ZL-1 Hood alignment / fitment question - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

1968SS/RS · 08-07-2012, 08:04 AM

Good morning fellow ZL-1 owners! I took my ZL out for a blast last night and when I put her away for the night I just happen to look acoss the hood from the passager side and notice that my hood is about a week 1/4" lower than the fender. I walked around to the driver side to look at the passanger side and this side is about 1/8" lower than the fender. However the front line of the hood where it meets the header panel is flush. I have not opened the hood to look if there is any way I can adjust the hood up at the hinges. I guess my question for the crew is "Any one else notice this issuse on there car?" You like to think you put out big money (for me anyway) for a car that all the pannels would line up perfect..............................

SlingShot · 08-07-2012, 08:13 AM

If you have concerns with alignment, I would let the dealer make the adjustments to it. It will be covered under warranty, and you will maintain a paper trail on work performed.

1968SS/RS · 08-07-2012, 08:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SlingShot

If you have concerns with alignment, I would let the dealer make the adjustments to it. It will be covered under warranty, and you will maintain a paper trail on work performed.

I hear you 100% and I will do that, I was just going to look to see if there is any adjustment that can be made. And if anyone else notice this on their car. After all thats what the warranty is for right!

fcu678 · 08-07-2012, 12:49 PM

I noticed the same thing when I picked up mine at the dealership. I made a point to inspect it real close and it was definitely like you mentioned the passenger side was lower than the driver side and neither seemed to match the fender midway. I got it home and detailed the engine bay and cruised Sunday then washed it yesterday and detailed engine bay again. It's parked in the garage next to my 2010 and I made a point to check both and they seem to match. It doesn't seem to be as obvious as it first did. I'm going to just monitor it for now.

1968SS/RS · 08-07-2012, 01:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fcu678

I noticed the same thing when I picked up mine at the dealership. I made a point to inspect it real close and it was definitely like you mentioned the passenger side was lower than the driver side and neither seemed to match the fender midway. I got it home and detailed the engine bay and cruised Sunday then washed it yesterday and detailed engine bay again. It's parked in the garage next to my 2010 and I made a point to check both and they seem to match. It doesn't seem to be as obvious as it first did. I'm going to just monitor it for now.

Its not something you pick up on unless you stare at the car, can I live with it? yes, however the weather in my area this coming weekend is suposed to be sub par so..... I will take a ride over to my dealers (with the everyday beater of course) and look at all the camaros they have on the foor to compare the fit of the hoods and see what story that tells.............................

BIGBLKZL1 · 08-07-2012, 01:41 PM

Mine is as well not going to deal with it yet.

1968SS/RS · 08-07-2012, 01:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BIGBLKZL1

Mine is as well not going to deal with it yet.

Im just glad Im not the only one! Could be thats just how they are............

sspddmn · 08-07-2012, 04:03 PM

I noticed that too when I detailed my Z for the first time but I think that's how its suppose to be. Like the hood curves a little in the middle but flattens out at the front and rear of the hood. No? I could be wrong.

Zikma · 08-07-2012, 04:18 PM

I noticed it too, mine aligns well at the front and the rear of the hood but in between, the hood is lower than the fenders. I thought it was just designed that way since the latch and hinge ends seem to align well.

Maybe look at it while driving and see if it flexes even to the fenders due to the air being forced through the scoop?

dimitri · 08-07-2012, 07:55 PM

Me to ...i guess its the way they are put together

DangerZL1 · 08-07-2012, 08:17 PM

Almost all of the Camaros I've looked at had an uneven hood to fender alignment. ER the front bumper. I don't know why this is. Maybe adjusting the rubber stops up or down would help it and avoid a trip to the dealer.

Zee-Ell-One · 08-07-2012, 11:30 PM

Sounds like the tooling that stamps out the hoods isnt quite convex enough. GM whats your take?

1968SS/RS · 08-08-2012, 08:40 AM

On thing for sure is that no one will see it when we go by them as a blurrrrrrrrrrrr!

JANNETTYRACING · 08-08-2012, 02:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1968SS/RS

Good morning fellow ZL-1 owners! I took my ZL out for a blast last night and when I put her away for the night I just happen to look acoss the hood from the passager side and notice that my hood is about a week 1/4" lower than the fender. I walked around to the driver side to look at the passanger side and this side is about 1/8" lower than the fender. However the front line of the hood where it meets the header panel is flush. I have not opened the hood to look if there is any way I can adjust the hood up at the hinges. I guess my question for the crew is "Any one else notice this issuse on there car?" You like to think you put out big money (for me anyway) for a car that all the pannels would line up perfect..............................

