Hood adjustment help
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,494
Likes: 32
Hood adjustment help
I have noticed that my hood appears to have shifted some. Not sure why, but the seam along the driver side fender gets wider near the windshield and of course the seam on the passenger side gets more narrow near the windshield. The gaps look about the same near the front of the seams.
Anyone adjust the hood gaps before, and can you give me some insight to what needs to be done?
How hard of a task is this?
Anyone adjust the hood gaps before, and can you give me some insight to what needs to be done?
How hard of a task is this?
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 1,140
Likes: 0
From: GOCC - Rebels Without A Clue Santa Barbara, CA
I'm no expert but I have installed a new hood on my car. It took a lot of fiddling with to get it right. For one I have noticed that your tapering that you see is pretty common on C5's. If you look around you will see the same thing on a lot of them. Remove the rubber molding seal that runs left to right in front of the windshield wipers. It just slides on and is not glued. Close the hood and see if the taper is gone or a lot better. You will notice that the seal itself has a filler installed in the center section that makes it stiffer in the middle. Without the seal the hood flex's in the center while you drive down the road or get up to higher speeds. So with it installed it flex's the hood in the rear causing the taper typically on the drivers side. You can minimize this by adjusting the fenders in slightly. The body panel is slotted allowing for adjustment. I had to remove the screws and take a dremel and elongate them even more but in the end I was happy with the results. I hope this helps. 
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,494
Likes: 32
I've seen some nice after market hoods that people install, so I was hoping to hear some details on how to go about the fine adjustment. I am wondering about things like whether it is best to loosen the hinge bolts at the hood or on the body. Or might this just be a matter of the hood latch brackets needing adjustment.
Advanced
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 94
Likes: 1
From: Alpharetta GA
Great info from Threed. If the hood truly has shifted right or left at the rear, the gap at the front edge of the hood gap will also be a little wider on one side. Make every attempt to adjust/ center the hood before adjusting the fenders.
Please also check the manual for me regarding the gap adjustment for the trunk to rear fender gap on a frc Z06. The trunk lid gap AND the fixed roof gap to rear fender on my buddies car, is too wide on one side and too narrow on the other. Any help is appreciated.
Best of Luck!
Please also check the manual for me regarding the gap adjustment for the trunk to rear fender gap on a frc Z06. The trunk lid gap AND the fixed roof gap to rear fender on my buddies car, is too wide on one side and too narrow on the other. Any help is appreciated.
Best of Luck!
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,494
Likes: 32
If I find the hood gap info, I imagine I will find the trunk info as well. I'll pass along what I find.
I'll check back in tomorrow evening to see if anyone else has chimed in with some advice.
Advanced
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 94
Likes: 1
From: Alpharetta GA
Many thanks Cartop2!!!!
I had very few responses on my posting regarding the fixed roof/ trunk lid gap adjustment. Maybe you will get a few more. Please let me know what you find... Best Regards...
I had very few responses on my posting regarding the fixed roof/ trunk lid gap adjustment. Maybe you will get a few more. Please let me know what you find... Best Regards...
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,494
Likes: 32
They did not show gap dimensions (that I could find). The instructions were pretty common sense for removal and installation of a hood or rear compartment lid. It did suggest taping corners to prevent damage if parts touch. Also, use a grease pencil to mark hinge location before removing any hinges (or loosening them) so that a "close" initial fit can be achieved when reinstalling.
The final adjustment is not described in the manuals, so I suspect that is where a sensitive touch and patience become a factor.
The torque values shown for the rear compartment lid (on a convertible) are:
Hinge to lid bolts 31 N-m (23 lb-ft)
Hinge to body bolts 25 N-m (18 lb-ft)
I assume it to be the same for a FRC, but I am not sure.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 1,140
Likes: 0
From: GOCC - Rebels Without A Clue Santa Barbara, CA
One more suggestion. Remove the hood struts/shocks if you need to loosen the hood hinge. The struts make the hinge move diagonally or twist and they cause the adjustment to be difficult.
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Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,494
Likes: 32
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,494
Likes: 32
Job completed - thanks.
Thanks to all of you that offered advice. I completed the adjustment today. Details are in this new thread.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=1988759
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=1988759
