NosferatuVI

Drop it, jeez its just a car, unless you removed the rubber stoppers along the upper radiator support, then by all means gently lower it until it locks into place then open the catch and lock the hood down.

Galaxie

My cousin who could be the pickest autobody guy alive told me the best way to do it is the drop method, you run the potential risk of deforming the hood by sqeezing it shut.

metroplex

Thanks! I've heard about people bending their hoods by squeezing it shut and I see auto shops squeezing the hoods shut all the time.

RKNMACH

You don't close your car doors by pushing them up to the catch and then pushing on them to close them - treat the hood the same way.

moc1976

Drop it like it's hot!

fxdwg2002

12" drop here.

06GT4RAD

I hold the hood about 8-12" from it resting point and let it go while also giving it a kind of slight downward push.

Richard

06GT4RAD

sorry for the double post the site is really jacked up tonight.

Richard

metroplex

Thanks for all the input thus far!
My biggest concern about just dropping the hood is it may elongate some of the joints/pivots, but I've heard more horror stories about people bending the hoods while squeezing it shut. Almost every Focus you find in a dealer lot will have a crease in the hood if someone has ever opened it and squeezed it shut. The reason I ask is many, if not all, dealerships and service shops squeeze the hood shut. I'm not sure why they do this but, I've also seen people who really take care of the cars do the same thing.

I wonder if the flapping hoods have something to do with this? Some people claim their hoods are rock solid at 100+ mph, while others notice excessive flapping at 70+ mph.

06GT4RAD

Your not going to cause any problems to the metal by dropping it from 12" or so.

I I drop the hood on all my vehicle always have always will. And have been doing so for well over 20+ years and never had an issues at all.


Richard

black sunshine

I like to hire a professional to close my hood for me. I'm OK at opening it but I don't have enough experience in closing it. The guy I hire only charges 50 dollars per close and I think it's worth it. He told me there's a very special technique and he went to school for years to learn it. I wonder what the best way to change a radio station is or the best setting for variable speed wipers is sometimes too......I have so much to learn about cars.

bigkbull

gotta give me the number to this guy...

metroplex

Is that as bad as the people who pay a professional to install axle-back mufflers, shifters, PCM tunes, cold air kits, billet oil filler caps, and to change their oil or adjust their wheel alignment? FYI the aforementioned tasks are all DIY-ers

The Mustang GT is a very nice car, I just didn't want to treat its hood like it was just any ordinary car, like a GM or a Honda.

ipchay61

Geez! I can't believe no one has stated the most obvious answer........IF YOU DON'T OPEN IT, YOU DON'T HAVE TO CLOSE IT!!!


Chip in SC

PS...for those that are really taking this serious, it's a joke!

neil07gt

Ok. Now that I've learned how to close the hood. What is the best way to close the trunk? Does it work the same way? If both are open which should i close first?

metroplex

The trunk seems to close much easier on the 05-up GTs, and since they now use gas struts, you don't have to worry about the torsion bars wearing out!!!

Vermillion06

Yeah, doing anything to your car yourself is so "ghetto"

Cavero

You've also got the aftermarket gas struts. I do the same thing on my Monte that has 'em too.

Drop the Stang's hood from about 12-18 inches. It's not going to hurt anything

NosferatuVI

in regards to hood shake I have had my V6 up to 120, no shaking.

Mark S.

Ford screwed up...they should have just stayed with the fiberglass hoods from the past or even upped the ante to carbon fiber...aluminum flexes too much and I cringe when I see a tech slam the hoot shut while it's resting on the latch...excellent chance of putting a dent in it...