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Topic: Hoods that don't match header panel (Read 2219 times) previous topic - next topic

Hoods that don't match header panel

I've seen this on a few cars, including mine and I'm really not sure what causes it.  Is this normal on these cars or are the stops maybe moving from vibration and causing the hood to get deformed after multiple open/closes?

Here's a pic that makes it really visible (sorry if this is your car!):

1988 Thunderbird Turbo Coupe
'89 5.0 w/ ported intakes, Mallory Adjustable FPR, BBK shorties and H with 2.5" Flows, 130 amp 3G, 89 Mustang comp/wiring, Aluminum radiator w/ elec fan, T5 trans, King Cobra clutch, 3.55 gears, 13" Cobra brakes (front), Wilwood prop valve, Mustang A-arms, Front Coil-overs, MM CC plates, Silver 17x9 R's, 03 Cobra IRS, Aluminum DS, 2002 Mustang dash/console etc..., custom leather seats

Hoods that don't match header panel

Reply #1 –
I dunno what causes it, but I CAN say that both my stock hood, and the certa-fit "TC" hood both look(ed) like that...
it's a small pic, but look in my sig at mine...it's shiznitty, but it's not a Ford TC hood, so :punchballs::hick:
'98 Explorer 5.0
'20 Malibu (I know, Chevy, but, 35MPG. Let's go brandon, eh)

Hoods that don't match header panel

Reply #2 –
There are multiple adjustments for that sort of thing. The hood stops on the radiator core support can be adjusted up or down. In theory. They were difficult to move when the cars were new; as time progresses they're  near impossible to move at all. Nonetheless it is an adjustment. Vise-Grips and WD-40 recommended. ;)

Also, the way that the hood bolts to the hinges is another adjustment at the back of the hood. Owners of cars with factory spring-loaded hood hinges have additional bump-stops on the hinges.

there is also another large adjustment: hood-to-fender. Loosening the fender bolts and moving the panel can yield tighter gaps along the side of the hood.

Don't forget about the alignment of the hood to the header panel. The main hood latch can be moved up or down also, although you have to be very careful when you do that. But that is an adjustment at the front of the hood.

Hoods that don't match header panel

Reply #3 –
Yup is it mostly in those adjustments. I takes times but you can get if if you work at it. The hardest part is lining everything back up to line up right!
84 Turbo coupe 2.3T Modded with 88 upper and lower intake, 88 injectors, E6 manifold, T3-4 AR.60 turbo, 31X12X3 FMIC, Homemade MBC , Greddy knock off BPV.
4 eyes see better than 2! 
Da Bird!

FreeBird

Hoods that don't match header panel

Reply #4 –
Well, if you look at the pic, you can see the hood is actually angled different than the header panel.  It's not so much that it's out of adjustment.  I'm more wondering about how the hood gets deformed in the first place.
1988 Thunderbird Turbo Coupe
'89 5.0 w/ ported intakes, Mallory Adjustable FPR, BBK shorties and H with 2.5" Flows, 130 amp 3G, 89 Mustang comp/wiring, Aluminum radiator w/ elec fan, T5 trans, King Cobra clutch, 3.55 gears, 13" Cobra brakes (front), Wilwood prop valve, Mustang A-arms, Front Coil-overs, MM CC plates, Silver 17x9 R's, 03 Cobra IRS, Aluminum DS, 2002 Mustang dash/console etc..., custom leather seats

Hoods that don't match header panel

Reply #5 –
You sure the battery not hittin it?If not its all ajustable.
Old Grey Cat to this.88 Cat, 5.0 HO, CW mounts, mass air, CI custom cam, afr165's, Tmoss worked cobra intake, BBK shorty's,off road h pipe, magnaflow ex. T-5,spec stage 2 clutch, 8.8 373 TC trac loc, che ajustables with bullits on the rear. 11" brakes up front. +

Hoods that don't match header panel

Reply #6 –
the fender may be out of alignment too on that one side.
the hood looks lower all the way along the fender.
or the hood is to low on the pass side.

