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Author
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Topic: Hood Alignment Question....
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70 Pony
Gearhead Posts: 1815
From: Glenmoore, PA, USA
Registered: Jan 2000
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posted 05-02-2002 05:48 PM
   
I feel like I'm wrestling an aligator. Yes I marked the hood before I took it off....
But I still have the same problem:
The hood aligns perfect side to side, and the front is great....BUT...the passenger side rear corner, (At the firewall) is sticking up about 1/4 inch.
If I push down on it when closed, it goes down a little.
I've lowered the hinge, where it's attached at the body, and it seemed to make it worse.
I've wiggled and wrestled where the hinge attaches to the hood, but that just screws up the side to side.
The Haynes book, isn't too clear, but looks like the hinge to body is adjustable up and down as well as back to front.
Hinges and springs look OK, and this only started when I took off the hood a few months ago.
Any tricks to this or something I'm missing ??..I know one thing..it is definitely not a one man job....
Thanks for any help.......------------------
EDDIE D
Resto Mod '70 Sport Roof
Arrest Me Red
'02 GT, Torch Red
"If I knew I would have lived this long, I would have taken better care of myself !"
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SteveLaRiviere
Administrator Posts: 42859
From: Saco, Maine
Registered: May 99
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posted 05-02-2002 06:01 PM
Yes, the up and down is adjusted by the three bolts on the apron. Make sure you don't have body bolts with large washers there, preventing full adjustment. On my Mach the PO had the hood bolts with their huge washers there, and the hood wouldn't adjust down enough.------------------
'70 Mustang Mach 1 M code 351C 4V/FMX/3.25 open
'72 Mustang Sprint Coupe 351C 4V/FMX/4.30 Trac Lok
'94 F-150 XL 5.8L/E4OD/3.55 Limited Slip
MCA Member # 47773 The secret of success is sincerity. Once you can fake that, you got it made.
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70 Pony
Gearhead Posts: 1815
From: Glenmoore, PA, USA
Registered: Jan 2000
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posted 05-02-2002 06:08 PM
Steve..,.you know I'm a dope...back up... Are you saying I should lower that hinge on the apron ???
And yes they are 1/2 inch bolts with washers...and what the heck is a "PO" ??------------------
EDDIE D
Resto Mod '70 Sport Roof
Arrest Me Red
'02 GT, Torch Red
"If I knew I would have lived this long, I would have taken better care of myself !"
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SteveLaRiviere
Administrator Posts: 42859
From: Saco, Maine
Registered: May 99
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posted 05-02-2002 06:13 PM
Sorry, PO = Previous OwnerYes, the three bolts that bolt the hinge to the apron adjust the up and down of the hood hinge. P.S. FYI, the bolts take a 1/2" wrench, but they are 5/16" bolts. Bolts are sized by the size of the shank, not the bolt head.  ------------------
'70 Mustang Mach 1 M code 351C 4V/FMX/3.25 open
'72 Mustang Sprint Coupe 351C 4V/FMX/4.30 Trac Lok
'94 F-150 XL 5.8L/E4OD/3.55 Limited Slip
MCA Member # 47773 The secret of success is sincerity. Once you can fake that, you got it made. [This message has been edited by SteveLaRiviere (edited 05-02-2002).]
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70 Pony
Gearhead Posts: 1815
From: Glenmoore, PA, USA
Registered: Jan 2000
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posted 05-02-2002 06:15 PM
Thank You Oh Almighty One !!!!!!!------------------
EDDIE D
Resto Mod '70 Sport Roof
Arrest Me Red
'02 GT, Torch Red
"If I knew I would have lived this long, I would have taken better care of myself !"
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mustangboy
Gearhead Posts: 774
From: Ont, Canada
Registered: Mar 2002
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posted 05-02-2002 06:31 PM
I have the exact same problem on my 68.The pins in the hinge are worn out and once you close the hood the spring on the hinge goes over centre and actually lifts the back corner up instead of holding it down.
