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  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-

Head Lights Breaking

  • Thread starter Thread starter cadams155
  • Start date Start date Apr 26, 2014

cadams155

Member
Apr 20, 2014
61
2
9
Tampa Bay, Fl
Apr 26, 2014
#1
  • Apr 26, 2014
  • #1
Does anyone else have an issue with the inside marker lights being broken by the hood? I have the ultra clear 6pc headlight kit, and it seems that the black edge on the top rim of the housing is right where the hood edge goes and when I closed the hood, the plastic broke. Everything on the body and hood looks like it is lined up properly, so im not real sure whats going on.
 

Kumm3

Founding Member
Jul 30, 2002
527
32
69
East Hartford, CT
Apr 26, 2014
#2
  • Apr 26, 2014
  • #2
I had that problem when i had a steel hood, when i switched to a glass hood the problem went away.
 

cadams155

Member
Apr 20, 2014
61
2
9
Tampa Bay, Fl
Apr 26, 2014
#3
  • Apr 26, 2014
  • #3
How difficult was it to install the fiberglass hood? Been considering that too. The steel hood seems to have the front lip in the wrong location. It doesn't really look good with the gap it leaves between the bumper and hood edge. Fiberglass ones look much cleaner.
 

84Ttop

They make new pistons every day, so why worry?
5 Year Member
Jul 2, 2009
5,222
3,254
204
South Jersey
Apr 26, 2014
#4
  • Apr 26, 2014
  • #4
cadams155 said:
How difficult was it to install the fiberglass hood? Been considering that too. The steel hood seems to have the front lip in the wrong location. It doesn't really look good with the gap it leaves between the bumper and hood edge. Fiberglass ones look much cleaner.
Click to expand...
All that you need is a friend to help and its easy breezy Japanesey!
 

Gearbanger 101

Straight Outta Locash
20+ Year Stangneter
Aug 10, 2002
9,457
1,377
234
Ontario, Canada
Apr 26, 2014
#5
  • Apr 26, 2014
  • #5
Shouldn't need to swap hoods to keep from breaking your corners. Your problem can be fixed with some adjustment. Quite frankly, you're going to just have to "tweak" these area's until everything lines up. Ford quality control throughout the '80's, '90's and into the mid '00's was shall we say....lacking. These cars on their best day were less than perfect. No two edges were alike. Loosen some bolts, shift stuff around, bend an edge here, tweak a corner there.....that'll get ya back into shape.

The fact that your current hood doesn't line up properly already tells me that it, or some other part of your front facia, fender, etc is A) out of adjustment, or B) the car at some point has been "tagged" in the front end, knocking it out of shape and needs correcting.

Also keep in mind, your aftermarket clear corners may not be built to the same spec as the OE lights. Compare the two side by side and see where the differences are. The results may surprise you.
 

aar0s

Founding Member
Dec 20, 1998
1,015
55
69
Apr 26, 2014
#6
  • Apr 26, 2014
  • #6
I ordered a set of lights from a popular mail order company and the side markers did not fit. The side of the lenses would stick out way out, so far that you could see behind it, when put next to a set of OEM's they were way off. I ended up finding a set of practically NOS lenses that fit perfectly.
 

Onefine88

Previously 89SSC18
10 Year Member
Aug 3, 2006
1,422
796
154
Apr 27, 2014
#7
  • Apr 27, 2014
  • #7
I've broken the inside top corners of my lights too. I never had this problem with the original stock metal hood. Mine started happening when I added the fiberglass hood. I bought the same aftermarket hood at the same time for two fox cars and it happened on both cars.
After an extensive investigation I found that the thicker fiberglass hoods took up the space needed for the headlight markers to tuck up under it when closed.
The metal on the front edge of the stock hood is thinner, so if you're breaking your lights you need to adjust your stock hood forward on the car to achieve clearance for the lights. Try that!
Now, on my fiberglass hoods I had to move my them forward to gain clearance and I also had to grind and sand the underside front edge of my fiberglass hoods, thinning the material to gain enough clearance for the headlight markers. I then repainted the underside of the hoods and my results, no more broken headlight problems!

Long post short? Adjustment is very important, as well as being gentle when closing the hood.
If ya drop your hood, chances are your gonna break your lights.

good luck
 
Last edited: Apr 27, 2014
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