I'm re-installing my hood after painting and while I was trying to line it up, I noticed that I had to push the back down. I had to move to either side and push down on the hood in order to get it to go down.

I moved the fender to firewall bracket down as far as I could get it, then I moved the hood hinge down as far as I could but the rear of the hood is still too far up (about 1/2" or so).

the hinges are nice and tight and the springs are very tight (the hood doesn't sag down after you lift it.

any ideas about why I have to push the hood down in the back?

thanks, Karljay.

 

hey there, i ripped my hood off one winter to do some work under the hood, had the hinges chromed, etc. Basically the hood springs were left in an open position for long period of time. when the hood is open, the springs are in a compressed position, and naturally, when you shut the hood, they are stretched open. the springs "get used to being compressed", so to speak, so their tendency is for them to try and return to a compressed position. Give them time, they should settle back down. I know mine did.

 

I recall dealing with the same puzzle on my hood many years ago. What I finally came up with was that the hinge mount onto the cowl needed to be RAISED, not lowered, to make the hood match up. It's something about the way it articulates, and very counter-intuitive. Anyway, try that VERY CAREFULLY just in case my gray matter isn't still intact, and see what happens. You will probably have to adjust the hood toward or away from the cowl also before you are done. This assumes that you have already oiled up the pivots on your hinges so they move freely, of course?!? Steve

 

 

Thanks, I'll give it a try and see what happens...

 

Next time you have to take off your hood, do this trick:

Drill an 1/8 hole in each hinge (not all the way through!) between the two bolts. When you reinstall the hood, line up the drill bit hole and insert the same bit size in both. Now you've placed a perfectly lined up hood!