Can anyone tell me how to fix the hood hinges/springs?? The back edge of my hood REFUSES to align properly, and sticks up above the fenders/cowl no matter where I put the hinges in their mounts…with them all the way down, the hood sticks up. With them all the way up, it sticks up. Anywhere in between, it sticks up.
I can make it sit flush WITHOUT the springs on the hinges, however, once the springs are put on, boom, right back where I started.
Hmmmm, this has possibilities…
It is most likely the hinge not the spring causing your issue, so I don’t know if this is a good fix. You’ll need to locate some good used hinges. I mentioned in the “parts needed to be reproduced” thread that GOOD hinges are still needed as the current repops don’t seem to do the job. Should be the same for Moostangs and Cougars.
What would qualify used ones as “good”? My existing hinges have no slop to speak of at the pivot points, so I would think they were “good”…?? Just looking for enlightenment!
I’m having the same problem. When I close my hood, I see my hinges bend inward. When I remove the springs, my hinges don’t bend. Because of where the springs connect to the hinge, the springs are able to apply a fair amount of torque to the hinges, which causes them to distort. The gas shock setup you posted puts the force where the hinge is the strongest, near the mounting positions. It looks to me like they won’t stress the hinge in the same way if at all. Even if your hinges are worn, you can probably still take advantage of this kit. Damn it, Todd, why do you keep adding things to my “to-do” list.
LOL, Adam, it’s called “SOPM”…Spend Other Peoples Money…
Could also call it “returning the favor” to all the people that have helped me spend my money on this Heap!!
The Hooligan,
My recollection is that (and this will seem counterintuitive), to get the rear of the hood to sit lower when closed, you rotate the hinge on it’s apron mounting bolts; up on the rear bolts, down on the front. So if it were the DS and you were looking at the hinge from the PS, you would turn the hinge clockwise. On the PS side looking from the DS, you turn the hinge counterclockwise. Give this a try, you’ll be surprised at the results.
The pivot points of your hinges are worn. What happens is that when the pivots wear the distance between them becomes shorter. So when they hinge folds up it stacks up higher than it did when new. The re-pop hinges will fix the height problem, but they are not very strong and tend to bend inwards after only a few years. I have seen a few reworked original hinges where they were drilled out and fitted with new bushings. This is all one off hand work so no easy cure is at hand.
Tried the rotational thing, but will give it another go tonight…
Dunno that I want to go through re-bushing everything. Wonder how the gas shocks would work on a set of the weak-repros…possibly take the strain off the metal better?? Might be a good “let’s find out” project…
Grrrrrr…it’s oh-so-close…took the hood off(solo), tilted the hinges back in their slots, locked them down. Put the hood back on, again solo(couldn’t tear the wife away from The Bachelor! LMAO), lowered it slowly, aligned, and cinched down the bolts…have about 1/8" on one side, and almost 1/4" on the other popped up. Adjusted the bumper stops, and that helped some more, but still not “kwam”…but, it is better.
Oh, and I did have padding on the cowl to protect during removal/install of the hood! Saved my bacon when that last bolt let go, too! LOL
I have done it this way, actually it works out the opposite of what Bob said. Just loosen the hinges from the aprons, lift the hood all the way up, having the hinges rotate upwards with the hood. Prop the hood up with a board and tighten up the bolts. This should fix it. If the hinge is warn like Bill said, try putting a washer on the front leading edge of the hinge. This would be one of the two that are mounted on the hood it’s self and closet to the front of the car. With a washer or washers depending on how thick they are placed between the hood and the front of the hinge, this will drop the back of the hood. Had to do this a number of times with other cars. Worked well. There were times I found washers or factory spacers in these spots to make the hood fit or come down properly. If a washer was to be put on the back bolt closest to the windshield, the hood would rase higher than the fenders.
Could very well be opposite what I said 2, the mind is the first thing to go, LOL.
Oh, and ditto on the bachelor magnetism, it is one of the wifes favorite things. Maybe if the sound was down and I was only checking “the visual aspect of things”, I could stand it too…
Oh, and ditto on the bachelor magnetism, it is one of the wifes favorite things. Maybe if the sound was down and I was only checking “the visual aspect of things”, I could stand it too…???
Sorry Bob, did I miss something here? don’t understand your comment. In regards to the opposite way, Well, if it doesn’t work one way try the other.
Sorry 2, I was adding to what Todd said regarding his wife watching the TV show “The Bachelor”.
Thought I was loosing it when I read that. Now that makes sense, I know some friends that are into that, To me, what a waist of time! It’s really just another soap opera that will rot your brains. 
Some of the i-Candy isn’t bad to look at…but talk about catty!!! Wow…I’d probably strangle them all.
Going to give the shims a try tonight, Dennis…my fingers are crossed. Checked the hinges themselves pretty closely while I was at it, noticed no play, pretty tight, and no bowing/twisting when closing the hood, so I’d say they are “good” hinges. If all else fails, may pull them off, and widen the slots a touch, because as they are now, they are at the limit of how much they can be rotated.
Are you guys seriously talking about “The Bachelor” (who looks suspiciously like the GEICO Caveman)?
No, we’re talking about our wives watching the Bachelor…and the iCandy on the show…haven’t noticed any of the ladies looking like a caveman, though…what are you looking at??? 
Yeah but they are so easy even a caveman could do them.