C4 Hood Alignment
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 50
Likes: 1
From: Fremont, CA USA
C4 Hood Alignment
I've got an interesting one here. Needed to replace hood on "90" and the odd thing is it appears it can't be moved forward enough (hood from ~95 era). The problem is that the driver side door is getting overlaped by the hood. Spent many hours attempting different alignment things but to no avail.
Any ideas
I know if I modify the front hinges (dremel) it will fit, but this is a last resort.
Any ideas
I know if I modify the front hinges (dremel) it will fit, but this is a last resort.
Racer
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 372
Likes: 1
From: Corunna Mi
First suggestion is do not try to adjust the hood while the "hood strut" is connected. It will push the hood back towards the door. Once you have everything close by adding/subtracting shims, then add the strut and do the "fine tuning".
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 4,532
Likes: 7
From: Lahaina Hi
When adjusting remove the hood bullets on each side.
If worse comes to worse you man need to add more shims to the nose
to bring the hood foward.
You also may have the wrong hood.
Newer hoods 94 and up are just about a 1/16 longer that the older ones.
The 85/4 are also just a little wider.
I would never touch the doors.
The hood is most likely comming down to low and causing the door to hit.
If worse comes to worse you man need to add more shims to the nose
to bring the hood foward.
You also may have the wrong hood.
Newer hoods 94 and up are just about a 1/16 longer that the older ones.
The 85/4 are also just a little wider.
I would never touch the doors.
The hood is most likely comming down to low and causing the door to hit.
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 50
Likes: 1
From: Fremont, CA USA
Intersting factoid on the newer hood!
A few FAQ's:
1-front end wreck & had body shop replace front cross member. Alignment was in check (good thing!).
2-All hardware off hood except rubber feet @ rear of hood (hood latch hardware off hood)
3-Shimmed up/down to no avail
Note: Noticed if I use the default shims I had before the hood is high in regards to the black trim line of the door. Is this another effect of the newer hoods (i.e. changed to accomidate 90 style trim)?
4-Entire curvature of hood overlaps driver door (with hood hinge all the way forward) with hood side parallel.
5-Hood strut not connected
6-New hood (off parted 90 which was repaired...front end) is OEM, but definitely newer (riveted wheel well(s) & side holes (plugged) for ZR1/grand sport badges).
Questions:
1: 1/16 longer (so, ~60" hood (not looking at it), so 3 3/4 longer? Yikes!)
2:85/4 ?
Note" This does seem a bit wider, but believe can address by adjusting angle of door.
3:Will a new hood work on a 90 (got lucky with this hood, nice shape & good price)?
A few FAQ's:
1-front end wreck & had body shop replace front cross member. Alignment was in check (good thing!).
2-All hardware off hood except rubber feet @ rear of hood (hood latch hardware off hood)
3-Shimmed up/down to no avail
Note: Noticed if I use the default shims I had before the hood is high in regards to the black trim line of the door. Is this another effect of the newer hoods (i.e. changed to accomidate 90 style trim)?
4-Entire curvature of hood overlaps driver door (with hood hinge all the way forward) with hood side parallel.
5-Hood strut not connected
6-New hood (off parted 90 which was repaired...front end) is OEM, but definitely newer (riveted wheel well(s) & side holes (plugged) for ZR1/grand sport badges).
Questions:
1: 1/16 longer (so, ~60" hood (not looking at it), so 3 3/4 longer? Yikes!)
2:85/4 ?
Note" This does seem a bit wider, but believe can address by adjusting angle of door.
3:Will a new hood work on a 90 (got lucky with this hood, nice shape & good price)?
Last edited by cvette_90; Jan 25, 2006 at 04:01 AM. Reason: clarification on an item
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 848
Likes: 1
From: 1992 LT1 6 speed Cayman Islands
Zr1
You said that there were holes for ZR1 badges. I am not positive but I think the ZR hood may be wider to flow into the wider door shins and rear quarter panels.
Just a thought
Jerris
Just a thought
Jerris
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 5,789
Likes: 8
From: Myrtle Beach SC
St. Jude Donor '05-'06
ZR1 hood?I would think those are rare as the ZR1 guys are like pirhanas when one goes to the grave.
