Front bumper cover and hood alignment issues Fixed

[Roh92cp]

Thank you for posting, this is a great idea. I'm a huge DIYer and prefer working on my rides when possible. I will absolutely do this on mine.

I'm the same and honestly don't trust the Ford mechanics to change my oil. Always forgetting push pins, oil caps, air cleaner assembly. Just seems they don't give a shit and half ass everything they do. I would be scared to let on of these fools to start fucking around with body panels breaking plastic parts tool marks on everything and then covering it up.

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[cobrachris]

I'm the same and honestly don't trust the Ford mechanics to change my oil. Always forgetting push pins, oil caps, air cleaner assembly. Just seems they don't give a shit and half ass everything they do. I would be scared to let on of these fools to start fucking around with body panels breaking plastic parts tool marks on everything and then covering it up.

Well that's good if you're mechanically inclined.The Lincoln dealer here in my town which does my warranty work has been in business 50 years.The body shop that does all there work has been in business 40 years.That's why They are going to fix the alignment issues.I understand why many of you hate dealers,there's a Ford dealer in town I wouldn't let change a light bulb.That's why I posted a reply saying the dealer will take care of it.My son works at this Lincoln dealer also.What I'm trying to say is,you can't group all of them together as no good.

 

[Roh92cp]

Well that's good if you're mechanically inclined.The Lincoln dealer here in my town which does my warranty work has been in business 50 years.The body shop that does all there work has been in business 40 years.That's why They are going to fix the alignment issues.I understand why many of you hate dealers,there's a Ford dealer in town I wouldn't let change a light bulb.That's why I posted a reply saying the dealer will take care of it.My son works at this Lincoln dealer also.What I'm trying to say is,you can't group all of them together as no good.

I know there are some quality dealers and service dept. out there and glad you got one close, that's good for you. If I had faith in my local dealership I would would be getting stuff like this done there as well.

 

[3 pedal metal]

I actually like my local dealer, no complaints there. They've treated us well, and even helped us find a rare Webkinz for my young daughter one day! I just like turning a wrench whenever possible, it's very rewarding.

 

[brandonsmash]

I thought since I was on a roll I'd give this a shot this evening.

It makes a huge difference (to my eyes, anyway). I added 5 thin washers and 1 thicker washer to the outside edges, 3 thicker washers inboard from the edge, and 1 washer on the bolts inboard of those.

Combined with adjusting the hood stop height, the hood gap -- while not perfect -- is *vastly* improved.

Thanks!

 

[Roh92cp]

I thought since I was on a roll I'd give this a shot this evening.

It makes a huge difference (to my eyes, anyway). I added 5 thin washers and 1 thicker washer to the outside edges, 3 thicker washers inboard from the edge, and 1 washer on the bolts inboard of those.

Combined with adjusting the hood stop height, the hood gap -- while not perfect -- is *vastly* improved.

Thanks!

Excellent man, glad you found it worked for you. You might also want to try lowering very slightly the hood latch if the sides are still high.

 

[cobrachris]

Boy,top notch litigator and a master body man too !

 

[cobrachris]

I thought since I was on a roll I'd give this a shot this evening.

It makes a huge difference (to my eyes, anyway). I added 5 thin washers and 1 thicker washer to the outside edges, 3 thicker washers inboard from the edge, and 1 washer on the bolts inboard of those.

Combined with adjusting the hood stop height, the hood gap -- while not perfect -- is *vastly* improved.

Thanks!

You're amazing smashmouth

 

[brandonsmash]

You're amazing smashmouth

I'm not sure how to take that, so I'll just leave it alone.

I didn't finish this until well after dark so I've no good photos.

However, before:

and after:

 

[Roh92cp]

It's dark in the picture, but for sure its a vast improvement. And thanks for keeping my thread clean.

 

[brandonsmash]

Okay, here are some better photos.

Before:

After:

After:

[MENTION=16819]Roh92cp[/MENTION]:

Thanks for the write-up. This took about half an hour to do, moving slowly and deliberately in the dark.

Absolutely worth it. The front of the car no longer looks shameful.

If anyone's interested, when I refer to "thick" washers I mean .060" and when I say "thin" washers I mean .035".

Thus, the outside 5.5mm-head screws took .235" of shimming, the second inboard set took .180", and the third inboard set .060". I'm very happy with the results.

 

[Roh92cp]

Thanks for the updated picture. Wow it really looks great now, mine to was way of like your before photo. Everytime I looked at the car which was many, that hood gap haunted me. Now it's gone.

The front hood side gaps are the most visible and annoying of all the misaligned parts on the car. Great job man

 

[Cobra Jet]

Good tech thread - wondering if this fix would help those who are experiencing dramatic hood flutter (and lift) at high speeds?

 

[Roh92cp]

Good tech thread - wondering if this fix would help those who are experiencing dramatic hood flutter (and lift) at high speeds?

Thanks man, but as far as the hood flutter goes that's a different issue. Hood flutter has more to do with the long light weight alum hood and the amount of airflow that gets rammed through the front grill forcing up the hood and making it float. You can see some videos of guys racing on the hwy and as the speeds increase the center of the hood starts to bulge up showing large gaps at the center.

 

[Competition Orange]

Bump from the dead. I just tried this, 7 washers on the outer small screws, 4 on the outer most larger screws (on each end) and 2 on the next, none on the center 2.

Absolutely zero change from no washers.

Not sure if I did something wrong, but it seemed that the only parts that moved, were the mounting tabs...

Oh well, MUSTANG LOL.

I removed them because with no benefit, I didn't want the stress on the tabs.

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