86 hood alignment
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 420
Likes: 1
From: SAN DIEGO CA
86 hood alignment
Im looking for help in aligning my 1986 hood. Im looking for the correct gaps in between the door and the hood and the hood and the front bumper. Ive been at it for hours trying to align them. Does anyone have a procedure for the hood? Thanks,
Former Vendor
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 76,656
Likes: 1,851
From: Jeffersonville Indiana 812-288-7103
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15
Not much help from the shop manual. I can post picture 10-10 if you need it, but the instructions are as follows:
HOOD ADJUSTMENTS (FIGURE 10-10)
Hood adjustments should be made in the
following order:
1. Loosen and tighten hood hinge nuts to align hood
laterally.
2. Loosen and tighten hood hinge frame bolts for
fore and aft adjustment.
3. Loosen and tighten either the lock and bolt
assemblies or latch assembly for lateral alignment
at rear of hood.
Willcox
HOOD ADJUSTMENTS (FIGURE 10-10)
Hood adjustments should be made in the
following order:
1. Loosen and tighten hood hinge nuts to align hood
laterally.
2. Loosen and tighten hood hinge frame bolts for
fore and aft adjustment.
3. Loosen and tighten either the lock and bolt
assemblies or latch assembly for lateral alignment
at rear of hood.
Willcox
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 12,221
Likes: 446
From: Overland Park Kansas
2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (appearance mods)
C4 of Year Winner (appearance mods) 2019
There are historical posts with great detail on this subject if you look.
Using hood hinge bolts, shims, and hold-down pins, adjust until hood is parallel to door with about 3/16-1/4" gap. There is some leeway, just make sure the door will open w/o touching. And, the car can flex when jacking. IMO, the rider's side may not fit the best because I believe some molds were slightly flawed. Aftermarket hoods copied factory molds and may have same flaw.
After hood is aligned, set bumper gap using 4 mounting bolts on front-frame extension. If having trouble, check where the bumper mounts to the crash assembly. Make sure the gap is consistent to that assembly.
(If you can't get enough shims to reduce gap at top of doors, try lowering hood pins.)
Using hood hinge bolts, shims, and hold-down pins, adjust until hood is parallel to door with about 3/16-1/4" gap. There is some leeway, just make sure the door will open w/o touching. And, the car can flex when jacking. IMO, the rider's side may not fit the best because I believe some molds were slightly flawed. Aftermarket hoods copied factory molds and may have same flaw.
After hood is aligned, set bumper gap using 4 mounting bolts on front-frame extension. If having trouble, check where the bumper mounts to the crash assembly. Make sure the gap is consistent to that assembly.
(If you can't get enough shims to reduce gap at top of doors, try lowering hood pins.)
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 3,759
Likes: 8
Hell, I'd like to be able to pull the hood latch release, and the passenger side pop up instead of me having to lift the hood while popping it. The cord thing at the latch is adjusted to is so it fully opens. So, it must be something with the hood. Maybe a worn out spring.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 20,179
Likes: 673
From: Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction.
St. Jude '03 thru '24
Hell, I'd like to be able to pull the hood latch release, and the passenger side pop up instead of me having to lift the hood while popping it. The cord thing at the latch is adjusted to is so it fully opens. So, it must be something with the hood. Maybe a worn out spring.
Seems to be a very common problem. Alignment, lube, you name it. Nothing seems to work.
I'll concentrate on areas I can fix and leave opening the hood as a to-do later on.
Last edited by JrRifleCoach; Jul 29, 2009 at 12:56 AM.
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 12,221
Likes: 446
From: Overland Park Kansas
2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (appearance mods)
C4 of Year Winner (appearance mods) 2019
Hell, I'd like to be able to pull the hood latch release, and the passenger side pop up instead of me having to lift the hood while popping it. The cord thing at the latch is adjusted to is so it fully opens. So, it must be something with the hood. Maybe a worn out spring.
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Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 3,759
Likes: 8
Are you talking about the plate thing on the hood? I noticed the passenger side spring pin on the hood didn't line up with the latch hole when I set the hood down, but not shutting it. It would hit the metal at the side of the hole.
So, I loosened the bolts, set the hood down to line up the spring pin with the center of the hole, and then tightend up the spring plate.
Well, with the pin lined up with the hole, I barely was able to get the hood opened. I don't know why it is easier to open the passenger side with the pin being offset of the hole, than with it lined up in the middle of the hole. That tells me something else is going on or out of adjustment.
I'd like to be able to do like I've heard is possible. Pull the hood latch release, and the hood opens by itself.
Though, I did notice I only have one little strut at the base of the hood. The driver side is missing for some reason. Though, the hood stays up just fine once I get it up. Though it is heavy.
So, I loosened the bolts, set the hood down to line up the spring pin with the center of the hole, and then tightend up the spring plate.
Well, with the pin lined up with the hole, I barely was able to get the hood opened. I don't know why it is easier to open the passenger side with the pin being offset of the hole, than with it lined up in the middle of the hole. That tells me something else is going on or out of adjustment.
