hood align
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hood align
Can somebody give me some pointers on how too adjust these hoods ? I bolted the hood to the hinges ( drivers side pivot points in the hinge have some play in them, but the passenger side is nice and snug ) there is approx 7/16 to a 1/2 inch gap between the cowl and hood thats seems a bit much ? However the problem really shows when the repop fender on the passenger side is mounted . ( I haven't put the drivers side on yet) .The hood is too far forward by about 1/2 inch and rubs along the edge of the fender in the front .The back section by the cowl has about a 3/8 gap which I can live with . I have tried to move the inner fender out to split the difference but when the hood closes it doesn't make any difference it still rubs . The latch panel is not installed yet so that isn't the problem . Will new hinges help or should I bite the bullet for the hood flip kit ?
Posting Guru
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 1,495
Likes: 2
From: Northwest Fl
The popular opinion is to set the hood gap to cowl first. Adjust the hood so that it has your correct gap all the way around. The hinges can be loosened and the hood slid back to close the gap. The hinges can also slide up if necessary. Make sure the gap is even all the way around before doing anything else to other parts. The radiator support can also be raised and lowered to close or open the rad. gap at the cowl (vertical plane)
Next, set the fenders and align them to the hood. Tightening or loosening the support rods (two upper and two lower) in the engine bay and under the hood were my most difficult adjustments. The bottom two rids level the fenders to the frame, the uppers can tweak the hood if one side extends a little beyond the fenders in front.
After all that said, aligning the front end is more of a exercise in compromise since these old trucks were work trucks and never intended for "show". Close is about the best that you can do.
Next, set the fenders and align them to the hood. Tightening or loosening the support rods (two upper and two lower) in the engine bay and under the hood were my most difficult adjustments. The bottom two rids level the fenders to the frame, the uppers can tweak the hood if one side extends a little beyond the fenders in front.
After all that said, aligning the front end is more of a exercise in compromise since these old trucks were work trucks and never intended for "show". Close is about the best that you can do.
Elder User
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 825
Likes: 3
From: Michigan
Originally Posted by Huntsman
After all that said, aligning the front end is more of a exercise in compromise since these old trucks were work trucks and never intended for "show". Close is about the best that you can do.
Post Fiend
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 6,328
Likes: 124
From: Iowa
This can be a source of great aggravation. Even with all stock Ford body panels, you usually find near perfection can only be achieved by doing a little metal work to a panel or two. As already stated. Level cab, align hood and radiator support. Last do the fenders and gravel valance. Then you can double back and compromise your perfect areas so you don't have any hideous gaps elsewhere. And the final answer comes later for most of us. Buy a front tilt hood tilt and your grief will be halved.
Oh and you can always sell your restored stock hood hinges to one of those "stocker guy nut jobs" They hang out on ebay.
Oh and you can always sell your restored stock hood hinges to one of those "stocker guy nut jobs" They hang out on ebay.
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