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Need help aligning hood please

pearljam724

pearljam724

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69 Coronet, my hood was perfectly aligned. I never touched anything hood related. All of the sudden it sticks up about 1/4” too high in front of windshield when it’s closed. It also sticks out a about 1/4 toward the front where the front is supposed to be flush with the corners of the front fenders, right above the headlights.
There is no evidence from paint that anything moved in relation to the 4 bolts (2 on each side ) that attach it to the hinges ? So, with the hood up. I was thinking if I barely crack those 4 bolts loose the hood should slide enough toward the windshield to fix the front corners not being flush with the front fenders. It did nothing. The springs have plenty of strength to keep the hood up. So, I know it’s not that. It closes fine, no gaps are misaligned, no rubbing anywhere. It’s just that it sticks up too far across the windshield and too far past the very front of the fender corners. What do I need to do ?
 
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I think I might have to crack the other 4 bolts loose that attach the hinges to the inner fenders so the windshield portion of hood drops down a fuzz, hopefully ?
 
Bob Sawyer said:
You do have all 4 tires on the floor, correct?
Click to expand...
Yes, sir. I turned in the front hood stops a turn or two just now. And it helped with the front a tad. The front is closer to an 1/8 to 3/16 sticking out too far now. Where the portion going across the winshield is way too high. I think I need to lower the hinges where they attach to the inner fenders. A little worried about that, as I barely have air cleaner clearance as it is.
 
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just work on one side at a time. check your witness marks on the hinge to inner fender bolts and see if they have slipped.
If its tight. back the bolts off just enough to still have a good amount of drag on the hinge.
take off the hood latch, now pull the hood down very slow and put it were you want it. now very slow open the hood just enough to get your arm and a wrench over the side and snug up a couple bolts, pull it down again and check your were you wish to be.
if all is good open up and tighten all bolts. re install latch and adjust to center strike.
 
Thank you, 67coronet. I ll give it a go. Mention of hood latch. My hood won’t latch if I gently close the hood like I wish it would. It will only latch if I slam the hood fairly hard or drop it from a minimum of 2-3 feet. Is that a latch adjustment issue or is it normal with these cars ?
 
The back of the hood sticks up. Can you push it down, and if you can, does it stay there?
My friends e-body did that, she had to have the hinges redone.
 
pearljam724 said:
Thank you, 67coronet. I ll give it a go. Mention of hood latch. My hood won’t latch if I gently close the hood like I wish it would. It will only latch if I slam the hood fairly hard or drop it from a minimum of 2-3 feet. Is that a latch adjustment issue or is it normal with these cars ?
Click to expand...
Latch adjustment required!
Mike
 
33 IMP said:
The back of the hood sticks up. Can you push it down, and if you can, does it stay there?
My friends e-body did that, she had to have the hinges redone.
Click to expand...
Didn’t check, but I will. I would think if there is a hinge issue I would have paint rubbing some place, but I don’t. I wonder if reproduction hinges are available ?
 
sometimes the hinge just needs to be lubed a bit, it may not be closing completely

if the rear corner sticks up; and on the same side the front is too far forward........ loosen the rear hinge bolts a little, have someone push up on the front of the hood.... this will lower the back of the hinge, thus the back of the hood..... it will also move the hood backwards a bit on that side



20190605_151513.jpg
 
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eldubb440 said:
sometimes the hinge just needs to be lubed a bit, it may not be closing completely

if the rear corner sticks up; and on the same side the front is too far forward........ loosen the rear hinge bolts a little, have someone push up on the front of the hood.... this will lower the back of the hinge, thus the back of the hood..... it will also move the hood backwards a bit on that side


Thank you, I guarantee it needs lubed being it was painted and believe never lubed after that. If you have to slam the hood closed. Would that mean the latch needs adjusted up or down ? I want to gently close it when it locks. I assume the latch mechanism would need adjusted upward ?
Click to expand...
 
as far as the latch goes....... adjust each stop left and right to make the hood level with the fenders....... then adjust the latch to catch it........ if you can lift the hood a little after its latched, the latch has to be moved down a little.......the latch should hold it down to the stops

the hinge.... can you manually push the corner of the hood down into the proper position and it stays? then it prob just needs a lil lube
 
Ok, I fixed the latch. It latches now by easily pushing down on the hood. The corners by the windshield sticking up will not push down if I press on those corners with the hood closed. So, I think the hinges need adjusted where they bolt to the inner fender.
 
I have it as close as I can get it now. I think the back middle of the hood going across the windshield will always stick up about a quarter regardless how flush the corners are. I think the very front of my fenders above the headlights need shimmed out about 1/8 of inch. But, it’s all pretty close now.
 
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Remember these cars were not Rolls-Royce's. They were transportation. We want them to be perfect but Chrysler built them to make money as best they could.
Mike
 
back/middle of the hood sticking up over the cowl a little is pretty common
 
493 Mike said:
Remember these cars were not Rolls-Royce's. They were transportation. We want them to be perfect but Chrysler built them to make money as best they could.
Mike
Click to expand...
Yeah, I know what you’re sayin Mike. But, tell that to the guy that tries to talk me down several grand because of it, if I ever decide to sell it, lol ! I’m the type of person, that won’t give anyone a reason to knit pick. Personally it wasn’t a huge deal, but there’s alway an asshole somewhere, lol ! That likes to point tiny meaningless flaws out. People do it on purpose for a few reasons. And I worked my *** off for this car and tolerated a ton of crap to get it. So, I like to smile based on that fact every time I look at it.
 
pearljam724 said:
69 Coronet, my hood was perfectly aligned. I never touched anything hood related. All of the sudden it sticks up about 1/4” too high in front of windshield when it’s closed. It also sticks out a about 1/4 toward the front where the front is supposed to be flush with the corners of the front fenders, right above the headlights.
Click to expand...

OK, what did you touch for the hood to come out of alignment?
 
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