Loose hood adjustment
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From: MD
Loose hood adjustment
After opening/closing the hood a few times on the '79 F250, I discovered the hood doesn't close tight. It has lenient play. I'm a bit afraid it might pop out off at highway speeds.
The hood lines up with the cowl at the driver's side, but the hood line dips below on the passenger side cowl.
I need advice from you 73-79 body experts to tighten it up. How do I go about doing that? Is the hood hinges or the latch/striker adjustable?
The hood lines up with the cowl at the driver's side, but the hood line dips below on the passenger side cowl.
I need advice from you 73-79 body experts to tighten it up. How do I go about doing that? Is the hood hinges or the latch/striker adjustable?
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From: MD
I struggled and struggled, but I can't align the damn thing.
Still can't pop it open, and is still loose. The latch is all the way down, and still doesn't pop when I open the latch.
When the hood lines up with the cowl, the passenger side is sticking upwards, the driver's side is slighty upwards but looks mostly okay. When I adjust the passenger fender, the hood sticks way out at the cowl line. I also somehow moved the hood to the left, so the edges of the hood at the back doesn't line up with the cowl.
There are no dents on the hood, and I don't see any sign of it being in an accident. All the body parts are original except the tailgate. The bumper is bent slighty, like hitting a trash can at 5mph.
Is the hood whacked or what? Any way I can determine if the hood is straight or not??
Still can't pop it open, and is still loose. The latch is all the way down, and still doesn't pop when I open the latch.
When the hood lines up with the cowl, the passenger side is sticking upwards, the driver's side is slighty upwards but looks mostly okay. When I adjust the passenger fender, the hood sticks way out at the cowl line. I also somehow moved the hood to the left, so the edges of the hood at the back doesn't line up with the cowl.
There are no dents on the hood, and I don't see any sign of it being in an accident. All the body parts are original except the tailgate. The bumper is bent slighty, like hitting a trash can at 5mph.
Is the hood whacked or what? Any way I can determine if the hood is straight or not??
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Ford Parts Specialist
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From: Simi Valley, CA
Originally Posted by Jermafenser
I struggled and struggled, but I can't align the damn thing.
Still can't pop it open, and is still loose. The latch is all the way down, and still doesn't pop when I open the latch. Push hood down when moving outside latch...see below.
When the hood lines up with the cowl, the passenger side is sticking upwards, the driver's side is slighty upwards but looks mostly okay. When I adjust the passenger fender, the hood sticks way out at the cowl line>>> Hinges are bent and stretched, hood flew open at some time, but truck was going slow enough that hood didn't fly back far enough to bend, or damage w/shield upper mldgs or roof. I also somehow moved the hood to the left, so the edges of the hood at the back doesn't line up with the cowl.
There are no dents on the hood, and I don't see any sign of it being in an accident. All the body parts are original except the tailgate. The bumper is bent slighty, like hitting a trash can at 5mph.
Is the hood whacked or what? Hood OK, hinges are history. Any way I can determine if the hood is straight or not??
Still can't pop it open, and is still loose. The latch is all the way down, and still doesn't pop when I open the latch. Push hood down when moving outside latch...see below.
When the hood lines up with the cowl, the passenger side is sticking upwards, the driver's side is slighty upwards but looks mostly okay. When I adjust the passenger fender, the hood sticks way out at the cowl line>>> Hinges are bent and stretched, hood flew open at some time, but truck was going slow enough that hood didn't fly back far enough to bend, or damage w/shield upper mldgs or roof. I also somehow moved the hood to the left, so the edges of the hood at the back doesn't line up with the cowl.
There are no dents on the hood, and I don't see any sign of it being in an accident. All the body parts are original except the tailgate. The bumper is bent slighty, like hitting a trash can at 5mph.
Is the hood whacked or what? Hood OK, hinges are history. Any way I can determine if the hood is straight or not??
Hood latches weren't very reliable and worked loose. Then hood would fly up at around 20 + mph if not completly latched, bending and stretching the hinges. The usual procedure (cure) was to bring hood down slowly to about a foot from the latch, then slam it down.
Over time this method bent the bracket the latch attaches to, making it difficult to open the hood. Getting a hood up is tricky, moving the outside latch while pushing down on the hood usually causes an audible click. Sumb!tch, the $#% latch released (!!). Once the click is heard, release pressure on the hood, now it should pop up far enough to reach in and trip the "safety" catch.
Once the hinges are tweaked, there's NO way to properly align the hood. The latch (16700) prolly needs to be replaced also, and the latch plate (16707) if this yr of truck has this separate part.
Last edited by NumberDummy; Apr 29, 2007 at 06:07 PM.
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Postmaster
Joined: Jul 2001
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From: MD
Interesting story! I didn't know about that one. Just another one of Ford's infamous problems in that era. Now that explains a lot.
I'm surprised anyone hasn't bothered to fix it in 29 years of ownership. It now is clear why Ford installed supplementary brackets for pickups with factory canopies and Broncos in the late 70s. I always wondered why my Bronco was perfect with its hood, while I had problems with (closing/opening, water leaking in the air cleaner & cover...) pickups.
Does anyone still supply the hinges? Or am I stuck with used? If so, I'll try to get one from 78-79 Broncos.
I'm surprised anyone hasn't bothered to fix it in 29 years of ownership. It now is clear why Ford installed supplementary brackets for pickups with factory canopies and Broncos in the late 70s. I always wondered why my Bronco was perfect with its hood, while I had problems with (closing/opening, water leaking in the air cleaner & cover...) pickups.
Does anyone still supply the hinges? Or am I stuck with used? If so, I'll try to get one from 78-79 Broncos.
Lead Driver
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 6,628
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From: Albuquerque
I've had similar problems trying to adjust mine to pull down in the back. Even after replacing one hinge and both springs. The parts are available from several sponsors but I'm trying to figure out who has the "good" parts. I think my new springs were no stronger that the old ones.
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Postmaster
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From: MD
I'm going through my junk to see if I have a set of hinges (parted out a Bronco some time ago...) and see what happens. How tough is it for one person to remove and reassemble the hood? I can't remember how much a hood weigh.
Ford Parts Specialist
Joined: Nov 2006
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From: Simi Valley, CA
Ford hoods: far worse than a henway. What's a henway? About 2 pounds.
Ford hoods are heavy and bulky, you'll need a helper or two. Don't allow any beer drinking till after the job is through.
Ford hoods are heavy and bulky, you'll need a helper or two. Don't allow any beer drinking till after the job is through.
Ford Parts Specialist
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 88,826
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From: Simi Valley, CA
1973/79 F Series trucks and 1978/79 Bronco's use the same hinges and springs.
D3TZ-16796-A .. Right Hood Hinge
D3TZ-16797-A .. Left Hood Hinge
D3TZ-16789-A .. Hood Hinge Spring
D3TZ-16796-A .. Right Hood Hinge
D3TZ-16797-A .. Left Hood Hinge
D3TZ-16789-A .. Hood Hinge Spring
