I just got a alluminum hood today and im having problems getting it to close properly for some reason after installation. The passenger side of the hood (near where the headlights are) slants up about 2 inches or so, but the driver side seems perfect... i took the hood off to check if it was the hood that was bent but it didnt seem like it. Is there something in the engine bay thats lifting it or in the way?

any tips anyone?

BTW: It is a 91 coupe replacing the super heavy steel hood with a alluminum t2 hood

 

interesting...you should go back to that steel hood and give me that TII hood...

nothing is jamming it on the passenger side? maybe you left something there? I know that the actual latch assembly is a little different from the aluminum ones..

 

I have 2 TII hoods that do that too... not nearly as much as a 2 inch gap but one had a 1/2 inch gap and the otheron my new car is just slightly off... weird.

 

hhmmmm, why is it doing this?

 

i heard that with T2 hoods you should have a T2 latch as well. The reason being is so that the hood shuts correctly. My T2 hood has to be slammed HARD LOL I just got her painted and I am not slamming that bitch. I guess I need to find a T2 hood latch.

 

Aluminum hoods have a different latch from a steel hood. Go swipe the latch from a aluminum hood doner.

 

my freind has an alluminum hood swapped in place of his steel hood and he didnt change the latches, the only thing was he had to use a little more force when closing the hood.

This is weird

 

The hood will close with a little force, but its still slanted (maybe not 1 inches, more like 1)

 

To close the aluminum hood on a car equipped with the steel-hood latch just drop it from about 10" and it will latch no problem.

As far as the problem of fitment goes, unless the hinges are binding or there is something on the inner fender under the hood preventing a good fit, the hood may be warped. Loosen or remove the hinge bolts and try fitting the hood that way. If it still doesn't fit correctly, it's the hood.

 

I have a TII hood on my NA as well and I also have to use alot of force to close it. At first I just thought it was misaligned or somthing, but I guess not? You learn something new everyday....

 

I think part of the reason you have to use more force is that the stock latch is used to the heavy steel hood, while the new one is used to the aluminum hood. That said, I have an aluminum TII hood on my na with the original latch, and I don't have to slam it hard, just drop it from about 10" like Go48 said. Maybe try oiling the latch? Also, I have no fitment problems at all. It looks like it was stock, other than the color.

 

Are all T2 hoods aluminum?

 

Using the latch is much easier then piping on a much more "fragile" hood.

That and its not weird. Its just the way it was made and you're trying to change it without doing the latch. It can be done without yes, but its easier with the latch.

 

No.

Early ones like on my 87T2 were steel.

 

It's not "used" to a heavy hood. Its made for a steel hood, just like how the latch is used for an aluminum hood.

 

The hood will close but it has a gap, i will try to mess with the hinges, and probrbly take off the hood again to analyze the condition

 

Thats what I meant. Also, from what I read a majority of TII's had aluminum hoods but sometimes they had steel ones. I think there are a few aluminum NA hoods as well. As with many things Mazda around this time its just kinda random. Maybe Icemark can jump in and validate it.

 

Yep, you pretty much nailed it.

Most Turbos had an alum hood but their occasionally were some 87 year that had steel hoods. Also in the aftermarket body parts (that many body shops use) there were only a Steel Turbo hoods available. So if the hood was replaced by a body shop, many times it was replaced with steel one.

As far as alumn non turbo hoods, the Convertibles and 89-90 GTUs (but not the GTU) model all came stock with them. Then there were some S4 models that got them somewhat randomly, but more often if the car was an automatic and had the rear seats and Sunroof.

See the on the S4s the gas guzzler weights were in big before 89, so weight was a big concern, if the car was approaching the weight for a gas guzzler, it was more likely to have an alum hood.

 

Man i got screwed< I have a 86, sunroof, rear seats, automatic(used to be) and i still got the f'in steel. I have the worst luck. Also, are you sure, that no 89+gtu had AL hoods, im ure my frineds parts car had it, unless it was replaced.