the front will form to whatever it's bolted down to, to a point.
It can all be fixed to look perfect. just a lot of adjusting.
and if that doesn't work. toss a 2x4 under 1 side and warp the hood to match. LOL ..J/K
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
***** Project "EVOLUTION" 1987 Cougar LS  & 1985 Cougar Convertible *****
[/COLOR]
5.0 HO 306 roller block, machined GT-40P heads, Wiseco dished forged pistons, Eagle forged floating I-beam connecting rods, Lunati pushrods, ARP bolts, Scorpion aluminum 1.6 rockers, Comp Cams Magnum 266HR, Explorer intake, 65mm TB, MAF Conversion, 19# injectors, Ford Racing stainless P-headers, 2-1/2" cat-less exhaust w/ Flowtech Afterburner lers , SC AOD with 2800 BDR torque converter, 3.73 T-Lok rear, CHE rear control arms, full 2-1/2" frame w/1" jacking rails & seat supports, Rear disk brakes, Turbine wheels, All original interior w/ floor shift upgrade .......
Pretty much every panel on my 87 is new, rebuilt, or re constructed. :D
Join us on Facebook
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?sk=group_137541156293768&ap=1

Hoods that don't match header panel

Reply #7 –
Quote from: daminc;232089
and if that doesn't work. toss a 2x4 under 1 side and warp the hood to match. LOL ..J/K


J/K nothing, I've done it :hick:

I think these cars came factory with shiznitty hood fitment. I definitely see more with poor fitment than I do with good fitment. I was determined to make my TC hood fit my car, and after several hours of fussing I think it came out OK, considering I don't know what the hell I'm doing (the shadows in the pic make it look worse than it actually is):
2015 Mustang GT Premium - 5.0, 6-speed, Guard Green - too much awesome for one car

1988 5.0 Thunderbird :birdsmily: SOLD SEPT 11 2010: TC front clip/hood ♣ Body & paint completed Oct 2007 ♣ 3.55 TC rear end and front brakes ♣ TC interior ♣ CHE rear control arms (adjustable lowers) ♣ 2001 Bullitt springs ♣ Energy suspension poly busings ♣ Kenne Brown subframe connectors ♣ CWE engine mounts ♣ Thundercat sequential turn signals ♣ Explorer overhead console (temp/compass display) ♣ 2.25" off-road dual exhaust ♣ T-5 transmission swap completed Jan 2009 ♣

Hoods that don't match header panel

Reply #8 –
I've done it to.
........and doors
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
***** Project "EVOLUTION" 1987 Cougar LS  & 1985 Cougar Convertible *****
[/COLOR]
5.0 HO 306 roller block, machined GT-40P heads, Wiseco dished forged pistons, Eagle forged floating I-beam connecting rods, Lunati pushrods, ARP bolts, Scorpion aluminum 1.6 rockers, Comp Cams Magnum 266HR, Explorer intake, 65mm TB, MAF Conversion, 19# injectors, Ford Racing stainless P-headers, 2-1/2" cat-less exhaust w/ Flowtech Afterburner lers , SC AOD with 2800 BDR torque converter, 3.73 T-Lok rear, CHE rear control arms, full 2-1/2" frame w/1" jacking rails & seat supports, Rear disk brakes, Turbine wheels, All original interior w/ floor shift upgrade .......
Pretty much every panel on my 87 is new, rebuilt, or re constructed. :D
Join us on Facebook
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?sk=group_137541156293768&ap=1

Hoods that don't match header panel

Reply #9 –
Yeah, I haven't used 2X4's on doors, but I've used my knee. First generation Saturns had a problem with water leaks - water would get between the door and the rubber and drip on your knee. GM issued a TSB on how to repair the problem: Open the door, place your knee against the inner panel, grab the window frame, and pull. Literally, we were to bend the door so that the window frame part seated tighter against the rubber. The best part of the TSB was the statement "Although this is a proper and legitimate repair it is recommended that the technician perform this procedure out of view of customers". It would be kinda hard to explain, I guess...
2015 Mustang GT Premium - 5.0, 6-speed, Guard Green - too much awesome for one car

1988 5.0 Thunderbird :birdsmily: SOLD SEPT 11 2010: TC front clip/hood ♣ Body & paint completed Oct 2007 ♣ 3.55 TC rear end and front brakes ♣ TC interior ♣ CHE rear control arms (adjustable lowers) ♣ 2001 Bullitt springs ♣ Energy suspension poly busings ♣ Kenne Brown subframe connectors ♣ CWE engine mounts ♣ Thundercat sequential turn signals ♣ Explorer overhead console (temp/compass display) ♣ 2.25" off-road dual exhaust ♣ T-5 transmission swap completed Jan 2009 ♣

Hoods that don't match header panel

Reply #10 –
kitzdnm, that's not my car; but if it was, no, because the battery wouldn't be in the front.  :D  And besides that, that hood actually has gaps that get progressively larger on each side.  If you raise or lower one side to make it better the other side would get worse. 