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SteveLaRiviere
Administrator Posts: 42859
From: Saco, Maine
Registered: May 99
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posted 05-02-2002 06:43 PM
Right. I shouldn't have assumed Eddie's hinge was in good shape.------------------
'70 Mustang Mach 1 M code 351C 4V/FMX/3.25 open
'72 Mustang Sprint Coupe 351C 4V/FMX/4.30 Trac Lok
'94 F-150 XL 5.8L/E4OD/3.55 Limited Slip
MCA Member # 47773 The secret of success is sincerity. Once you can fake that, you got it made.
IP: Logged |
mellowyellow
Gearhead Posts: 6677
From: So. Fl.
Registered: Aug 2000
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posted 05-02-2002 06:57 PM
Worn hinge. A real PITA is to elongate the holes in the hinge. Have done this a couple times. Dealing with 30 plus year cars has all sorts of interesting things.
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bluestreek
Gearhead Posts: 1724
From: Athens,GA
Registered: Jul 2001
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posted 05-02-2002 07:46 PM
I just went through this ordeal with my new fiberglass hood and over the years, have found out that the best way to adjust the back corners is to loosen the 3 bolts on the problem hinge assy, and have one person grab the front of the hood and push or pull. There is more leverage at the front of the hood and this will override the spring tension and weight and cause the rear of the hinge to move up and down. The other person should watch the rear slot on the hinge and make sure it moves to the depth needed, and then tighten the bolts enough to hold it in place. Then CAREFULLY close the hood and see how it fits. Once you go through this process a few times you will become familiar with how the hinge works. The hood bolts may require further adjustments once the back corners are set properly. The whole process seems to take forever but you'll be rewarded a tight looking hood with "perfect" alignment. BS
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Ralph Rebandt
Gearhead Posts: 517
From: Farmington Hills, MI
Registered: Feb 2000
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posted 05-02-2002 08:56 PM
Guys, I reallly appreciate your wisdom and help I thought that I would have to have my son on one side and me on the other and push in unison to get the rear of the hood to just set in place. Now I need to get the courage to adjust those 3 5/16 bolts with the 1/2 inch heads.... It all works so well but that rear end so I am afrain that I will screw up the rest. I guess I have "hoodalignmentphobia"
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68stang351
Gearhead Posts: 273
From: Savoy TX, USA
Registered: Mar 2002
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posted 05-02-2002 09:06 PM
aaaah, I'm not alone. I have this problem on my 68 right now too. Its the thing about the car that eats at me the most. The back end of the hood sticks up above the cowl panel, both corners do it. I've tried all this, and still nothing has worked. I guess I just need to replace the hinges and springs???? I couldn't mark the hood cuz it was new.------------------
Hoofbeats are louder than Heartbeats!
68 Coupe, soon to have 351W and 5speed.
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70 Pony
Gearhead Posts: 1815
From: Glenmoore, PA, USA
Registered: Jan 2000
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posted 05-03-2002 08:31 PM
Well I don't know if I'm happy or sad, I'm not the only one in this quandry.
Mustang Boy..do you mean, where the spring "hook" attaches to the hood section of the hinge may be worn, and the spring slips out of place ??
Can that "bracket" be notched to hold the spring hook.
It's just too coincidental that I had perfect hood alignment until taking the hood off late last year for some cosmetics, and all of a sudden, it's out of whack...
And Mellow, do you mean , elongating the mounting holes on the side skirt, so that the hinge can be lowered more than the holes allow now ????
It just seems every turn of a bolt, fixes one problem but creates another. And also when you have the bolts loose, and the hood down and adjusted, as you lift the hood to tighten everything down, it slides out of place...I was thinking of hiring a dwarf to sit in the engine bay, and do the adjusting with the hood down and locked in place....------------------
EDDIE D
Resto Mod '70 Sport Roof
Arrest Me Red
'02 GT, Torch Red
"If I knew I would have lived this long, I would have taken better care of myself !"
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Scott (69Mach)
Gearhead Posts: 727
From: Walnut Creek, CA USA
Registered: Jun 99
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posted 05-03-2002 08:56 PM
I just used two rolls of duct tape and the hood fits nicely. Kinda looks like a Boss 302 stripe... 
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mellowyellow
Gearhead Posts: 6677
From: So. Fl.
