Hood Alignment

[LifterEyes]

Is there any good procedure to align a hood on an '87 944?

I've been trying to make adjustments to the hoods position where it is bolted to the hinges but I can never get it to sit straight when closed.

[djnolan]

My hood bangs when going over bumps and it was in an accident so everything is not straight like it should be. I found it difficult to adjust but try this:

1. make sure all of the rubber bumpers/guides along edge of hood are in place and in good condition. if not buy new from Pelican. make sure surface along inner fender where guides go is not bent either.

2. prop open the hood with a long stick and remove the hood latch post and the hood shocks

3. start drinking beer.

4. use a 13mm socket (preferably 1/4 drive) with extension to barely loosen the hood to hinge bolts. if you have a nice paint job, you may want to mask the fenders in the area around the hinges so you don't ding your paint in step 6/7.

5. gently close the hood and align as you like. try to make sure the hood:
a. contacts all 4 guide bumpers evenly and
b. is evenly spaced side-to-side. (use a piece of shim wood as a measuring tool to get the side-to-side space even on both sides)
c. seam between the nose panel and hood is straight and about the same as the side seam.
d. height is level with fenders, especially at rear of hood

6. gently open the hood JUST ENOUGH (about 1 foot) to get the socket in to the 13mm bolts. Prop open the hood in the center where the latch post went, with a short stick (about 1 foot long) or have an assistanc hold the hood open (this is the trick to it)

7. tighten the bolts a little

8. close hood and check alignment as in step 5. repeat steps 4-7 as necessary until you have consumed the entire 12-pack, or you have the hood aligned perfectly.

9. prop open hood with long stick again and replace shocks and latch post.

10. adjust latch post so hood closes snug on bumpers and doesn't deflect too much in the front corners.

[djnolan]

If you are a resident of the great state of Utah, substitute patience for beer...

[LifterEyes]

Haha!

I just now found out that mine was in an accident as well so I'm now realizing that may be the reason I could never get it perfect.

Luckily it doesn't look too bad, seeing as how I never realized it had hit something, it was really just one of those cosmetic things that bugged the crap out of me.

I'll have to give your procedure a try and see if I can get it any closer to how it should be.