Body General body information and techniques for restoration, repairs, and modifications.

front bumper to hood gap

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Feb 6, 2011 | 11:38 PM
  #1  
captainchadl's Avatar
Thread Starter
Junior Member
 
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 79
Likes: 0
From: New Orleans
Car: 1987 IROC - Z
Engine: 5.0 TPI
Transmission: 700r4
front bumper to hood gap

soes anyone have an explanation of why I have a gap were the hood meets up with the bumper?
Reply
Old Feb 7, 2011 | 12:07 AM
  #2  
camaro86's Avatar
Member
 
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 244
Likes: 0
From: socal
Car: 91 z28
Engine: 350 tpi
Transmission: 700r4
Re: front bumper to hood gap

Its probably the hood latch, what i did is losen the bolts and it went down, and i tighten it. Now i have no hood to bumper gap
Reply
Old Feb 7, 2011 | 05:31 PM
  #3  
drknow90rs_ss@y's Avatar
Supreme Member
iTrader: (3)
 
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 3,002
Likes: 64
From: Wittman,Az
Car: 86 IROC-Z, '71 RS
Engine: 305 TPI/ 350
Transmission: 700R4/TH350
Re: front bumper to hood gap

Look to see if your hood lines up with the fenders and edge of your bumper cover. Over time the bumper cover can begin to sag in the middle, leading to that gap. (My '86 IROC has that gap.) I havent gotten around to messing with it yet.
Reply
Old Feb 7, 2011 | 09:59 PM
  #4  
captainchadl's Avatar
Thread Starter
Junior Member
 
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 79
Likes: 0
From: New Orleans
Car: 1987 IROC - Z
Engine: 5.0 TPI
Transmission: 700r4
Re: front bumper to hood gap

Originally Posted by drknow90rs_ss@y
Look to see if your hood lines up with the fenders and edge of your bumper cover. Over time the bumper cover can begin to sag in the middle, leading to that gap. (My '86 IROC has that gap.) I havent gotten around to messing with it yet.
What needs to be done to fix that is it just some bolts that have to be retightened?
Reply
Old Feb 7, 2011 | 11:58 PM
  #5  
drknow90rs_ss@y's Avatar
Supreme Member
iTrader: (3)
 
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 3,002
Likes: 64
From: Wittman,Az
Car: 86 IROC-Z, '71 RS
Engine: 305 TPI/ 350
Transmission: 700R4/TH350
Re: front bumper to hood gap

I'm not exactly sure what has to be done on camaros, but I know on my '85 T/A there is a center support that bolts to the core suppurt down low in front of the A/C condensor. Probably something similar on the camaro...
Reply
Old Feb 8, 2011 | 01:08 AM
  #6  
firehawk1988's Avatar
Member
 
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 126
Likes: 0
From: wv
Car: Firebird Formula(1988 changed to 91
Engine: 355 TPI
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: 3.73(needs changed)
Re: front bumper to hood gap

My 86 Camaro has a huge gap between the front edge of the hood and the bumper cover. The hood lines up great on the sides matching to the fenders. It looks as if the hood has been "popped" but it actually isn't. Its latched down and sometimes has trouble coming up when you release it. I haven't got a chance to do anything with it with this bad weather. I was wondering if the bumper cover has sagged and needs adjustment too. Another thing that my brother was wondering about when he seen it was could the hood or bumper cover be aftermarket. I have had trouble on other cars where aftermarket stuff doesn't line up well with OEM parts.
Reply
Old Feb 8, 2011 | 03:20 PM
  #7  
captainchadl's Avatar
Thread Starter
Junior Member
 
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 79
Likes: 0
From: New Orleans
Car: 1987 IROC - Z
Engine: 5.0 TPI
Transmission: 700r4
Re: front bumper to hood gap

ok I was just looking at that support since you said it may be sagging I was wondering too about that center support where the hood latch is!
Reply
Old Feb 8, 2011 | 04:55 PM
  #8  
captainchadl's Avatar
Thread Starter
Junior Member
 
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 79
Likes: 0
From: New Orleans
Car: 1987 IROC - Z
Engine: 5.0 TPI
Transmission: 700r4
Re: front bumper to hood gap

Ok I went and fooled with the bumper. Now the center support didn't seem to do much at all, but there are two bolts that hold the light bracket to the car. I loosened them and pulled up on the bumper and retightened them. Now there is still a slight gap, but not as big. The bumper needs to go in toward the car more and a little to the side. I tried the hood latch, but I can't get it just right. If I go too far down it won't latch at all. Also I have trouble with the hood poping up too when I release it.
Reply
Old Feb 8, 2011 | 11:56 PM
  #9  
drknow90rs_ss@y's Avatar
Supreme Member
iTrader: (3)
 
