Need to Adjust Hood after Hood Strut Replacement

[ApacheOEM]

First this: My absolute deepest appreciation to our host and to all of those that work so diligently to make this such an AWESOME board for lurkers like myself! I hope to one day be a contributor, but for now, I confess to be a lowly sponge.

My 1985 911 Coupe is in really great shape. I am working on some cosmetics and on the short list was getting rid of the wooden dowel ("broom sticking") I've been using to prop up the hood at oil checks during fill-ups. I've installed replacement hood struts (aka. hood dampers or hood pneumatics) on both sides - no more embarrassment . The original owner had creatively rigged two struts on the passenger side, apparently to avoid having to change/remove the one on the problematic driver side. Since putting the new hood struts in correctly, I notice that my hood is a bit offset. Its alignment is fine in height, it just appears pushed to the left, to the point where I fear that I might chip the paint on closing it even.

On Leland Pate's posting: "Dr. Pate's 101 Tips for 911 Owners," he states on item 59: "If your hood doesn’t quite look right it may be out of adjustment. If you remove the two plastic plugs on the bulkhead, you can use an Allen wrench to adjust the latch up or down."

So now I am looking to see where these two plastic plugs are and if they apply to my condition. I have found that most of my "neophyte" questions have already been answered by you guys, so, I have exercised diligence in the "search before post" mentality. BUT, the terms here are all still so new. Could anyone advise on how to adjust my hood or on what keywords to use in the searches for proper hood alignment technique?

Many Thanks!! - Rick

[Gunter]

Rick:
The struts attach to a bracket which is held to the hood by Allen bolts.
The holes for the Allen bolts in the brackets are slotted so you can loosen the bolts and move the hood in all directions.
There are also washers between bracket and hood to ensure proper height where it meets up with the body part that has the wipers on it.
Carefully open the Allen bolts and move the hood where you want it.
It takes a bit of doing.

[ApacheOEM]

That puts me on track. Many thanks for the assist Gunter!

Rick

[cgarr]

If your hood centers on the front latch correct the front of the hood should be centered at least up front, if its not adjust the latch so it is first, otherwise if all is good and its just a little to one side as mine was I just open it and give it a good push up by the cowl , the hinges are very flexible side to side.

[ApacheOEM]

Thank you! Thank You! Gonna see if I can tweak this later tonight!

[robert walsh]

I have the same issue, when i look at the hood it is slightly raised in the left rear corner, I can see day light between the bracket and hood, all is tight the other side ,no day light, is it okay to remove the inside washer or put thinner ones in place, it's a slight raise, but I don't want to crack the paint when drawing it down. I am talking towards the winshield, driver corner.

[cgarr]

Originally Posted by robert walsh

I have the same issue, when i look at the hood it is slightly raised in the left rear corner, I can see day light between the bracket and hood, all is tight the other side ,no day light, is it okay to remove the inside washer or put thinner ones in place, it's a slight raise, but I don't want to crack the paint when drawing it down. I am talking towards the winshield, driver corner.

How does the hood match to the body? Shims are used to align the hood thats common. There is also adjustment in the hinge, you can rotate the hinge some but be careful not to move it so much that the hinge point hits the cowl on the inside and dent it.

[robert walsh]

The fit of the hood is excellent all gar gaps are right on, the only area of foncern if the last 12" toward the widshield is just raised about an 1/8" at the corner, it seems that if i removed the inner washers from the bracket it would seemingly pull that area doen and fix the problem. Is not using those inner washers at all common or even recommened? The gaps and alignment are ideal except the last 12", nobody else has ever pointed it out but i see it, I think it came from the factory that way, it certainly apperars that it has never been aprt, the paint etc. is all in place under the area and nothing is bent or un-true. The allen screws also seem as thought they have never had an allen wrench in them, look new, maybe just live with it. The opposit corner is totally flush the way i would like to see this side, never in an accident.

[911pcars]

Originally Posted by robert walsh

The fit of the hood is excellent all gar gaps are right on, the only area of foncern if the last 12" toward the widshield is just raised about an 1/8" at the corner, it seems that if i removed the inner washers from the bracket it would seemingly pull that area doen and fix the problem. Is not using those inner washers at all common or even recommened? The gaps and alignment are ideal except the last 12", nobody else has ever pointed it out but i see it, I think it came from the factory that way, it certainly apperars that it has never been aprt, the paint etc. is all in place under the area and nothing is bent or un-true. The allen screws also seem as thought they have never had an allen wrench in them, look new, maybe just live with it. The opposit corner is totally flush the way i would like to see this side, never in an accident.

Remove the shim/washer(s) between hinge and hood. That will position that corner lower. You may wish to apply some 3M painters tape around that area (hood or chassis) to prevent paint chipping, just in case.

Sherwood

[3.2 CAB]

It may be possible that a previous owner/user had too much crap in the trunk, and tried shutting it and sort of "sprung" that upper corner??? Just a thought, because it would not really take much blocking the lid from closing properly, then forcing it the rest of the way and bending something a little out of spec. Good luck!! Tony.

[Gunter]

Like Sherwood says: Remove the washer (s) and see how it matches up.
Do one bolt at a time so the hood doesn't move on the bracket.
The hood is heavy and when lifted up, it wants to slide down on the bracket.
You can mark the position with a thin-tip felt marker.