72 charger hood alignment problem
 

Hello Mopar gearheads, Today's problem: after reinstalling front fenders and hood,( fought with hood springs adjustments-and won), the front-side edges of the hood are still 1/4 inch higher than the fenders. Gaps are good. Fenders can not be adjusted or raised to meet the hood. I removed the hood spring completely and the hood lowered some. Filed the slots in the hood latch to lower it, hood lowered some more. The hood is not yet touching the rubber stopper mounts. I can push the hood down compressing the hood seal but it won't stay down. Hood seal is the original one, should I remove it all together and leave the hood spring out?? Any ideas?? Anyone experience this. Thanks

lower the hinges

Springs are worn out...

Try this... loosen the hinge bolts on the body until they are just snug, then lift the front of the hood forcing the hinges to rotate. Then with force still up on the hood tighten the bolts on the hinges. This should allow the hood to drop, you can tweak the rotation to help with the final fit.

dgb -

Unless something (including the fenders) are misaligned or warped, the rubber hood bumpers should be what sets the front hood height. The other possibily, assuming you've done all the alignment tricks above could be that the hood latch needs adjusting.

Archer

hood problem reply
 

Thanks for the opinions, first I might try fender shims, then I might try replacing the hood latching mechanism. The hood hinges are already as low as they can go. The rest of the hood lines up with both fenders until the last 8 or 9 inches of hood on both sides which is where the problem is. The car never had fender shims before. If I try playing with the hinges I believe I'll only make it worse. Thanks again.

If your installing he same parts they should fit! It Is just a mater of adjustment!

hood problem solved
 

Thanks Iowan, I played with the hinges yet some more and got the front of the hood to drop even with the fenders, although the hood spring causes some unevenness. I can live with it though. Thanks again.

Glad I could help, you might try a little oil on the hinge pivot points also.