Removing Gap Between Hood & Facia

[SYNFULL]

I know there have been a few posts relating to this but I have been unable to find a clear solution. I have a pretty large gap on the passenger side that bugs the s**t out of me and have had the front facia off once before to try and fix it without much luck.
The hood is down as much as possible. I have moved the hood latch down as low as it will go. Still if I push down on the hood when it is closed it will push down maybe another 1/8 of an inch but that isn't going to make a big difference.
I have read of some adjustment that can be made to the piece where the facia bolts to the wheel well. I have located these 2 bolts that when loosened, do allow a little motion to the height. I loosened these and put a jack under the bottom where the coolant bottle is and put some upward pressure on it while I tightened the bolts. It moved upward maybe 1/4 inch. It's better but still not right.
Is there anything I am missing that might close the gap?

Here you can see the gap

And here are my valve covers that I polished while I am waiting to figure this out.

Thanks
Gary

 

[santo]

Hi Gary,

Last year over the winter, I removed my front fascia to get repainted over the winter and during the removal process, I found a thin piece of plywood (maybe 1/8 - 1/4" in thickness) sitting on top of the fiberglass bumper. It was loose and I couldn't figure out what this was for. I discarded it (dumb move) and didn't think twice about it afterwards. On putting the fascia back on some time later, I had a heck of a time and I had bigger problems fitting one side than anything else but I also had the hood/fascia gap. My front fascia must have been painted before (I bought it pre-enjoyed) as the paint was flaking off (hence my need to paint it) so I don't know if the wood was a factory shim, of sorts, but I still have a gap and am considering cutting some wood to raise the fascia.

I have made adjustments but if you go too shallow on the hood, the area between the front fascia and the hood just behind the headlights gets banged up when you go over bumps (like railway crossings) so don't go too tight there. My paint has chipped in this area because I went too tight and I adjusted it a little more loosely so it wouldn't touch again. I am going to try the wood again once I get brave enough to remove the fascia again.

I'm not sure if anyone else has wood there but it may be worth a try. It would raise the fascia ever so slightly but somehow, I don't think this is a factory shim. If anyone else has seen wood, I'd be interested to know.

Anyway, hope this helps and good luck. I'll follow this thread to see if anyone else has any ideas other than the wood.
Santo

 

[DrDJ]

There's a lot that has been written about this and there isn't anything new to report. Suffice it to say that the hood is usually not the problem.

DrDJ

 

[SYNFULL]

So, the question remains- Is there a proper way to raise the fiberglass that supports the facia. Or do we have to resort to using some type of shims under the facia and or elongating the fender holes to raise it up.

 

[dansauto]

real hard question to answer, lots of adjustments and you have to just play around with it until you get it. I usually start with the fascia, then lights then hood. From you photo it looks like the fascia is too high on the drivers side and too low on the pass side.

 

[TAXIMAN1]

If your just taking a hood/facia off a factory car, for painting. Everything should go back together exactly the way it came off, and line up as such.... However? If the car has prior issues, then all bets are off. Because you dont know what you were starting with, from the begining..

Was it wrecked? If so, Where? What was the extent of the damage? who did the work? Were OEM parts used? Is the headlight and housing mounted true? Is the frame at true OEM spec.? Has the hood and/or bumper been shaved?

 

[SYNFULL]

I am the 4th owner so I don't have all the facts. I will just play around with it like I have been doing. I just wanted to make sure that I wasn't missing some kind of adjustment that could raise and or lower the bumper that supports the facia.

Thanks!
Gary

 

[TAXIMAN1]

I am the 4th owner so I don't have all the facts. I will just play around with it like I have been doing. I just wanted to make sure that I wasn't missing some kind of adjustment that could raise and or lower the bumper that supports the facia.

Thanks!
Gary

Good Luck, Im sure you can get it right... I bought a 1996 LT4 Corvette back in 2000. Car was wrecked pretty bad, but not salvaged.... took me a while, but I got it "close" enough to live with..