Registered: Aug 2000
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posted 05-04-2002 12:35 AM
It's a sh*t job but it doies work. Hood off and hinges off. Put hinge in vise and elongate the holes in hinge base. You can easily see which side of the hole to elongate. I've done it twice on a 66 and a 68. Use a hard drill bit as those hinges are strong. Repos are like foil by comparison. There are other tricks like this that can be done to give doors better gaps, etc. Orig. hinges are worn and have play. Bodies flex 1/16 permanantly and it has a domino affect through the car.
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mustangboy
Gearhead Posts: 774
From: Ont, Canada
Registered: Mar 2002
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posted 05-04-2002 12:56 AM
No what I meant was the hinge is worn where the pin goes through it that it pivots on.If you open your hood up as far as it will go and then push up on it (gently)you will see and feel the hinge moving.
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Fastymz
Moderator Posts: 18590
From: Reno Nv USA MEM#1240
Registered: Apr 2001
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posted 05-04-2002 02:08 AM
Eddie I have done my hood at least 8 times and I still cant get it perfect.And since I have hood pins and the hole for my aircleaner sticking through the hood.My adjustments are even less now.So I have to live with the fact, the hood is more close to the fender on the drivers side. And sits a little lower in the rear of the hood just under the cowl area.I know what you mean by one ajustment makes a new problem.
Hey Eddie how tall are you. 
SCOOP
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65 coupe,351w,C4,Big Boss 429 hood scoop,Crager SS,Black Suede. https://mustangsandmore.com/ubb/Fastymz.html
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bifs66
Gearhead Posts: 245
From: Maryland
Registered: Apr 2000
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posted 05-07-2002 12:27 AM
I have a suggestion that may help somewhat with this problem. It seeems fairly common that after disturbing the hood hinges, the back of the hood sticks up a little. In fact, I had a NEW Mach-I in 69 that had the hood "stick up a little" problem. I tried to fix it myself and lowered the hinges all the way in their slots. It still stuck up! What I found out was the geometry of the hinge works somewhat different than seems obviuos. If you have alligned the hood "fore and aft" and "side to side" with the four bolts that hold the hood on, then you can allign the height by adjusting the body side six bolts. To get the back of the hood even with the cowl, you snug up the middle or forward side bolts (I can't remember which ones but it may not matter), but not so tight that you can't "rock" the hood back and move the hinge position with a little pressure. With the hood raised all the way on the hinges, raise it a little more which will cause the hinges to rock back (rotate around the forward/middle bolt). Snug up the rear bolt and try lowering the hood to see if it fits better. As I remember, it takes very little movement (hinge rotating) to change the rear lip of the hood up or down a lot. If you've been having no luck getting your hood to fit, give this method a try and see if it works. ------------------
Bernie Frank
66 Fastback restomod project
85 GT (preserved)
82 GT (original)
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RICKS
Gearhead Posts: 355
From: Ocala, FL
Registered: Mar 2001
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posted 05-07-2002 09:30 AM
Bernie is ABOLUTELY correct. You can adjust the hinges straight down on the apron to the limits of the hinge mounting holes until you're blue in the face, but that's not really the problem at all. It's hinge's rotation on its axis at the apron that will bring the rear of the hood down flush. First, align the hood as best you can, with the hinges slid down as low as the holes will allow you to adjust. Then loosen all the apron bolts EXCEPT for the lower/rear positions. Leave that position fairly snug. You want the hinge to be able to rotate on the axis of that lower/rear bolt (with the hinge already as low as it will go on that bolt), but without allowing any shift in position at that bolt. Have a "trusted" friend open the hood all the way, and then push up further, rocking the hinges back on the lower/rear bolt's axis. It takes some pressure pressing up on the hood, because you'll want to leave the lower/rear bolts snug enough so as not to have the entire hinge swimming around on the apron. Good judgement is in order, you may want to enlist yourself as the "pusher" and let your friend do the ratcheting. While holding the firm pressure up on the hood, tighten all of the bolt positions on the apron. It may take a few swipes to get it perfect. My Boss hood was over a 1/4" high in the rear when I bought it. I wrestled until I was blue trying to push down on the apron mounts of the hinges, with zero result. A friend gave me the tip, and the next day in FIVE minutes my hood was perfectly flush in the rear.
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