hood not flush

[Impact Black]

I installed a S13 frontend on my car. The OEM parts sat fine however I put the S13 frontend on and the hood doesn't seemt o go all the way down.

I was wondering if you have to lower the actual hood latch in order for it to sit snug with the lights. The hood lines up with the fenders, just seems like the latch is high which isn't allowing the hood to sit flush with the headlights, thus leaving about a 1'' gap

Just asking, appriciate any help.

[Charlie]

When I had a silvia front on my car the hood didn't close right so I adjusted the latch.

[Impact Black]

so its the actual hood latch that needs to be adjusted?
It seems to me that I just need to move it down an inch and it should sit perfectly.

I will take pictures before and after and post them up

[WaNa-DrIft]

oww...really good info cuz im getting a s13 front too...hmm

[GSXRJJordan]

Yes the latch has a little adjustment in all directions (up/down/left/right), but there's nowhere near an inch of adjustment. It might be sitting slightly to the side, so the hood isn't going all the way down into the latch.

[its_teddd]

it might be the black rubber things on the sides. thats what it was for me but then i had a cf hood so what do i know

[DaPCWiz]

When I installed my cf hood on my s14 I had the same issue. Ended up taking off the latch, taking a drill to it, and slotting the holes for the hood latch so that I could have more adjustment. Now it sits nice :)

[Impact Black]

OK, so I've been busy and haven't had the time to adjust the latch yet.
The hood is a charge speed hood, with the vent in the middle (don't know if anyone has had issues with this hood)

Its latched just not sitting flush as of now...and its PISSING ME OFF AS TO WHY it isn't,lol.

I've already removed the black rubber stoppers and still nothing.

GSRJJordan,
I've pretty much got the hood aligned with the fenders, so I'm not sure how its sitting to the side of either way.

Guess if I can't figure it out its off to a body shop. I really REALLY don't want to drill the hood and do the hood pins option.

[DaPCWiz]

OK, so I've been busy and haven't had the time to adjust the latch yet.
The hood is a charge speed hood, with the vent in the middle (don't know if anyone has had issues with this hood)

Its latched just not sitting flush as of now...and its PISSING ME OFF AS TO WHY it isn't,lol.

I've already removed the black rubber stoppers and still nothing.

GSRJJordan,
I've pretty much got the hood aligned with the fenders, so I'm not sure how its sitting to the side of either way.

Guess if I can't figure it out its off to a body shop. I really REALLY don't want to drill the hood and do the hood pins option.

if its a cf/fiber glass hood... it can tear from the factory latch at high speeds. Hood pins are highly recommended. That said, I drove with my car w/o pins for like 6+ months no real issues. THe hood used to noticably shake tho. I got some aerocatch pins to keep my mind at ease.

[Sileighty_85]

if its a cf/fiber glass hood... it can tear from the factory latch at high speeds. Hood pins are highly recommended. That said, I drove with my car w/o pins for like 6+ months no real issues. THe hood used to noticably shake tho. I got some aerocatch pins to keep my mind at ease.

I dont know.... I have a Fiber Glass Aerokits.net hood only running the stock latch and i'll hit 130mph and it still holds.

Then again I dont give 2 shits about my hood

Id imagine a charged speed hood would be made better. so you should be ok with out hood pins, unless the hood latch itself fails.

[DaPCWiz]

I dont know.... I have a Fiber Glass Aerokits.net hood only running the stock latch and i'll hit 130mph and it still holds.

Then again I dont give 2 shits about my hood

Id imagine a charged speed hood would be made better. so you should be ok with out hood pins, unless the hood latch itself fails.

I've never had anything bad happen with my hood, the latch held perfectly find for those 6 months with no signs of wear... but most manufaturers of hoods recommend hood pins. I've also heard too many horror stories... better safe than sorry I guess... :bite: I guess I"m the nervous type, lol.

[SqueekyClean]

You know, you just have to play with all the variables.

Hood hinge bolts, and the latch.

Those are the only 3 variables that effect the Hood.

AS WELL AS THOSE RUBBER GROMMETS THAT THE HOOD SITS ON, UPON CLOSING!!!!! CHECK AND LOWER OR RAISE THEM. PEOPLE TEND TO FORGET ABOUT EM.


With carbon fiber and fiberglass hoods, it takes time and months in the heat for the material to flex in place and they never fit correctly to begin with.

[Impact Black]

Sorry to bring a thread back from the dead.

So get this, I took it to my friends body shop and we were talking. I told him about how the hood wouldn't sit right.
He yells out something in spanish and this little guy comes from around back. He points at the car tells him to adjust the hood.
The little guy looks at it for 5min...comes back with tools and 2min later the hood is sitting flush,lol

Goes to show, body guys with experiance know their stuff