[Tigers] Hood Problem Solved

[Robin Young]

Steve, now that the hood fits as you like, you might consider an old hot rod
trick.....drill one hole in each hinge and let it pass through the hood
skin. When you remove the hood again, just insert a bit in each hole and the
alignment will be perfect to tighten the bolts. Much time is saved. Robin 

-----Original Message-----
From: tigers-bounces at autox.team.net [mailto:tigers-bounces at autox.team.net]
On Behalf Of Steve Sage
Sent: Sunday, September 20, 2009 2:22 AM
To: tigers at Autox.Team.Net; alpines at autox.team.net
Subject: [Tigers] Hood Problem Solved

An update. I followed my own "instructions" from my email earlier today and
it worked. The hood opens now with no problem. Maybe this will help someone
who runs into this in the future.

I positioned the hood back on the car, with the spring assembly attached,
without reinstalling any bolts into the hinges in front. This locked the
hood spring assembly into the receiver. Basically, it "self centered" the
spring assembly into that hole. I pulled the hood release and it opened, and
did that a few times. Then I installed just one bolt into each hinge in
front (reaching through the grill) and snugged them down, but not too tight,
and then adjusted the hood so the gaps were then pretty equal on both sides
of the hood and especially at the front of the hood. I then really tightened
just those two bolts up into the hinges. Then I opened the hood and propped
it open. I installed one more bolt in each hinge and tightened the four
bolts (two in each hinge) down snugly so now I had just the four bolts
closest to the front of the car installed. This way if when I closed the
hood again and it stuck, I wouldn't have to take out the four back bolts in
the hinges (closest to the firewall) which are a lot more difficult to get
to with the hood closed.  I opened and closed the hood again, crossed my
fingers and pulled the hood release again. It opened again. Then, with the
hood open, I installed the back four hinge bolts (easy with the hood open),
closed the hood again and it again opened with no problem so, problem
solved.

That all being said, the alignment isn't perfect and the hood doesn't quite
pop all the way up. It comes up about 2/3 of an inch when I pull the release
handle, and I just grab the corner of the hood and it's open. There's just a
little resistance, not much. I've had it opened and closed about 30 times
now though, so I'm not messing with that again.

Steve Sage