So after adjusting the 4 bolts that secure the hood on the hinges as best I can, there is this huge 10-15mm gap between the passenger side fender and the hood. it's almost as if the hinges are too far over to the driver side. The car was like this when I picked it up so I have no history of when if wasn't like this.

How is this fixed? Does it involve using washers where the hinges meet the body?

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1982 240D 4-speed
2013 Jeep Wrangler Sport - 4.10 e-locker

I think it might be possible to bend the hinges....using washers is always an option too. be careful with the hinge springs!

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

Just remember you are dealing with a 123 that is a 30+ year old car and a nearly 40 year old design.

Panel gaps are going to be much wider than on modern cars. This car was created entirely by hand drawings, and the panel dies were created by hand by tool and die makers. Not like new cars where everything is drawn in CAD and the CNC machine lays out the die to the ten thousandth.

All of this came about in the early 90s - think of the Lexus commercial with the ball bearing.

10 to 15 mm is too wide but remember you aren't going to be able to pull it in as tight as the gaps on even a budget car like the Kia Soul.

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The OM 642/722.9 powered family
Still going strong
2014 ML350 Bluetec (wife's DD)
2013 E350 Bluetec (my DD)

both my kids cars went to junkyard in 2023
2008 ML320 CDI (Older son’s DD) fatal transmission failure, water soaked/fried rear SAM, numerous other issues, just too far gone to save (165k miles)
2008 E320 Bluetec (Younger son's DD) injector failed open and diluted oil with diesel, spun main bearings (240k miles)

1998 E300DT sold to TimFreeh
1987 300TD sold to vstech

You are better off not concentrating on just one side - look at the four corners and compare the two sides of each corner on the back end and compare how far forward the front part fits.

From your picture



I can imagine that there's a poor fit at the front. It looks a little bit too far to the back to me.

For the correct gap between the front wing and the scuttle there should be a little bit of rubber between the two panels.

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1992 W201 190E 1.8 171,000 km - Daily driver
1981 W123 300D ~ 100,000 miles / 160,000 km - project car stripped to the bone
1965 Land Rover Series 2a Station Wagon CIS recovery therapy!
1961 Volvo PV544 Bare metal rat rod-ish thing

I'm here to chat about cars and to help others - I'm not here "to always be right" like an internet warrior



Don't leave that there - I'll take it to bits!

The fit up front actually doesn't seem too bad, it's just that this particular gap on the right and left side of the car are VERY different and I'd like to shift the entire hood (which is perfectly parallel to the length of the car) over towards the passenger side.

I don't want to bend the hinge because then, the hinge will be on an angle. Again, it took me a while to get it parallel, I just want it shifted over by at least a few mm.

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1982 240D 4-speed
2013 Jeep Wrangler Sport - 4.10 e-locker

This is easy, leave the hood where it is and shift the car over to the right 8mm.

Done!

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Cheers!
Scott McPhee

1987 300D

Hahahhahah,

You know what, I think I might just ignore it, the whole car is painted with a paint brush anyways, just another drop in the bucket.

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1982 240D 4-speed
2013 Jeep Wrangler Sport - 4.10 e-locker

As anal as I was on my car, I adjusted and moved my hood and fender to try and get the gaps right on my car and could not 100%.
My car had a small bump up my one of the op's and the radiator cross support is bent a little. I just got mine close and left it. I would show people and everyone has an opinion on how they would do it, however me and a friend spent a few hours on it an I said enough is enough and got it close.

if you leave it the paint at the back will chip.

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

Almost, there's maybe 1mm of gap, I'll try to move it forward tonight. Kind of hard to do when I got nobody to help

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1982 240D 4-speed
2013 Jeep Wrangler Sport - 4.10 e-locker

actually, it's not that hard.
open the hood full 90degrees, and loosen the top bolt on the hinge that secures to the hood, then SLIGHTLY loosen the lower one. set a plastic sheet of something on the cowling, and pry gently up on the hood. then tighten the upper and lower bolt, and close and see where it sits.
can you post a pic of the other side of the same area of the hood?

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John HAUL AWAY, OR CRUSHED CARS!!! HELP ME keep the cars out of the crusher! A/C Thread
"as I ride with my a/c on... I have fond memories of sweaty oily saturdays and spewing R12 into the air. THANKS for all you do!

My drivers:
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5-5SPEED!!!

1987 300TD
1987 300TD
1994GMC 2500 6.5Turbo truck... I had to put the ladder somewhere!

At least 2mm, definitely NOT 1mm gap!

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http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7271/7...144c3fc1dc.jpg

I had finally got mine perfect on the driverside...then one day when i was working under the hood and had it at 90 degree....a giant gust of wind came by and now the damn this is sitting up a little high again....almost seems like one must remove the fenders in order to adjust it perfect...

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I got it to a point I'm happy with. Still not perfect but probably not going to cause problems. MBeige, just that bit of your car tells me how amazing the shape of your car must be in. I am jealous!

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1982 240D 4-speed
2013 Jeep Wrangler Sport - 4.10 e-locker

Thank you!

Here's the diagram I've been searching, that should help others in the future.



Numbers are in mm.

Attached Thumbnails

 

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http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7271/7...144c3fc1dc.jpg