I am working on 55 F100 and cant get the hood to close like I think it should. The rear of the hood sticks up about 3 in. when you close it. you have to go to each side and push it down by hand to get it to work. What do I need to do to get it to work?? By the way this is a used hood, not the original with new hinges. The hood was off the truck when I bought the truck.

 

The answer can be complex... Start out simply by simply oiling the joints of the hinge and see if that helps. Work the lube into the hinge by working the hood up and down a few times. Let us know and we'll go from there. BTW, in the search box at the top of this page, type "hood" and see what you get. Jim

 

I had the same problem when I tightened the coils for the hood springs. Now I leave the tension off and use a hood prop to hold open my hood. If you loosen the coil or remove them, the hood will sit down properly. I guess that is another reason so many go to the reverse tilt hood. Another thing to try, is those goofy looking aluminum bolts they use to mount the hood, they are suppose to only be snug and not tightened tight. The hinge arms are suppose to move with those bolts in place. There are holes drilling in them which a wire goes through to eliminate the bolts loosening and falling out. If your bolts are too tight, it won't allow the hinges to move either.

 

Welcome to the club. This has been a problem since day 1. You can get some good info here. But, when it comes down to it only what you can do will make it work right. I spent many an hour trying to get those old hoods to work right!

 

You are experiencing the infamous "Hood Hokey Pokey". It is, in fact a famous and common malady of the F100. It was imortalized in the following threads some time ago. Have fun reading. These are great FTE history:

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/6...ting-time.html

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/9...off-topic.html

 

I have been dealing with same problem and am used to it-have a bunch of trucks-haha,and a lot of hokey pokey hoods---takes time and alot of fiddling to get them correct. I am amazed to find a original lift hood open properly anymore. BiLL

 

I have spent most of the week fighting mine. Glad to hear about the shoulder bolts not being tight. Mine are and I will loosen them tomorrow. I also found my brackets on the bottom of the hood, where it should be spot welded, are broken loose. Probably should take off to fix. Good luck. I will be taking pictures for my Gallery tomorrow also with the hood and fenders finally back on.
Max E

 

Just to add to the mix how about the hussle tussle hood opening shuffle.
Mine shuts fairly good now but is a right hassle to open and looks real un cool when at a show and someone wants to look under the hood ;o)

 

Think my 56 has the same type of hinge setup.
Make sure the anchor bolts to the hood roll in the hinge. I then went into the cab an loosen the four bolts of each side of hinges. Have someone push the font of the hood up, rocking the hinges up. Then as he holds the hood up tighten the bolts on the inside. This method made mine fit much better.

 

well I went back and read all the old post I could, I will start by getting new shoulder bolts and welding nuts to hood bracket. This old hood did not have the nuts welded in place but locking nuts on reg. bolts. Thanks guys for all the advice. I let you know if I get it working right.

 

Yes, please let us (me) know, as I am about to try and sort mine too. I know I've got the bolts too tight for one thing...

Cheers,
QbE