Hood problems..
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Instructor
Joined: Apr 2013
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From: Ottawa Ontario
Hood problems..
So of course everyone knows of the dreaded hood alignment, well anyways the shop my car is in told me the hinges are wrong.. I trust they are not lying to me to get more money out of me but what are they suppose to be like? If anyone has pictures of how the hinges look, or where to buy replacements would be awesome!! It is also a late model C4.. 1996
Charles R
Charles R
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From: Ottawa Ontario
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Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 222
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From: Ottawa Ontario
If they are correct what is most likely the problem? a disformed hood? when it is up the hood is very shaky only being supported on the long hood stand. Is that how its suppose to be? then when you put it down the left front end slides up pushing the hood up onto the wiper platforms and over my quarter panels
Le Mans Master
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From: SF bay area C.A.
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If it's shaky when it's up it would be the pins on the hinges, mine was like that. As far as aligning the hood there are all kinds of adjusters on the hinge and hinge mounts.
It takes a lot of patience to line it up properly and don't ever close the hood completely until you have it right because it may not open.
It takes a lot of patience to line it up properly and don't ever close the hood completely until you have it right because it may not open.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 6,314
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From: South-central Missouri
The "trick" to regulating the C4 hood (care of Marc Haibeck - ZR-1 Specialist) is to remove the headlight assembly from the hood (quite easy, in fact!) to access the hinge bolts.
Just loosen the bolts enough that with the hood closed but just resting on the latch pins, you can slide (bump) the hood to line it up where it needs to be before snugging it up just enough to keep it from slipping when opened.
Then loosen the three bolts on the latch pin plate so it can just slide enough to "self center" when the hood is pushed gently (by hand) down to latch.
You may have to go back and forth a bit to get it right, but this trick makes for short work, compared to about any other hood I've had to regulate!
IF there are uneven gaps between the bumper and the front of the hood, or the gaps between the doors and the hood are not even, then you may need to resort to shimming or adjusting, I suppose.
For hinges, check with Jason at Vette2Vette
Just loosen the bolts enough that with the hood closed but just resting on the latch pins, you can slide (bump) the hood to line it up where it needs to be before snugging it up just enough to keep it from slipping when opened.
Then loosen the three bolts on the latch pin plate so it can just slide enough to "self center" when the hood is pushed gently (by hand) down to latch.
You may have to go back and forth a bit to get it right, but this trick makes for short work, compared to about any other hood I've had to regulate!
IF there are uneven gaps between the bumper and the front of the hood, or the gaps between the doors and the hood are not even, then you may need to resort to shimming or adjusting, I suppose.
For hinges, check with Jason at Vette2Vette
Last edited by Paul Workman; Dec 1, 2013 at 07:38 AM.
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From: Ottawa Ontario
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Race Director
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The hinges are the same for all years (C4). Align the hood to the doors (with shims), and then the bumper and sides to the hood. Sometimes its easier to remove the gaskets (rubber tubes) on the inner fenders before adjusting. Also pin the latches so they are wide open. It takes a lot of moving around some times, the hood should latch firmly without loading one way or the other.
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There are also shims just in front of the crash bar to get the bumper gap to hood right.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 6,528
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From: South Dakota
My '94 hinges were bad (bent) after I hit a deer. The hood was off to the left in front when the back was lined up. That was the best I could get it.
I couldn't find new hinges, but found some used ones. When I put them on, the hood could be lined up normally again.
I doubt that the hinges fail like mine very often (without an accident), but they can be bad and cause alignment problems.
Good luck.
I couldn't find new hinges, but found some used ones. When I put them on, the hood could be lined up normally again.
I doubt that the hinges fail like mine very often (without an accident), but they can be bad and cause alignment problems.
Good luck.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 7,182
Likes: 100
From: Pendleton IN
If it's shaky when it's up it would be the pins on the hinges, mine was like that. As far as aligning the hood there are all kinds of adjusters on the hinge and hinge mounts.
It takes a lot of patience to line it up properly and don't ever close the hood completely until you have it right because it may not open.
It takes a lot of patience to line it up properly and don't ever close the hood completely until you have it right because it may not open.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 7,182
Likes: 100
From: Pendleton IN
The "trick" to regulating the C4 hood (care of Marc Haibeck - ZR-1 Specialist) is to remove the headlight assembly from the hood (quite easy, in fact!) to access the hinge bolts.
Just loosen the bolts enough that with the hood closed but just resting on the latch pins, you can slide (bump) the hood to line it up where it needs to be before snugging it up just enough to keep it from slipping when opened.
Then loosen the three bolts on the latch pin plate so it can just slide enough to "self center" when the hood is pushed gently (by hand) down to latch.
You may have to go back and forth a bit to get it right, but this trick makes for short work, compared to about any other hood I've had to regulate!
IF there are uneven gaps between the bumper and the front of the hood, or the gaps between the doors and the hood are not even, then you may need to resort to shimming or adjusting, I suppose.
For hinges, check with Jason at Vette2Vette
Just loosen the bolts enough that with the hood closed but just resting on the latch pins, you can slide (bump) the hood to line it up where it needs to be before snugging it up just enough to keep it from slipping when opened.
Then loosen the three bolts on the latch pin plate so it can just slide enough to "self center" when the hood is pushed gently (by hand) down to latch.
You may have to go back and forth a bit to get it right, but this trick makes for short work, compared to about any other hood I've had to regulate!
IF there are uneven gaps between the bumper and the front of the hood, or the gaps between the doors and the hood are not even, then you may need to resort to shimming or adjusting, I suppose.
For hinges, check with Jason at Vette2Vette
