Panel alignment

[Peeso33]

Has anyone else noticed that the upper panel (metal) protrudes slightly further out than the lower panel (plastic) where the rounded corner meets - see picture.View attachment 25329

Did you have your car on a lift or jack for any work done recently? I had a flat tire repair done, soon after, I noticed something very similar to your situation. I nudged the panel around a bit, and heard a clip snap back into place.

 

[Dom]

Did you have your car on a lift or jack for any work done recently? I had a flat tire repair done, soon after, I noticed something very similar to your situation. I nudged the panel around a bit, and heard a clip snap back into place.

Interesting. I did have the rear end jacked up last week to replace the diffuser. Which panel did you nudge around? The upper panel which is metal doesn’t seem to budge and I don’t want to press too hard.

 

[Peeso33]

Interesting. I did have the rear end jacked up last week to replace the diffuser. Which panel did you nudge around? The upper panel which is metal doesn’t seem to budge and I don’t want to press too hard.

Not the metal panel, but the bumper cover. I sort of placed my hand along the junctions between the metal and plastic parts. Pushed on the bumper cover slightly inwards where it seemed to be slight off, then heard a snap, then everything lined up again.

 

[Dom]

Not the metal panel, but the bumper cover. I sort of placed my hand along the junctions between the metal and plastic parts. Pushed on the bumper cover slightly inwards where it seemed to be slight off, then heard a snap, then everything lined up again.

In my case it’s the metal panel which protrudes. Pushing the bumper cover in would probably make it worse.

 

[westcoastGT]

In my case it’s the metal panel which protrudes. Pushing the bumper cover in would probably make it worse.

Thats sounds like one of the plastic fins which fits into the metal is folded under and pushing the panel out , get a set of ramps and run your car up it then get under and check OR take it to an autobody shop and let them adjust it ,C&CBilly and I have pulled both the front and rear of our cars recently and it would be easy to get some misalignment during the re and re ........................................

 

[Bigbikes]

Okay, I am a believer in subjective observation. I WANT everything on my car to be perfectly aligned, forever. This morning, earlier than yesterday, I took before and after pics; in earlier, more slanting sunlight (i.e. stronger shadow definition). First pic is how the hood stoppers were before I fiddled, i.e. how I got the car over a year ago (unless they vibrate to different levels); this was left stopper mostly or all the way in; right stopper c. halfway out. The "after" pic is left stopper all the way out and right stopper all the way in.

If you can see any difference you have better eyes than mine!
View attachment 25477 View attachment 25478

Looks the same to me

 

[MerlintheMad]

Looks the same to me

Me too.
I just took some evening shots; sun now comes in from the right.
Before is both stoppers all the way in;


after is the left stopper all the way out:



So any assertion that the stoppers will adjust hood "tweak" is discredited, imho. The stoppers press against the plastic bulkhead anyway. And I don't see how pushing down on a plastic surface can move a steel hood's position an iota. The stoppers must be to reduce vibration. So I'll turn mine both out c. halfway and have done with it.*

(*edit: "have done with it", heh, like that was going to happen! ▼▼▼ )

 

[Dom]

Me too.
I just took some evening shots; sun now comes in from the right.
Before is both stoppers all the way in;
View attachment 25510
View attachment 25511
after is the left stopper all the way out:
View attachment 25512
View attachment 25513

So any assertion that the stoppers will adjust hood "tweak" is discredited, imho. The stoppers press against the plastic bulkhead anyway. And I don't see how pushing down on a plastic surface can move a steel hood's position an iota. The stoppers must be to reduce vibration. So I'll turn mine both out c. halfway and have done with it.

How is your alignment on the area I pointed to originally?

 

[MerlintheMad]

How is your alignment on the area I pointed to originally?

I have not had any body panels get above each other. But then, I've never had my car on a jack stand either (knock on wood). And the last thing I want to have to do is take a bumper cover off!?

 

[MerlintheMad]

Okay, here's the intelligent way to look for the discrepancy between left and right hood edges. This is with the left stopper all the way out and right stopper all the way in:

I contemplate gripping the forward edge of the hood in both hands and forcing the left corner up and right corner down. But what holds me back is the vision of the right corner still being up just as much as it now is, but now the left corner is up even further than the right corner. Just my luck, that's all I would accomplish. So, I leave it as-is; and hopefully, over time, the pressure of the left stopper will even this out a bit more.

 

[Dom]

I told you - this stuff will drive you crazy - take it from someone who knows!

 

[MerlintheMad]

I told you - this stuff will drive you crazy - take it from someone who knows!

"There lies madness...: I read the forum and feel forewarned. But will it do any good?

 

[Callum]

If you buy a black Stinger, it's harder to see the panel gaps!

Mine is perfect.

 

[westcoastGT]

An autobody shop will adjust it in a second , they know all the tricks beyond the rubber stoppers , when I was getting my bumper fixed the Manager pointed out the hood alignment on mine , which looked pretty ideal imo . He adjusted the stoppers and a few other ticks and voila ................he used a credit card layed across the fender and hood to determine the degree of "level" ..................easier than the setting sun Merlin !

 

[RODRIGOSTINGER]

Same thing in mine but thats ok , it isnt aligned in the right line just 3 mm , love my car though

 

[RODRIGOSTINGER]

Okay, I am a believer in subjective observation. I WANT everything on my car to be perfectly aligned, forever. This morning, earlier than yesterday, I took before and after pics; in earlier, more slanting sunlight (i.e. stronger shadow definition). First pic is how the hood stoppers were before I fiddled, i.e. how I got the car over a year ago (unless they vibrate to different levels); this was left stopper mostly or all the way in; right stopper c. halfway out. The "after" pic is left stopper all the way out and right stopper all the way in.

If you can see any difference you have better eyes than mine!
View attachment 25477 View attachment 25478

 

[RODRIGOSTINGER]

Okay, I am a believer in subjective observation. I WANT everything on my car to be perfectly aligned, forever. This morning, earlier than yesterday, I took before and after pics; in earlier, more slanting sunlight (i.e. stronger shadow definition). First pic is how the hood stoppers were before I fiddled, i.e. how I got the car over a year ago (unless they vibrate to different levels); this was left stopper mostly or all the way in; right stopper c. halfway out. The "after" pic is left stopper all the way out and right stopper all the way in.

If you can see any difference you have better eyes than mine!
View attachment 25477 View attachment 25478

Same problem in the right side
but it is nothing , not a big deal

 

[MerlintheMad]

Same problem in the right side
but it is nothing , not a big deal

Yeah. I totally forgot about this momentary fixation on hood alignment; until YOU had to go and resurrect this dead thread, that is.

Welcome into the open, by the way.

 

[crispin]

Anyone figure out the hood alignment issue, guess the stopped adjustment doesn't help? I noticed my 2021 GT1 has this issue - passenger side hood is higher than the fender and driver side is flush. Such a minor issue normally, but I've had other problems with this car so am starting to wonder if mine was made a 4 pm on a Friday before some Korean long weekend!

 

[MerlintheMad]

It seems that my leaving "left stopper out, right stopper in" worked over time: I just did the credit card measuring method and the gap between the card and bumper/fender line is so close to the same on both sides that I can't tell a difference.