'65 Dart Hood Adjustment

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Rustyfish

Rustyfish

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From the damage it looks like at some point the hood flew open on the freeway when the hood latch broke free from the core support. Found the latch below pinned under the radiator. Punched 2 holes into the cowl from the rear hood corners and boogered up the alignment. The passenger side hood to hinge is adjusted as far forward as possible already. Can't move the driver side back much or the hood will hit the cowl. Soooo...either the passenger hinge is damaged or there is adjustment still where the hood hinge meets the body under the fender. I just can't tell without removing the front end and fender if that is so or not. You guys with early Darts should know.

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There is NO adjustment where the hinge is secured to the side of the cowl! All the adjustment is with the hinge to hood bolts. There in a solid pin about 1/2 in in diameter that the hinge slides onto and is secured with a tight fitting push cap. I am doubtful that you can remove the cap and hinge without removing the fender. I can get pics of the pin area since my front clip is currently removed from the car. If you need some undamaged hinges, I have 2 extra sets.
 
Good to know. It’s weird because the hood moves nicely a up and down without binding so I feel like the hinge is ok. Might have to ream out the hinge holes. Pics would be great if you could! Thanks
 
Lee brings up a good point about the hood torsion bars. If there’s an issue with them you may want to consider eliminating them in favor of hydraulic lifts. I followed the example of another member who eliminated the TBars and went to them since my fenders were already off. You utilize the same hinges; they are actuated now with the hydraulic lifts
 
The eyebrow trim driver side is munched so thinking po ran into something and pushed driver fender and hood out of alignment. But like I said hood moves up and down well without any type of binding. Core support seems to be a little off as well.
 
Looks like that fender is pushed out, more so than a hood alignment issue.
 
mycuda said:
Looks like that fender is pushed out, more so than a hood alignment issue.
Click to expand...
Yep it is for sure. Driver door has been replaced too. Fender is a little beat up as well.

I will also say, when dropping the hood, once it gets to the safety latch it gets pretty resistant to go down the rest of the way.
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Part of that large gap on the driver side should get taken up by proper hood to cowl alignment which I can't seem to eek out at this point.
 
From past experience, may be best to somehow try to jack/push/portapower fender in and up toward hood while attached to get close.
Gonna have to play around with a while till you get close.... Take your time. use wood for cushion.


Dave
 
mycuda said:
From past experience, may be best to somehow try to jack/push/portapower fender in and up toward hood while attached to get close.
Gonna have to play around with a while till you get close.... Take your time. use wood for cushion.


Dave
Click to expand...
I can't worry about the driver side until I can gap the cowl correctly by moving passenger side of hood forward which will in turn close the driver fender hood gap. I might have to remove everything (hood, fenders etc.) and look at what's going on underneath. I was just hoping to get lucky with a quick adjustment. #moparlife
 
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