Comments on Hood Fit Adjustment .....
08-24-2012, 09:23 AM
#1
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Thread Starter
Join Date: 08-26-2008
Location: Sequim Washington
Posts: 1,488
Comments on Hood Fit Adjustment .....
I have made attempts to reduce the tolerance of the hood fit to the front fenders without much success.
In looking at 2011 models in particular, it seems that Chevrolet dropped the ball on the stamping tolerances of the hood.
Mine and many others I have looked at have an uneven and wide gap at the hood - front fender area that allows no simple way to adjust.
Has anybody dealt with this "Boo Boo" in a meaningful way?
Clue me in ....
In looking at 2011 models in particular, it seems that Chevrolet dropped the ball on the stamping tolerances of the hood.
Mine and many others I have looked at have an uneven and wide gap at the hood - front fender area that allows no simple way to adjust.
Has anybody dealt with this "Boo Boo" in a meaningful way?
Clue me in ....
08-24-2012, 11:45 AM
#6
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Thread Starter
Join Date: 08-26-2008
Location: Sequim Washington
Posts: 1,488
In looking, I see some of the earlier model HHR's had a closer and more consistant gap.
For some reason it also seems to depend on the color of the car.
Mocha
Cyber Gray
Black
In general seem worst.
I have seen many White and Red HHR's that are almost perfect and tight.
It seems strange that they did not allow for any meaningful adjustment to the tighter side.
You could shim the hinges and adjust the hood latch to widen the gap.
Pretty hard to just ignore when it's one that really off, especially when you have a good eye for Quality body fit.
I owned a 1950 1/2 ton pick up where the hood shape/fit was similar.
It fit Crappy too.
It always looked to me like it was just sitting there loose.
For some reason it also seems to depend on the color of the car.
Mocha
Cyber Gray
Black
In general seem worst.
I have seen many White and Red HHR's that are almost perfect and tight.
It seems strange that they did not allow for any meaningful adjustment to the tighter side.
You could shim the hinges and adjust the hood latch to widen the gap.
Pretty hard to just ignore when it's one that really off, especially when you have a good eye for Quality body fit.
I owned a 1950 1/2 ton pick up where the hood shape/fit was similar.
It fit Crappy too.
It always looked to me like it was just sitting there loose.
08-24-2012, 11:55 AM
#7
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: 08-26-2008
Location: Sequim Washington
Posts: 1,488
Mine has a reasonable fit at the door end ... then bows open to the center ... then tightens again at the front.
Looks like H--l
I see no way to make it look right.
I am not sure if it is the hood with a wrong curve to fit right, or the way the fenders bolt on possibly with a dip in the middle.
I have seen many 2011's and some earlier ones too.. the same way.
08-24-2012, 01:57 PM
#8
Member
Join Date: 08-01-2012
Location: North Carolina
Posts: 53
Other cars have nice tight, even gaps between the body panels. My HHR gaps are all over the place, especially the hood (big wide uneven gaps). Some of the gaos are wider than others. Uneven gaps, etc. Looks like crap. The only option is to take it to a professional body shop & have them loosen everything up & then try to slowly tighten the bolts to even up all the gaps.
08-24-2012, 02:48 PM
#10
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Join Date: 05-09-2006
Location: "Upland" Mesa, Arizona
Posts: 6,804
Can't speak for the rest of the body fit, but the hood gap has been a complaint in probably 2 other threads in the existence of the forum. I don't believe anyone every came up with a solution....in those 6+ years.