Hood hitting Carb

[vancec]

My hood has a dent in it where it has hit the bolt that holds on the air cleaner. It could have happened when the previous owner had an aftermarket air cleaner and wingnut. I now have the right star nut. I am hoping that when the body shop reinstalls the hood that it will have enough clearance. Anyone have this problem? Anyone know how much clearance there should be?

[Barry Wolk]

It does fit pretty close. I can't tell how close as mine has the hood liner. It's very simple to check though. Get some Playdough and wad up a bunch and put it on the air cleaner. Lower the hood to two inches from rest and check. Check at 1/2" intervals until you're sure.

Is yours a stock carb? The dent could have been from something left on the air cleaner. None of us have ever done that before.:o

[vancec]

It does fit pretty close. I can't tell how close as mine has the hood liner. It's very simple to check though. Get some Playdough and wad up a bunch and put it on the air cleaner. Lower the hood to two inches from rest and check. Check at 1/2" intervals until you're sure.

Is yours a stock carb? The dent could have been from something left on the air cleaner. None of us have ever done that before.:o

I should have done that before the hood was removed but now it's off. I am going to have to make sure the painter re-installs it to try this out before he paints the car.

But even with the air cleaner off the painter thought he felt it hitting when he tapped on the hood.

The carb is stock, I believe.

[Barry Wolk]

I believe that only wrong motor mounts would make it sit higher than normal.

I'd be willing to bet that the damage came from someone leaving something on the air cleaner. I don't think the engineers would have cut it that close.

If I remember tomorrow I'll put a wad of dum-dum in a plastic bag and squish it between my air cleaner and hood. Then you'll know.

[Keith W Colonna]

Group,
Like many MKII's mine had a nipple dent in the middle of the hood from someone leaving a tool or something on the aircleaner when the hood came down.
I thought I'd have to endure this blemish until the next repaint....everyone commented on it....it was irritating.
Yesterday I had one of those Paintless dent removal services make some insurance repairs on my Explorer....I was so impressed I took him to my MKII.
He had special hammers, and rods...he pushed the dent down completly by working it from the top and from inside.....it is flawless!
Then he took out a dent where my door check strap had broken and pushed the door back....perfect.
Since he made money on the Explorer...he did my MKII as a courtesy for $25.00....that's right. It was worht $250 to me!
I heartily recommend this alternative to traditional body work.

[Barry Wolk]

Most dent doctors won't work on anything before the metal got thin in the '80s. Found yourself a gem. Don't lose his number.