OK! Now you've also got me curious about how to go about making the proper latch adjustment? As it stands right now, I've already got to pull the manual release handle while pressing down on the hood to get it to release!

Could this problem be related to the fact that the back edge of my hood near the windshield doesn't seem to want to line up flush with the opposite edge where my windshield wipers are mounted? Right now the rear edge of my hood sets about 1/8" to 1/4" higher than the opposite side.

Even if this is not the cause of my hood release problem. I would still like to know how to go about making the proper adjustment to realign my hood so that it sits at the same level as the other side when it's closed.

Thanks again to everyone for all your help! As I'm sure you can already tell. I'm not a master mechanic by any means! However, providing that I've got the ability to acquire whatever information that I may need. I am very capable of holding my own on just about anything that needs to be done on my truck!

That's the main reason why I love this web site so much! Seems like there's always someone out there who has already been faced with the same type of problem at some point in the past. The best part of all,is that everyone I've been in contact with has ALWAYS been very willing, if not eager to share their knowledge with anyone who needs help!

Gentlemen, for that you have my sincere appreciation as well as my respect for the level of expertise that you have acquired as well as displayed on these old trucks!

Larry "LB" Bailey a.k.a. "75 SuperCab"

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The first thing that comes to my mind is a large hammer...

I'm not sure how much adjusting you can do... just loosen the hinge bolts, move them a bit, tighten them and see if it fits better when closed. I think if you move the hinges forward a little bit, it may bring the hood down a tiny bit, but that is just a guess from how I see the hinges turn when the hood closes. I'm sure someone else with experience regarding this will reply though.

 

Mine does the same. Maybe your hood spring is sprung.

 

I replaced both springs and hinges along with the front latch since the handle was broken off. Made a world of difference! Couldn't really tell until they were off but both hinges were slightly bent!!

 

The hood has several places for adjustment. Right and left sides of the HOOD adjust front-to-rear + the hinge mounting on the firewall (R & L) for up/down. I used to check these and sometimes adjust at a Ford dealership in the '70's on new vehicles. The hood latch should have a slight too. Mark a spot before you start for a reference. There isn't a BIG adjustment, not much should be needed. A bit of WD40 or such may also help - on the latch and hinge mechanism.

 

Spray hood hinge pivot point and hood latch with marvel mystery oil.

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/s...93&postcount=5

 

Our fellow FTE'er 4starcsms was gracious enough to do the final adjustments on my 79 hood, after it had just about whooped me in getting the margins/latch right. I went thru the same problems when putting mine back on, after I had removed it for a total paint job I put on it. For those who will be removing their hood in the future, Scott gave me a great tip I will pass on here ..


Before loosening ANY bolts to remove an already properly fitting hood, drill two 1/8 inch holes thru the side of the hinge mounting plate in to the rail support. Put one hole each on opposite ends of the hinge mounting plate. (because the hinge mounting plate moves vert/horizonally/angled, two holes are needed) Do the same thing on the under side of the hood for those two brackets (short bit here , dont drill thru the hood ! ) . After it is painted and ready to put back on, just use a small nail or 1/16 in. center punch to use the holes you drilled as alignment pins...

I found out the hard way, using two people makes hood adjusting a lot easier. As one person holds the front of the hood and moving it, the other person slightly loosens the bolts. He/she then gets to feel the hood move in their hand , that way the movements can be made small. It is a BIG hood, it doesnt take much movement to make a big gap in margins....

Be sure to make the openings/closings of the hood SLOW, and put some low stick masking tape where the hood meets the cowl FIRST. That way if the adjustment is way off, the paint will not get chipped when the hood hits the cowl lip....

You really want about 3/16 - 1/4 inch margins along the fender/cowl lines. On trucks that get off roaded a lot , a 1/4 - 3/8 inch may even be better. That allows for flexing of the fenders/hood without them hitting together. ..

To get the hood DOWN and flush at the cowl lip, push both hinges downward and back toward the cab. To get the hood to latch properly, the cowl and both fender line margins have to be nice and parallel first. When the "top of the fender /hood margins" are parallel , then adjust the latch. ...

Pull the hood down gently and have the helper maintain the parallel fender/hood margins. If your hood does not have the factory rubber bumper spacers on it for now , you can use a margin gauge like a rolled of piece of masking tape to the 3/16- 3/8 inch thickness you desire. Pull the hood gently down to the closed position, then look under the grill shell surround and see where the hoods "catch loop" is, being sure the hood is sitting at good top of fender parallel margins...

Raise the hood, unloosen the latch bolts and move the latch up or down to where it will engage the hood loop while it is sitting at your desired fender margins, yet not hold the hood down so tight it will be hard to disengage. Keep repeating this step as often as it takes until it latches where you want it...

Hood /door adjusments are a slow and tedious process that requires time and patience, certainly not a "quickie" task by any means. Take a friend, a few good cold drinks and a few breaks, they will you help maintain your composure. If you get aggravated walk away, and go back to it with a clearer head. HTH. good luck

 

WOW!! What a GREAT response!!

Like I said:

"The best part of all,is that everyone I've been in contact with has ALWAYS been very willing, if not eager to share their knowledge with anyone who needs help!"

75 SuperCab