I spent an hour last night adjusting mine, Pretty simple, there are height adjustment screws at the back of each hinge they have a black plastic cap on a 7 mm jacking screw, backed out 2 turns on the dirvers side and 1 3/4 turns on the pass side, Reinstall the Caps, then raised the latch 3 1/6 and adjusted the bump stops in front.

Much better!

Now on to the Crooked Exhaust

08-07-2012, 08:04 AM	#1
1968SS/RS Drives: 1968 SS/RS 396 and 2013 ZL-1 Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Rhode Island Posts: 227 View My Garage	ZL-1 Hood alignment / fitment question Good morning fellow ZL-1 owners! I took my ZL out for a blast last night and when I put her away for the night I just happen to look acoss the hood from the passager side and notice that my hood is about a week 1/4" lower than the fender. I walked around to the driver side to look at the passanger side and this side is about 1/8" lower than the fender. However the front line of the hood where it meets the header panel is flush. I have not opened the hood to look if there is any way I can adjust the hood up at the hinges. I guess my question for the crew is "Any one else notice this issuse on there car?" You like to think you put out big money (for me anyway) for a car that all the pannels would line up perfect..............................

08-07-2012, 08:13 AM	#2
SlingShot Drives: 2012 ZL1 - #670 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Seminole, Fl. Posts: 8,009	If you have concerns with alignment, I would let the dealer make the adjustments to it. It will be covered under warranty, and you will maintain a paper trail on work performed. __________________

08-07-2012, 12:49 PM	#4
fcu678 5Th Gen (Craig) Drives: 2014 C7 Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Houma, Louisiana Posts: 765 View My Garage	I noticed the same thing when I picked up mine at the dealership. I made a point to inspect it real close and it was definitely like you mentioned the passenger side was lower than the driver side and neither seemed to match the fender midway. I got it home and detailed the engine bay and cruised Sunday then washed it yesterday and detailed engine bay again. It's parked in the garage next to my 2010 and I made a point to check both and they seem to match. It doesn't seem to be as obvious as it first did. I'm going to just monitor it for now. __________________ 2014 C7

08-07-2012, 04:03 PM	#8
sspddmn Drives: 2018 ZL1 1LE and 1991 Z28 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: SF Bay but from the 808 Posts: 1,086	I noticed that too when I detailed my Z for the first time but I think that's how its suppose to be. Like the hood curves a little in the middle but flattens out at the front and rear of the hood. No? I could be wrong. __________________ In the garage: 2018 HBM ZL1 1LE // 2013 ZL1 (sold) // 1991 Camaro Z28 5.7L // 2022 Audi E-tron SUV (wife's car) // 2002 Camaro SS (sold)

08-07-2012, 11:30 PM	#12
Zee-Ell-One YOOZ GOTA B FREKN KIDN ME Drives: 2013 6mt ZL1#826 Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Ventuky Ca. Posts: 203 View My Garage	Sounds like the tooling that stamps out the hoods isnt quite convex enough. GM whats your take? __________________ The Zeldabeast! A True Road Warrior! 2018 Dodge Challenger Hellcat WideBody 6MT 2013 ZL1 Camaro 6MT 2015 GMC Sierra 1500 SLT 6.2 L86 Crew Cab 2012 Aprilia RSV4 R 2015 Husqvarna FC450 Motomadness First Car: 1973 Dodge Charger 340 Magnum 4MT Factory Hurst Pistol Grip Shifter

08-07-2012, 01:41 PM	#6
BIGBLKZL1 Drives: '12 ZL1/M6 Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Las Vegas Posts: 149	Mine is as well not going to deal with it yet.

08-07-2012, 04:18 PM	#9
Zikma Drives: ZL1 2012 # 721; 2013 Tahoe Z71 Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Marshfield, Wisconsin Posts: 114 View My Garage	I noticed it too, mine aligns well at the front and the rear of the hood but in between, the hood is lower than the fenders. I thought it was just designed that way since the latch and hinge ends seem to align well. Maybe look at it while driving and see if it flexes even to the fenders due to the air being forced through the scoop?

08-07-2012, 07:55 PM	#10
dimitri Drives: 06 M5/04 350Z Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: huntingdon valley PA Posts: 259	Me to ...i guess its the way they are put together

08-07-2012, 08:17 PM	#11
DangerZL1 Drives: 2023 Black ZL1 Auto Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: FEMA Region 4 Posts: 2,936	Almost all of the Camaros I've looked at had an uneven hood to fender alignment. ER the front bumper. I don't know why this is. Maybe adjusting the rubber stops up or down would help it and avoid a trip to the dealer.

08-08-2012, 08:40 AM	#13
1968SS/RS Drives: 1968 SS/RS 396 and 2013 ZL-1 Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Rhode Island Posts: 227 View My Garage	On thing for sure is that no one will see it when we go by them as a blurrrrrrrrrrrr!