jc95148

Bought this car as is a couple weeks ago and I'm having trouble figuring out how to fix the hood gap, frame has no damaged, checked by removing front bumper. So please anyone help. Could it be the bumper because the old owner said he replaced front fenders and hood due to rust but not the bumper.

jc95148

The hood lock though and you cannot open it without popping the it from inside.

jc95148

I mean locks

Blacknight117

iTrader: (1)

Has the car been I any front end accidents?

jbpnoman

Considering the hood looks flush with the fenders, I'm going to go with this. The front of the subframe is bent.

Blacknight117

iTrader: (1)

Look at the headlights, they do not line up. Cause if you look at mine, this is how it`s suppose to look. An old pic, but those are the lines of the front a non front impacted EJ1..



Sorry, kinda messed with the page width..

Mr Ohms

The previous owner most likely purchased after market parts which don't always align correctly.

jbpnoman

Neither the headlights, nor the bumper line up. The headlights might be aftermarket, but the bumper isn't. There's front end damage there.

Fnix

iTrader: (1)

After market hood that doesnt sit flush with the front end but sits flush with the fenders?

Mr Ohms

Touche

jbpnoman

Lex parsimoniae. Occam's Razor.

The headlights are sunk into the bumper, and don't line up with the corners. The hood lines up with the fenders, but not the bumper or headlights. Either there are a bunch of cheap, aftermarket front end parts that don't line up, or there is front end damage. Front end damage would be the safer bet. Also, there's no reason to put a bunch of cheap FDM (fake domestic market) parts on the front end of a car if there wasnt front end damage.

Blacknight117

iTrader: (1)

A shot of the core support from the front and top with the bumper off will show where the damage is exactly...

jc95148

Ok will post it later.

deschlong

iTrader: (8)

Also, does your hood have the emissions stickers on the underside? If not, it suggests it is an aftermarket replacement.

jc95148

Here are the pictures guys, checked and my headlights are OEM but can you guys tell if my hood is OEM, took pics of the labels and under the hood. and also took pics of the rad support and the side fitment of the hood to the fenders. Please help me out in solving this problem, all help is appreciated. Thanks!

delsolintegra

I got a similar gap on a del sol.
I had the upper radiator core support replaced after an accident and I think it may have been welded back in at too low of a point to create the gap.
Could possibly have a shop cut the welds and reinstall it.

-Gambit-

Car was in a front end accident, needs new radiator support. Take off fenders and see how much other damage is hiding back there. The unibody could twisted and bend too. Looks like it was a ghetto fab repair job and they only replaced body panels and didn't repair the real damage

dapdabbin

iTrader: (2)

^ Yes then your parts will fit. You might just need the top part tho. The rest of the radiator support looks ok. That hood is aftermarket try loosening and readjusting the bolts on the hood hinges to have it sit straight. Those parts were replaced because it was in a front end. Maybe got stuck under something like a truck.
When I was in a front end, that was the last thing I had replaced, and had to do it twice because the first one was aftermarket and bent very easily. SO make sure to use a used OEM part. Drill out the spots. Weld it on. Save a headache

xTyFighterx

Just adjust the latch

98civdx

And this is why there are more hacked to **** Honda's, then nice ones.


It's been in a accident, you can easily tell.
I do agree with Gambit, pull the fenders, and see if there is anything hiding..

Blacknight117

iTrader: (1)

From the looks of it, the car might have hit a car with a higher bumper or a truck. Take the fenders off, like has been said before me. I would say primarily the drivers side. The passenger side looks to be ok...

Plus you can also tell the core support is buckled a little bit in front of the rad. If the both fenders look fine, than the only way to fix is to get a new core support put on the car... Though looking at the pics, the fenders seems fine...

jc95148

Hey guys, took everything apart today and figured out you guys are right, driver's rad support is bent in a little, no side fender area bending though. Looks like the seller lied to me, though I cannot complain for the price he sold me the car and how well the engine runs.

For now, do you guys have a technique to fix this, without the need of bringing it to a shop, just so that the hood closes? It is just going to be my daily beater for a while since I am just a college student and just had windshield and sunroof replaced due to cracks and tune up done on this car, so I don't have the money to spend to get this rad support tbar replaced/welded. So, Engine runs rich, just need a way to make hood close either all the way or if not close to it so that air does not go in especially in the freeway.

I already bought a new latch, just need a technique to straighten the rad support a little myself so that I can close the hood all the way, doesn't have to be perfect. Will eventually get it fixed in a year or so when I have enough money, have to prioritize school. So any advice guys.

jbpnoman

The cheap way to do it? A 15 lbs sledge, and a lot of arm waving. The correct way to do it? A new radiator support and a few hours with a welding machine.

jc95148

I'm serious guys, I do not have the money to get the welding work done, need to do it myself for now. Just want my hood to close and lock properly, doesn't have to be perfect while I save up since I do a lot of freeway driving so air is catching inside that gap.

xTyFighterx

He asked how to fix it not swap the front end.