side windshield end, about 1/4" low on both sides mide fender (about 12" back from front, perfectly flush at the front and MOST CONCERNING the gap on the passenger side is very wide with almost no clearance on the driver side. The hood touches the side at the windshield end when you close it.
I purchased the rubber spacers to address the drop on the sides, but am now nervous to put them in if this would cause a stress paint crack by changing the stress & bend of the hood - any advise here?
Also the side to side clearance has to be addressed - can the hood bolts at the front be loosened & the hood slightly moved - is this something I should do or am I best to take it to a body shop to have done?
thanks in advance for any feedback/comments
mike
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 1,806
Likes: 3
From: Burlington WI
Its a juggling act...
I just re-installed my hood on my 78 after an engine swap.
The first order of business was to get it laying evenly in the opening.
It doesn't take much adjustment on the hinges to move the rear of the hood quite a bit.
The front of my hood was sitting below the fenders and I had to shim it to get it flush.
It was trial and error until I got it centered and had the same gap on the front as was on the sides.
After the alignment was correct it was time to adjust the latches for the hood releases. I centered the catches and then shimmed them to get the rear of the hood to come out flush with the top of the fenders.
I have two rubber stops laying on my bench and I dont appear to need them. I had the same concern about stressing the hood if I installed them.
The first order of business was to get it laying evenly in the opening.
It doesn't take much adjustment on the hinges to move the rear of the hood quite a bit.
The front of my hood was sitting below the fenders and I had to shim it to get it flush.
It was trial and error until I got it centered and had the same gap on the front as was on the sides.
After the alignment was correct it was time to adjust the latches for the hood releases. I centered the catches and then shimmed them to get the rear of the hood to come out flush with the top of the fenders.
I have two rubber stops laying on my bench and I dont appear to need them. I had the same concern about stressing the hood if I installed them.
Last edited by fl_rider; Sep 3, 2005 at 09:58 AM. Reason: More info
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 16,100
Likes: 17
When you get to the rubber bumper install (along hood side) you may have to trim the top of them with a razor blade...I did this when replacing mine to get top of hood side flush with fenders.....I used 3M weather strip adhesive to glue them in....2 per side...
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 1,806
Likes: 3
From: Burlington WI
Good idea!!
Originally Posted by rihwoods
When you get to the rubber bumper install (along hood side) you may have to trim the top of them with a razor blade...I did this when replacing mine...
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 16,100
Likes: 17
Originally Posted by fl_rider
Or maybe sand off the bottom of them before you glue them down.
Rich
Thread Starter
4th Gear
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
follow up on hood
Thanks for all the great responses and discussion, since many have experience maybe you can help me with some of the specifics.
Are there adjustments up front, or just the spring posts and latches at the top (windshield end) - as far as height - mine is flush at the front, low in the middle and slightly high at the top - which looks like the hood has "bowed" down just a bit, are the spacers the only solution and is there great risk to cracking the paint? maybe 4 would be better than 2 to distribute the stress?
As far as centering it - can I assume there is enough play in the front bolt brackets? Are the nuts hard threaded into the hood, I cannot see how to get to the other side and am a bit afraid to loosen these yet?
thanks again!
mike
Are there adjustments up front, or just the spring posts and latches at the top (windshield end) - as far as height - mine is flush at the front, low in the middle and slightly high at the top - which looks like the hood has "bowed" down just a bit, are the spacers the only solution and is there great risk to cracking the paint? maybe 4 would be better than 2 to distribute the stress?
As far as centering it - can I assume there is enough play in the front bolt brackets? Are the nuts hard threaded into the hood, I cannot see how to get to the other side and am a bit afraid to loosen these yet?
thanks again!
mike
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 16,100
Likes: 17
The hood,along it's length is flexible enough and two rubber stops a side should be enough...I did not have any cracking,stress issues installing them...my front stop is 10" from end of fender rail....the stop at windshield end is 9 !/2" from fender rail end....
I glued stops,then slowly closed hood until it latched..I made note of how much higher the hood was above fender,then opened hood,trimmed stops,and checked again...I did one side,then the other...note also there is a difference in the two stops...one is for the shallow fender rail end(towards windshield),and the other is for the deeper forward fender rail end of hood..
I glued stops,then slowly closed hood until it latched..I made note of how much higher the hood was above fender,then opened hood,trimmed stops,and checked again...I did one side,then the other...note also there is a difference in the two stops...one is for the shallow fender rail end(towards windshield),and the other is for the deeper forward fender rail end of hood..
Last edited by rihwoods; Sep 3, 2005 at 12:10 PM.
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