Hood doesn't sit evenly

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IndyFiat

Hood doesn't sit evenly

Post by IndyFiat »

My hood doesn't sit evenly on the driver side at the top. The rubber that it sits on looks good, so what else could be causing it to sit up in the top corner? Hood is not bent either. Bueller...Anyone...?
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4uall
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Joined: Mon Sep 26, 2011 12:09 pm
Your car is a: 1980 Fiat Pininfarina Spider 2000 F.I.
Location: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

Re: Hood doesn't sit evenly

Post by 4uall »

Mine does the same even after new rubber hood bumpers. I was informed that it is common as the hood is often opened by one person on one side rather than from the middle :roll:
Jay

Fiona
1980 FI 2000 Spider
ITZEBTZE

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IndyFiat

Re: Hood doesn't sit evenly

Post by IndyFiat »

That did go through my mind. Seems like everyone would pick up the hood from one side or the other. Guess the left side is favored the most.
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RRoller123
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Your car is a: 1980 FI SPIDER 2000
Location: SAGAMORE BEACH, MA USA

Re: Hood doesn't sit evenly

Post by RRoller123 »

You can adjust the position of the hinges a little and that makes a surprising difference in how it sits. Loosen the bolts a little and raise the RF corner slightly and retighten. This should lower the corner at the drivers side rear. I also found that my cowling was sitting a little low, and put a 1/8" piece of rubber under the point where the mounting screw is and it aligned that area much better.

Some folks her have said that the hoods get slightly deformed from years of lifting them by the drivers rear corner, and that if you put a pillow(s) across the middle of the hood on top of the engine and close the hood on them and apply pressure, you can slightly reform it back into shape. I haven't tried this.

You can also slightly lower the position of the hood latch in the center to make it fit more tightly.

Pete
'80 FI Spider 2000
'74 and '79 X1/9 (past)
'75 BMW R75/6
2011 Chevy Malibu (daily driver)
2010 Chevy Silverado 2500HD Ext Cab 4WD/STD BED
2002 Edgewater 175CC 80HP 4-Stroke Yamaha
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PininF

Re: Hood doesn't sit evenly

Post by PininF »

That's good advice Pete,will try that on the weekend as mine does the same , after the engine rebuild the hood doesn't line up anymore so will try and adjust the hinges , will take some before & after pics when I'm done.

Cheers
John
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RRoller123
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Joined: Sun Nov 13, 2011 2:04 pm
Your car is a: 1980 FI SPIDER 2000
Location: SAGAMORE BEACH, MA USA

Re: Hood doesn't sit evenly

Post by RRoller123 »

The up and down is a PITA as they tend to shift as you tighten them, but you can get the front chrome trim pretty well aligned if you work at it! I haven't tried the "pillow bend" approach, but I may give it a shot.
'80 FI Spider 2000
'74 and '79 X1/9 (past)
'75 BMW R75/6
2011 Chevy Malibu (daily driver)
2010 Chevy Silverado 2500HD Ext Cab 4WD/STD BED
2002 Edgewater 175CC 80HP 4-Stroke Yamaha
2003 Jaguar XK8
2003 Jaguar XKR
2021 Jayco 22RB
2019 Bianchi Torino Bicycle
albertone

Re: Hood doesn't sit evenly

Post by albertone »

My mechanic lowered the center latch a bit today and now it sits flush.
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