Hood hinge adjustment or replace?

[Doorkicker]

I'm one of those guys that go with 4-pin race hoods, so I'm not versed in hood hinges, hence the plea for advice!

72 Charger, basic model, so no scoops, etc. When I close the hood the rear of the hood - closest to the windshield - remains partially up (not flush to the fenders, etc.). Once the front of the hood is locked down/closed, I can push the corner on the driver's and passenger's sides down the final 2-3" making the hood - finally - closed and looking normal.

Question:

Is this something adjustable, or is it simply warn out and I need to get new hinges?

P.S. Sorry for the stupid question. I ask because I don't see 1) a way to adjust the hinge itself, and 2) nothing looks warn out... I expected to see something moving weirdly, but both sides seem to look perfectly fine.

 

[493 Mike]

I'm one of those guys that go with 4-pin race hoods, so I'm not versed in hood hinges, hence the plea for advice!

72 Charger, basic model, so no scoops, etc. When I close the hood the rear of the hood - closest to the windshield - remains partially up (not flush to the fenders, etc.). Once the front of the hood is locked down/closed, I can push the corner on the driver's and passenger's sides down the final 2-3" making the hood - finally - closed and looking normal.

Question:

Is this something adjustable, or is it simply warn out and I need to get new hinges?

P.S. Sorry for the stupid question. I ask because I don't see 1) a way to adjust the hinge itself, and 2) nothing looks warn out... I expected to see something moving weirdly, but both sides seem to look perfectly fine.

Is everything lubed well. Sometimes you want stiff but, not with hood hinge linkage pieces.
Mike

 

[Paul_G]

That is a common issue, Yes it can be adjusted out, most of the time. I put a set of brand new hinges on my 73. They do that and can not be adjusted out. My 72 has original hinges on it and they dont do that. They were easy to get adjusted.

The adjustment is in the hinge mount to the inner fender. The hinge bolts to movable plates inside the fender. Use a prop rod, broom handle, or helper to hold the front of the hood up. Loosen the hood bolts and spray WD40 or the like between the hinge and inner fender to free up the movable plate on the inside of the fender. Then you can snug the bolts a little and move the hinge around until you find the sweet spot. It takes a while, gets worse before it gets better.

 

[71Beeper]

When you're adjusting the hood do the following.
Make sure all 4 bolts are snug.

On the front bolts where the hood attaches to the hinge have a helper push the front edge of the hood as high as possible so the bolt is at the highest in the adjustment slot on the hinge.
Then make sure the rear bolts sits in the lowest position in the adjustment slot.

With the front of the hood higher than the back part - when you close the hood the rear will be flush with the cowl and you won't need to push it down.
If that doesn't work, make sure the hinges are not worn out.

 

[Doorkicker]

Is everything lubed well. Sometimes you want stiff but, not with hood hinge linkage pieces.
Mike

yeah...pretty smooth operation other than it not closing

 

[YY1]

Super common.
As stated above sometimes it can be adjusted out, sometimes it can't.

The height of the rear of the hood is actually a counterintuitive adjustment.
IE- try going the other way if the way you're adjusting doesn't seen to be doing anything.
There are two adjustments- the front bolt and the rear bolt.
Sometimes raising the bolt actually lowers the hood, even though it looks like there's no way that would happen.

It's such a PITA, after 2 hours, I finally got mine (why is it always the driver's side?) to go down to only a quarter inch above the fender.
I left it and now push that area down after closing.
It does not pop back up until the hood is opened again.
If it does that (or the hood shakes at speed), the hinge(s) are probably bad.

 

[Doorkicker]

Super common.
As stated above sometimes it can be adjusted out, sometimes it can't.

The height of the rear of the hood is actually a counterintuitive adjustment.
IE- try going the other way if the way you're adjusting doesn't seen to be doing anything.
There are two adjustments- the front bolt and the rear bolt.
Sometimes raising the bolt actually lowers the hood, even though it looks like there's no way that would happen.

It's such a PITA, after 2 hours, I finally got mine (why is it always the driver's side?) to go down to only a quarter inch above the fender.
I left it and now push that area down after closing.
It does not pop back up until the hood is opened again.
If it does that (or the hood shakes at speed), the hinge(s) are probably bad.

Let me ask you... before you adjusted yours... we're you able to push it down to be correct?

If I had a vid of it... you would see hood open, while at the frint of the car I close and latch the hood, but the rear it not entirely closed (about 3"). I walk to the rear of the hood near the door and push it down (not difficult) and it goes down. But now it's sorta lopsided. I walk to the other side (passenger) and push the corner down. Now, everything looks fine.

What's throwing me off is the fact that I can push the back of the hood down to the correct position... as if the hinge isn't connected to the car solidly, but it is.

 

[RSMS]

With the hood fully opened and resting on the hinge springs tension, lift the hood from the front and see if you have movement in the hinges. (hopefully that makes sense as it looks confusing to understand what I'm getting at) Many times if the rear of the hood needs to be pushed down your hinges have seen better days. That's the way I always look for worn hinges,

 

[YY1]

Try raising the front hinge bolt position.