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 3,002
Likes: 64
From: Wittman,Az
Car: 86 IROC-Z, '71 RS
Engine: 305 TPI/ 350
Transmission: 700R4/TH350
Re: front bumper to hood gap

The problem with the hood not wanting to "Pop" is probably a stretched cable. All of my Thirdgens do this.
Reply
Old Feb 9, 2011 | 10:34 PM
  #10  
Ron U.S.M.C.'s Avatar
Supreme Member
 
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 4,482
Likes: 9
From: Northern, CA
Car: 1989 Iroc-Z Camaro
Engine: TBI,5.0
Transmission: Automatic 700R4
Axle/Gears: Eaton Posi,3.42,LPW Ultimate Cover
Re: front bumper to hood gap

Spray the hood latch with White Lithium Grease.
Reply
Old Feb 10, 2011 | 12:32 AM
  #11  
drknow90rs_ss@y's Avatar
Supreme Member
iTrader: (3)
 
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 3,002
Likes: 64
From: Wittman,Az
Car: 86 IROC-Z, '71 RS
Engine: 305 TPI/ 350
Transmission: 700R4/TH350
Re: front bumper to hood gap

That's a good idea! Dont know why I didnt think of that! I'll try that tomorrow! Thanks!
Reply
Old Apr 13, 2011 | 07:35 PM
  #12  
larry mclean's Avatar
Junior Member
15 Year Member
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 26
Likes: 1
Re: front bumper to hood gap

Did you ever get the hood yo bumper gap corrected? I have a 91z that has the same problem.
Reply
Old Apr 14, 2011 | 10:14 AM
  #13  
Arizona IROC's Avatar
Senior Member
iTrader: (4)
 
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 545
Likes: 0
From: Rustfree Gilbert Arizona
Car: 1989 IROC
Engine: 305TPI
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: 2:73 posi
Re: front bumper to hood gap

On the Camaros I've noticed the leading edge on the hoods is sharper on the later cars. So for example the leading edge of the hood on my '85 is thicker then the edge of my '89 so I switched the hoods just to see. The '85 hood left a slightly bigger gap while the '89 hood looked good on both cars.
Reply
Old Sep 3, 2011 | 10:24 PM
  #14  
captainchadl's Avatar
Thread Starter
Junior Member
 
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 79
Likes: 0
From: New Orleans
Car: 1987 IROC - Z
Engine: 5.0 TPI
Transmission: 700r4
Re: front bumper to hood gap

I fooled with it a bit and made it better but not perfect the hood latch was the main thing that helped. I loosened the bolts for the bumper and lifted it up as much as I could, then retightened it. Next I lowered the latch as low as I could get it and the hood to still latch like it is supposed to. And sure enough the hood release cable was stretched thanks for that drknow90rs_ss@y!
Reply
Old Sep 4, 2011 | 05:36 AM
  #15  
white gold 88's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 744
Likes: 1
From: Conway SC
Car: 1988 Camaro
Engine: 385
Transmission: 700r4
Axle/Gears: 9 bolt
Re: front bumper to hood gap

No gap between the bumper and hood will cause the paint to rub off and let the hood rust. Lubrication will prevent those "stretched" hood release cables.
Reply
Old Mar 26, 2014 | 06:42 PM
  #16  
petrarca0425's Avatar
Junior Member
 
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
Car: !986 Iroc-z
Engine: 305 corroborated
Transmission: T5 (manual)
Re: front bumper to hood gap

So I have the same problem with my 86 iroc, and I still don't really know what to do. I can stick my finger in the gap, its that big. I was wondering if anybody fixed theres. Can somebody post pictures too its confusing when your reading and when your working on the car.
Reply
Old Mar 26, 2014 | 06:55 PM
  #17  
captainchadl's Avatar
Thread Starter
Junior Member
 
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 79
Likes: 0
From: New Orleans
Car: 1987 IROC - Z
Engine: 5.0 TPI
Transmission: 700r4
Re: front bumper to hood gap

I don't have my car anymore, it was totaled.
Reply
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
1992 Trans Am
History / Originality
27
May 10, 2023 07:19 PM
ziggy89
Exterior Parts Wanted
6
Sep 10, 2015 08:44 AM
mikey8494
Body
0
Aug 22, 2015 07:57 PM
LittleFranks
Camaros for Sale
3
Aug 20, 2015 03:55 PM
transam84
Exterior Parts for Sale
0
Aug 14, 2015 08:54 PM




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 07:21 PM.