I'd like to be able to do like I've heard is possible. Pull the hood latch release, and the hood opens by itself.
Though, I did notice I only have one little strut at the base of the hood. The driver side is missing for some reason. Though, the hood stays up just fine once I get it up. Though it is heavy.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 780
Likes: 0
From: New Port Richey Florida
Are you talking about the plate thing on the hood? I noticed the passenger side spring pin on the hood didn't line up with the latch hole when I set the hood down, but not shutting it. It would hit the metal at the side of the hole.
So, I loosened the bolts, set the hood down to line up the spring pin with the center of the hole, and then tightend up the spring plate.
Well, with the pin lined up with the hole, I barely was able to get the hood opened. I don't know why it is easier to open the passenger side with the pin being offset of the hole, than with it lined up in the middle of the hole. That tells me something else is going on or out of adjustment.
I'd like to be able to do like I've heard is possible. Pull the hood latch release, and the hood opens by itself.
Though, I did notice I only have one little strut at the base of the hood. The driver side is missing for some reason. Though, the hood stays up just fine once I get it up. Though it is heavy.
So, I loosened the bolts, set the hood down to line up the spring pin with the center of the hole, and then tightend up the spring plate.
Well, with the pin lined up with the hole, I barely was able to get the hood opened. I don't know why it is easier to open the passenger side with the pin being offset of the hole, than with it lined up in the middle of the hole. That tells me something else is going on or out of adjustment.
I'd like to be able to do like I've heard is possible. Pull the hood latch release, and the hood opens by itself.
Though, I did notice I only have one little strut at the base of the hood. The driver side is missing for some reason. Though, the hood stays up just fine once I get it up. Though it is heavy.
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 3,759
Likes: 8
Though that could be because I have the thing on the latch on the body adjusted half way on the passenger side. As if I have the thing adjust where the cord is all the way out, then it is even harder to get the hood up when I'm pulling on the release.
I think I'm gonna get the emergency hood release thing from Ecklers. I was planning on just making my own. But I think the Ecklers looks better as it has a rubber grommet for the hood seal. And the cord looks black in the picture. Which means it will be less noticeable compared to the silver cord from Lowes.
I'll do that before I start messing around with the adjustment again. As last time, the passenger side was stuck. Though I already had the rear wheel well panel on the front passenger side removed for another reason, so I was able to just stick my hand up under the hood to release the passenger side.
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 12,221
Likes: 446
From: Overland Park Kansas
2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (appearance mods)
C4 of Year Winner (appearance mods) 2019
Josh,
You had the right idea but might not have tried enough locations. I messed with mine for a couple of hours before learning what works best.
If the spring is strong enough to hold the hood up, I think you should be able to get it to work like you want. Keep trying.
And, if you haven't notice, the giant nut at the base of the spring is also an adjustment.
One technique I remember doing is barely tighting the latch plate bolts and giant nut. (And, I mean barely). Drop the hood from 1' and/or press closed. When the correct tightness is achieved (especially if centered fairly close before your drop), it should move/stay in the correct position after popping the hood. Tighten, and repeat test until you get it where you want it.
BTW: When it doesn't latch, that tells me you need to adjust the giant nut which controls how long your latch peg extends into the mounting brace/hole.
You had the right idea but might not have tried enough locations. I messed with mine for a couple of hours before learning what works best.
If the spring is strong enough to hold the hood up, I think you should be able to get it to work like you want. Keep trying.
And, if you haven't notice, the giant nut at the base of the spring is also an adjustment.
One technique I remember doing is barely tighting the latch plate bolts and giant nut. (And, I mean barely). Drop the hood from 1' and/or press closed. When the correct tightness is achieved (especially if centered fairly close before your drop), it should move/stay in the correct position after popping the hood. Tighten, and repeat test until you get it where you want it.
BTW: When it doesn't latch, that tells me you need to adjust the giant nut which controls how long your latch peg extends into the mounting brace/hole.
Instructor
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 211
Likes: 4
From: Taunton MA
I have read all the historical posting on aligning the hood, and the new stuff here (great stuff all of it) and it's all great and I've work with all the bolts and latches. I've also added some additional shims to the hood hings because it's the alignment of the top of the door to the hood that's out of whack. But even adding the additional shim that space is still there. I'll post a pic of what I'm talking about so as to get a better of an idea of how I can fix it. Thanks,
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 12,221
Likes: 446
From: Overland Park Kansas
2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (appearance mods)
C4 of Year Winner (appearance mods) 2019
One solution is to draw/scribe a parallel line on the hood to matches the door. They sand/cut off the hood to create an even gap. Of course you'd have to paint the hood (or blend the edge) afterward. (If you're really careful, you could avoid damage to paint on the outside surface of the hood. New paint would only be necessary to the end of the cut edge when complete.) And, the hood would end up being moved slightly further back on that side to get the gap right.
