Thread: Hood not setting right.

I've noticed recently that my hood is setting lower than the front part of my fenders. The front is about 3/8 on an inch lower than I think it should be. I've raised the latch as high as it will go. Should I remove it and drill new holes, or is there something else that needs to be adjusted. FYI, the car has NEVER been in an accident.

If I raise them higher, either I'll have to pull as hard as I can to pop it, or it won't latch without slamming the hell out of it. Don't want that.

Factory

I don't think it's been like this as long as I've had it. My mechanic noticed it about 4 years ago and asked if it had ever been wrecked. Answer was and still is No. The car's been in the family since it was bought new in Dec '96. I might spend part of my spring break removing the front bumper and seeing what I can do to raise it a bit.

Kinda hard to lower the fenders on a unibody car.


Like what was said above, you should start with adjusting your hood latch back to where it was originally, and then adjust the two plastic screw adjusters on each side of the upper radiator support to align the hood, and even it out.

What archemedes said about people playing with these is true, I catch people doing it all the time, and I have the habit of turning them sometimes myself.

Last resort, you then adjust the hood latch. Adjusting this will make the hood shut soft, or easy. Its a trick to get it just right.

~F~

I've played with the bumpers and the latch, and neither has made much difference. If I raise the bumpers any higher, the hood will be hard to shut and pop. The latch is already as high up as I can move it. The adjustment I made there only helped me out about 1/16". Is it possible that the frame is out of whack. I have crawled up into the engine compartment a few times, but i doubt that would be enough to bend anything.

I had a similar issue with my Z-34 when I had it. Turned out after much looking and adjusting we figured out it had been hit in a parking lot. It threw the whole right side out of whack. But crazy thing was the paint wasnt cracked or gouged. We figured it out when we got up behind/under the bumper and saw a support bent/busted. Doesnt take much to throw everything out of whack.

When I run out of patience the hammer works just fine LOL

Originally Posted by DanGTP

I've played with the bumpers and the latch, and neither has made much difference. If I raise the bumpers any higher, the hood will be hard to shut and pop. The latch is already as high up as I can move it. The adjustment I made there only helped me out about 1/16". Is it possible that the frame is out of whack. I have crawled up into the engine compartment a few times, but i doubt that would be enough to bend anything.

If the hood is lined up, but shuts and opens hard and your out of adjustment with the latch, you may have to remove the latch, and notch/elongate the mounting holes.

The little plastic screws on the radiator support are there to level out the hood in conjunction with the fenders. The latch mechnism is where the majic happens on the softness/firmness of the hood really. But you can have the plastic screws up high, and the hood still level, and that can cause it to shut hard and open hard.

I would suggest first screwing in the plastic screws all the way and then shutting the hood. If it shuts better, then open the hood and adjust the plastic screws to take out the PLAY only. (so the hood doesn't shake when you lift up on it when its latched)

If it still shuts hard, then remove the plastic screws and then shut the hood. If it still shuts hard now, then yes, for sure, something is out of wack, either with the latch or the hood, or even your body.

~F~

Good stuff! OH BTW thanks for the advice to buff my bracket instead of chroming. I bought a couple buffing wheels for my benchtop grinder and polished it up. I am happy with it for my first buffing job. Its no farnsworth but looks ok. I was amazed how shiny aluminum can get. I buffed my pulley tensioner as well. Now I am looking to buff anything I can LOL.
OH and sorry to hijack the thread

I'll try and see what I can do in the next week or two.