hood pin adjustment

[gilbedw]

My 82 Cherokee like most SJ's had a broken hood release cable. I bought a new cable and installed it. The effort to release the two hood latches was excessive so I used a screwdriver to get it open. I removed both hood pins and the latch mechanism from the hood. I've cleaned and lubed them and I am ready to install them. I went to the TSM to get instructions and they don't seem to address that procedure. I am sure I can muddle through it but if any one has been through this I would appreciate any tips.

[tgreese]

Since no one with better cred has jumped to answer this ... A job like this would be in the body man's realm, I'd think. If you torqued the hood, I presume you'd start by putting a block in the opening and bending it back until it closed straight and even without the latch and alignment pins. The hinges are already in the right place, so don't move those. Then put the pins in and see where you are. You might be able to put the pins in loose and see where the hood moves them. It's like aligning doors - you make a guess and see if it gets better. Then go more or less, depending on the result. Rinse and repeat.

[SJTD]

I figger you set the stops first to get the hood parallel to the top of the fenders then set the latch pins to so the hood doesn't bounce.

I guess you could do it the other way. Set the pins to where they need to be gap-wise when you pull up on the hood then set the stops to get rid of play.

I gotta say this is one of the few areas that I think is very well designed on these things.