Hood – removal, installation and adjustment

Note: The hood is heavy and somewhat awk­ward to remove and install – at least two peo­ple should perform this procedure.

Removal and installation

1. Use blankets or pads to cover the cowl area of the body and fenders. This will protect the body and paint as the hood is lifted off.

2. Make marks or scribe a line around the hood hinges to ensure proper alignment dur­ing installation (see illustration).

10.2 Before removing the hood, draw a mark around the hinge plate

RAM Trucks Body

3. Disconnect any cables or wires that will interfere with removal.

4. Have an assistant support one side of the hood while you support the other.

Simultaneously remove the hinge-to-hood nuts (see illustration).

10.4 Remove the hinge-to-hood retaining nuts and lift off the hood with the help of an assistant

RAM Trucks Body Remove the hinge-to-hood retaining nuts and lift off the hood with the help of an assistant

5. Lift off the hood.

6. Installation is the reverse of removal.

Adjustment

7. Fore-and-aft and side-to-side adjustment of the hood is done by moving the hinge plate slot after loosening the bolts or nuts.

8. Mark around the each hinge plate so you can determine the amount of movement (see illustration 10.2).

9. Loosen the bolts or nuts and move the hood into correct alignment. Move it only a lit­tle at a time. Tighten the hinge bolts and care­fully lower the hood to check the position.

10. If necessary after installation, the hood latch can be adjusted up-and-down as well as from side-to-side on the radiator support so the hood closes securely and flush with the fenders. To make the adjustment, scribe a line or mark around the hood latch mounting bolts to provide a reference point, then loosen them and reposition the latch, as necessary (see illustration). Following adjustment, retighten the mounting bolts.

10.10 Make a mark around the latch to use as a reference point. To adjust the hood latch, loosen the retaining bolts, move the latch and retighten bolts, then close the hood to check the fit

RAM Trucks Make a mark around the latch to use as a reference point. To adjust the hood latch, loosen the retaining bolts, move the latch and retighten bolts, then close the hood to check the fit

11. Finally, adjust the hood bumpers on the radiator support so the hood, when closed, is flush with the fenders (see illustration).

10.11 Adjust the hood closing height by turning the hood bumpers in or out

RAM Trucks Adjust the hood closing height by turning the hood bumpers in or out

12. The hood latch assembly, as well as the hinges, should be periodically lubricated with white, lithium-base grease to prevent binding and wear.