I see there was a front end wreck.How sure are you that everything in the front has the correct geometry?Did your body guy put it on a frame jig?It won't take much to throw everything out of whack.Was it hit on the drivers front?You did not mention the fit on the pass side is it 1/16 off too?If it is not it sure looks to be a geometry problem to me.Even if the hood is oversized it should line up the same on both sides.
I see there was a front end wreck.How sure are you that everything in the front has the correct geometry?Did your body guy put it on a frame jig?It won't take much to throw everything out of whack.Was it hit on the drivers front?You did not mention the fit on the pass side is it 1/16 off too?If it is not it sure looks to be a geometry problem to me.Even if the hood is oversized it should line up the same on both sides.
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 4,532
Likes: 7
From: Lahaina Hi
Don't carve the hood th fit the door!
ON the hood try removing the big nut and spring and alighn the hood and see if that makes it closer.
I can't rember what I did to line mine up but I will think on it.
I know I had to bang the passenger side metal at the front Where the front bolts to the nose, to get it to line up .Mine was hit on the passenger side and that caused it to be off on drivers side and it was ok on pass side.
My first hood I just ground down the hood to match the door.I blew that hood off with a nitrous explosen.
The last hood I tried to install was 84/85 that was way off,the one I have now is a 96 it was real easy to fit .
ON the hood try removing the big nut and spring and alighn the hood and see if that makes it closer.
I can't rember what I did to line mine up but I will think on it.
I know I had to bang the passenger side metal at the front Where the front bolts to the nose, to get it to line up .Mine was hit on the passenger side and that caused it to be off on drivers side and it was ok on pass side.
My first hood I just ground down the hood to match the door.I blew that hood off with a nitrous explosen.
The last hood I tried to install was 84/85 that was way off,the one I have now is a 96 it was real easy to fit .
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Every 2027 Corvette Engine Explained
Joe Kucinski
Designer Imagines A Corvette That Looks More Like a Corvette Than the Corvette
Verdad Gallardo
10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 50
Likes: 1
From: Fremont, CA USA
Not sure if it was a ZR1, but it had the holes for badges. Also the skirts were (I say were since I drilled these out to use the original fastners) rivited vs fastened with fastners (I believe this introduced 93 or later?).
I wasn't going to modify the hood only the front hinges if need be. I would just elongate the holes, ect.
The guy at the shop (Corvette shop in Business 25yrs & close to my home) just mentioned the alignment appeared ok. The impact was on the drivers side. Car doesn't pull or behave differently then it did if this helps. Also doors open/close the same as well.
The 1/16 extra length comment is interesting. Was there a different hinge? Was the increased length from the hinge to the window?
I'm going to experiment a bit more tonight & tomorrow.
Any other suggestions welcome.
I wasn't going to modify the hood only the front hinges if need be. I would just elongate the holes, ect.
The guy at the shop (Corvette shop in Business 25yrs & close to my home) just mentioned the alignment appeared ok. The impact was on the drivers side. Car doesn't pull or behave differently then it did if this helps. Also doors open/close the same as well.
The 1/16 extra length comment is interesting. Was there a different hinge? Was the increased length from the hinge to the window?
I'm going to experiment a bit more tonight & tomorrow.
Any other suggestions welcome.
Last edited by cvette_90; Jan 27, 2006 at 09:52 PM.
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 4,532
Likes: 7
From: Lahaina Hi
The difference was in the spring top inside of hood with the big nut on it,I could only install 2 of the 3 bolts to hold the hood pin in place.
I had to cut the holes oblong to get 2 to hold stricker into place and align it that way.That was throwing the hood off on both sides .
I also removed the inner plastic panels so I could see how it was lining up .The plastic panels around the wheel.
If you remove both the spring nuts ,hood lock pins,you can see that the hood will line up pretty good and just go from their.
I had to cut the holes oblong to get 2 to hold stricker into place and align it that way.That was throwing the hood off on both sides .
I also removed the inner plastic panels so I could see how it was lining up .The plastic panels around the wheel.
If you remove both the spring nuts ,hood lock pins,you can see that the hood will line up pretty good and just go from their.
