#1  
Old 12-09-2019, 09:53 PM
tjs72lemans tjs72lemans is offline
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Default 72 Lemans hood sits high

I mocked up my hood (with scoops) and it sits high in the back. I have the hood springs adjusted all the way down on the fenders. I can then push down by the windshield and the hood will go down flush with fenders. This is an endura front end (T41). I had the hood springs apart (bead blast, paint and lubed). Is something possibly bad about the hood springs?

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Old 12-09-2019, 10:24 PM
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Hinges might be worn, my 69 did the same thing when adjusted all the way down. New hinges fixed it. You could try adjusting the front of the hinge up a touch with the back all the way down. See if that helps

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  #3  
Old 12-09-2019, 11:14 PM
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Classic symptom of worn hinges

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Old 12-09-2019, 11:15 PM
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I had the exact same problem on my 71 GTO... I couldn't get it right.
One morning I checked the oil and went out for a blast.
As I accelerated the hood flew open.
I pulled to the side and closed it; and drove back home to look for damage.
Somehow the hood was aligned perfectly and the rear of the hood closed nice and flush.

Crazy but true.

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Old 12-09-2019, 11:31 PM
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oh man

I just about spilled my coffee ... that brought out a memory,,,
like n20 mentioned,,, loosen all 4 and push the front up like f rocks did underway ...

it just may help ... it has for me also ,,, not at 40 mph tho.. just in the driveway
oh wait
that was my 68 GTO convertible top I forgot to latch after the drive in movies in '83 ..
ah yes ... grabbin second gear leavin makes em stand right up ...at attention ...
and they dont latch after that ... ah the nites at the drive in ....


Last edited by Scott Thelander; 12-09-2019 at 11:36 PM.
  #6  
Old 12-10-2019, 12:53 AM
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It's not always a bad or worn hinge that causes this problem.
A body man would do as described in post #2. Loosen and adjust the hinge down in the rear or upwards in the front. Avoid what many do and do not lower front and rear of the hinge, it needs to rotate.
Be aware that rotating the hinge down in the back (or up in the front) means the hood has to be slid forward on the hinge to compensate. You may want to remove the bolts holding the latch so that it drops down out of the way while you make adjustments.

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Old 12-10-2019, 09:01 PM
tjs72lemans tjs72lemans is offline
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I have no latch in it now, since I'm mocking the front end up for fit before I pull off to paint (hood and bumper). It does make sense to raise the front hinges to rotate angle. I actually thought of this before I posted, but wasn't sure if that would do much for me. I'll try it Saturday when I'm back in the garage.

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Old 12-12-2019, 02:19 AM
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Not meaning to hijack the thread tjs72lemans but I think it's related topic-wise and I didn't see a need to start a new topic...
I've been fighting a hood alignment issue on my car for as long as I've had it back together. I don't think it's the hinge since when pushing this down, it always springs back up to this position. I have adjusted the hinge up in the back, down in front as far as it will go. I have adjusted the rubber bumpers on the core support. I've adjusted the opposite front corner up to try to get the left to pivot down...no effect.
Could it be a core support issue? That's really my question...can core support shims solve a problem of this sort?
Notice the left-front of the hood sits up proud of the bumper and fender-

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Old 12-12-2019, 10:52 AM
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Greg, I am PMing my number to you in case you don't have it anymore. I can tell you how to cure it.
Steve

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Old 12-12-2019, 01:22 PM
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The hinge needs to be down in the back and up in the front. I could actually even get a worn hinge to sit flush that way it just would last very long. When I installed my new hinges and adjusted them I actually had the hood sit below the fender in the rear. 99% of the time this works. Hope it helps.

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Old 12-12-2019, 01:29 PM
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Greg's problem isn't in the hinges. If he can rock the front corners and make them fit it's about latch height.

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Old 12-12-2019, 06:19 PM
tjs72lemans tjs72lemans is offline
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I was going to say, it seems the latch needs to be adjusted down. I think that means it's a core support shim adjustment that's needed.

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Old 12-13-2019, 01:00 AM
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I'm going to try the latch after talking with Steve. I've tried just about everything I could think of but never considered that before. I'm sure the hinges are good and it's an adjustment issue. It's just the left front and it does rock up on the right side when I push the left side down. Pivots on the latch in other words.

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Old 12-13-2019, 07:41 AM
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Not greg, the post's originator. He had a rear hood issue.

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Old 12-13-2019, 07:43 AM
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For Greg's issue it is the latch. Probably adjust the bumper up slightly un the side that sits low or leave it if its flush then shim the latch down. That will pull the high side level when shut.

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1969 GTO street strip project 11.1 forged 461, highport heads
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9.89@132 1.34 60ft SOLD!
  #16  
Old 12-13-2019, 01:09 PM
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Sorry n20, I caused the confusion by the hijack.

Sent from my moto g(6) play using Tapatalk

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Old 12-13-2019, 01:39 PM
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No worries. By bumper I mean hood bumper on that post directed at your car. Hope you have luck with the latch adjustment.

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  #18  
Old 12-14-2019, 01:42 AM
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Yeah, I'll try it after I finish some underhood mechanical stuff I'm doing now.

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Old 07-13-2020, 11:28 PM
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Finally got around to trying Steve's suggestion of lowering the latch. It made a huge improvement! Still not perfect but looking much better. Sits slightly high in the back on the passenger side but I may be able to adjust that out at the hinge..one day.


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Old 07-14-2020, 07:53 PM
tjs72lemans tjs72lemans is offline
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I ended up having to buy new hood hinges and springs. Hood now sits down as it should.

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