Anyway, guess I was just curious why I see so many cars with mis-shapen hoods (not mis-aligned which was a problem I already understood)
1988 Thunderbird Turbo Coupe
'89 5.0 w/ ported intakes, Mallory Adjustable FPR, BBK shorties and H with 2.5" Flows, 130 amp 3G, 89 Mustang comp/wiring, Aluminum radiator w/ elec fan, T5 trans, King Cobra clutch, 3.55 gears, 13" Cobra brakes (front), Wilwood prop valve, Mustang A-arms, Front Coil-overs, MM CC plates, Silver 17x9 R's, 03 Cobra IRS, Aluminum DS, 2002 Mustang dash/console etc..., custom leather seats
 

Hoods that don't match header panel

Reply #11 –
It might be just a bad overall panel alignment.
my doors were misaligned from the factory, until last month when I replaced them.
could be a replacement hood.
I also noticed some differences between the bird and cougar quarters.. could be bad stamping.
body lines on the bird are a lot crisper then the ones on my cougar.

just things I have noticed in rebuilding my car.

I don't think quality control was at the top of the list, depending on where the cars came from. there were also interior panels that weren't welded from the factory on my car
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
***** Project "EVOLUTION" 1987 Cougar LS  & 1985 Cougar Convertible *****
[/COLOR]
5.0 HO 306 roller block, machined GT-40P heads, Wiseco dished forged pistons, Eagle forged floating I-beam connecting rods, Lunati pushrods, ARP bolts, Scorpion aluminum 1.6 rockers, Comp Cams Magnum 266HR, Explorer intake, 65mm TB, MAF Conversion, 19# injectors, Ford Racing stainless P-headers, 2-1/2" cat-less exhaust w/ Flowtech Afterburner lers , SC AOD with 2800 BDR torque converter, 3.73 T-Lok rear, CHE rear control arms, full 2-1/2" frame w/1" jacking rails & seat supports, Rear disk brakes, Turbine wheels, All original interior w/ floor shift upgrade .......
Pretty much every panel on my 87 is new, rebuilt, or re constructed. :D
Join us on Facebook
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?sk=group_137541156293768&ap=1

Hoods that don't match header panel

Reply #12 –
huh, that's interesting.  It's amazing how far all the automotive tooling and what not has come since our cars were built.  Guess it's up to us to fix that as much as we can!  :D
1988 Thunderbird Turbo Coupe
'89 5.0 w/ ported intakes, Mallory Adjustable FPR, BBK shorties and H with 2.5" Flows, 130 amp 3G, 89 Mustang comp/wiring, Aluminum radiator w/ elec fan, T5 trans, King Cobra clutch, 3.55 gears, 13" Cobra brakes (front), Wilwood prop valve, Mustang A-arms, Front Coil-overs, MM CC plates, Silver 17x9 R's, 03 Cobra IRS, Aluminum DS, 2002 Mustang dash/console etc..., custom leather seats

Hoods that don't match header panel

Reply #13 –
And don't forget all the twisting and flexing the car has done in the last 20 years. somethings got to not line up after that many years
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
***** Project "EVOLUTION" 1987 Cougar LS  & 1985 Cougar Convertible *****
[/COLOR]
5.0 HO 306 roller block, machined GT-40P heads, Wiseco dished forged pistons, Eagle forged floating I-beam connecting rods, Lunati pushrods, ARP bolts, Scorpion aluminum 1.6 rockers, Comp Cams Magnum 266HR, Explorer intake, 65mm TB, MAF Conversion, 19# injectors, Ford Racing stainless P-headers, 2-1/2" cat-less exhaust w/ Flowtech Afterburner lers , SC AOD with 2800 BDR torque converter, 3.73 T-Lok rear, CHE rear control arms, full 2-1/2" frame w/1" jacking rails & seat supports, Rear disk brakes, Turbine wheels, All original interior w/ floor shift upgrade .......
Pretty much every panel on my 87 is new, rebuilt, or re constructed. :D
Join us on Facebook
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?sk=group_137541156293768&ap=1

Hoods that don't match header panel

Reply #14 –
Oh yeah!  LOL so that's why my passenger door is low and sticks out 1/2" on the bottom (toward the back side if it)?
1988 Thunderbird Turbo Coupe
'89 5.0 w/ ported intakes, Mallory Adjustable FPR, BBK shorties and H with 2.5" Flows, 130 amp 3G, 89 Mustang comp/wiring, Aluminum radiator w/ elec fan, T5 trans, King Cobra clutch, 3.55 gears, 13" Cobra brakes (front), Wilwood prop valve, Mustang A-arms, Front Coil-overs, MM CC plates, Silver 17x9 R's, 03 Cobra IRS, Aluminum DS, 2002 Mustang dash/console etc..., custom leather seats