Trouble with adjusting hood hinges

[BobsMK4]

For the first time, I installed the hood after trimming the edges. So far so good. I got the gap perfect all the way around. I put some rubber bumpers all around the opening and the hood sat flush with the body. After loosely bolting on the hood hinges, I could not get the front of the hood to be flush with the front edge of the hood opening. The front of the hood is about a 1/4" above the front edge of the body. I've tried adjusting the hinges every which way, but it didn't help. I rechecked the hood hinge assembly and I put them together correctly. The hood opening is resting on the 3/4" square frame and the quick jacks are bolted in place. The body fits really good on the chassis. I have no other issues. The doors and trunk adjusted easily and fit good. Is there a secret to adjusting the hood? Does someone have a good sequence for this adjustment?

[rmiller64]

Hi Bob

If you check the forum for body fitment you will find the the guru's that do these all day have posted that the body at hood opening doesn't sit on the 3/4 tube. Mine sits 9/16 above and the hood lined up this last weekend with no trouble. To help hold the body in this position while you adj and tighten the front quick jacks cut a paint stick into 2" pieces and stack 3 on each side by lifting the body up and slide in on top of the 3/4 tube.

Hope this helps

[ram_g]

Is the Mk4 that different from the previous versions in this regard? My Mk3.1 has the body resting on the 3/4 tube and everything fits - front mounting points, hood hinges, etc. etc.

Bob I live not too far from Richmond. If you want I could try to swing by sometime this weekend to help diagnose (and compare to my Mk3.1).

[Jeff Kleiner]

YES the Mk4 is different than the Mk3 and YES, the body should be about 1/2" above the tubing at the front of the hood opening rather than resting on it.

Jeff

[j.miller]

YEPPERS ! Lift that nose.

[JIMOCO]

Thanks guys. I am having the same trouble with my Mk4 and was going to look at the hinge installation this weekend. After reading your posts I will look at it differently and focus on adjusting the body.

[BobsMK4]

Hi Bob

If you check the forum for body fitment you will find the the guru's that do these all day have posted that the body at hood opening doesn't sit on the 3/4 tube. Mine sits 9/16 above and the hood lined up this last weekend with no trouble. To help hold the body in this position while you adj and tighten the front quick jacks cut a paint stick into 2" pieces and stack 3 on each side by lifting the body up and slide in on top of the 3/4 tube.

Hope this helps

I got the hood to adjust a little better. I did have the "L" shaped hinge bracket on top instead of the bottom. This lowered the hood a little bit, but the hood is still not flush with the body. I will try your suggestion and raise the nose. I was not aware that the body does not rest on the 3/4" tubing. Thanks for everyone's help. This should also help on front tire clearance.

[BobsMK4]

Is the Mk4 that different from the previous versions in this regard? My Mk3.1 has the body resting on the 3/4 tube and everything fits - front mounting points, hood hinges, etc. etc.

Bob I live not too far from Richmond. If you want I could try to swing by sometime this weekend to help diagnose (and compare to my Mk3.1).

If you could come by this weekend, that would be great. I would like to see your MK3 and compare it with mine. My cell number is 281-727-9604. Give me a call any time.

[rmiller64]

If you could come by this weekend, that would be great. I would like to see your MK3 and compare it with mine. My cell number is 281-727-9604. Give me a call any time.

Bob If this is a Pic of you MK IV currently and trying to fit the hood? The hood opening has a little taper to the sides. If you try and fit with min clearance you'll need to sand a slight bevel around the hood. Maybe that's what is keeping the hood from sitting flush in the front.

[CraigS]

There was a thread within the last month or so about fitting the body. I think it was da Bat who talked about how the body needed to be above the frame rails and how this really helps getting the hood hinges to work correctly.

[BobsMK4]

Bob If this is a Pic of you MK IV currently and trying to fit the hood? The hood opening has a little taper to the sides. If you try and fit with min clearance you'll need to sand a slight bevel around the hood. Maybe that's what is keeping the hood from sitting flush in the front.

After looking at the side taper of the hood opening, the hood should drop a little after it is tapered. I have the hood fitting good enough to send it to my body guy. He has painted several Cobras and is very good at fitting the body panels. I will go ahead and cut the hole for the scope and test fit the scope to the hood. I did tape together 3 thicknesses of a paint stick and put them underneath the front sides of the hood opening. I loosened up the quick Jack bolts and lifted up the body and slid the spacer under the edge. I guess a permanent spacer will need to be added later. This did level out the quick Jack bolts. The hood certainly takes a lot of tweaking to get it to fit perfect.