Rep Power: 318

So I just installed my DC Sports strut bar (01' Civic EX Coupe)..it fit like a glove...only problem I have is that when I close the hood, the strut bar hits it (on the drivers side). The hood is able to close all the way, but i have to give it a gentle push. My problem is that the hood doesn't shut all the way...in other words, on the drivers side, it is sticking up maybe a lil more than a 1/4"..probably less. I've searched on google, and some sites recommending putting in a small spacer on the hinge of the hood (near the windshield), to raise up the back of the hood in hopes of clearing the bar.

Before you guys attempt to flame, NO, I'm not trying to do the stupid Hood Spacer thing where the hood looks lifted...just trying to give myself enough clearance to where the hood is not sitting on the strut bar. I've pushed down on the bar like some sites said, but its all the way down as far as i can get it. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!

 
Rep Power: 412

pics?

 
Rep Power: 366

wow! wasn't expecting you to ask that for a strut bar... i will give the feed back on the neuspeed bar when the season starts, BTW. You might hear a "you told me"!

 
Rep Power: 412

Well I need to see where it is hitting. I don't want to see what it looks like because I really don't care, but I am trying to solve his problem.

 
Rep Power: 318

our hoods have little contours and "grooves or mounds" on the bottome of them, and thats what the strut bar is hitting...i'll get you pics tomorrow robbclark1 as i'm heading outta town.

be back tomorrow. thanks.

 
Rep Power: 412

Yeah I know, but I am sure DC took them into account.

Have fun on your trip.

 
Rep Power: 317

/\/\ as do i... ( the thinking that DCS took them into account )

i haven't heard of this problem before... has the car had any accidents on the driver's side front where the body shop may not have gotten everything exactly back to where it should be? I know body panels may look fine, but looking at the lines sometimes you can see larger gaps, or smaller gaps where a panel meets another panel.

 
Rep Power: 318

Aight peepz...just got back from the beaches of Monterey! Haven't been out that way in a while.

Manaahoonie, the car has not been in any front end collisions what-so-ever. Never took the car to the body shop for front end work. I closed the hood slowly to see if it was even close to clearing a certain part of the hood..but no go.

Robbclark1,
Stopped by the parents house this weekend...what i did was just trim some of the mounds under the hood (took the old mans ryobi saw)...i took a small section out..looks nice and clean. The bar now clears the hood without touching it.

I'm assuming that the problem was just that my car is fuggin old and outta whack...got it since day one (Feb 01') and has 153k on it. Well, I got it fixed now, thanks for the input guys.

 
Rep Power: 388

Saw- Really? Shoulda just hammered the mound in for it to clear, it would have looked much cleaner and would also help with the crumple zones in the event of a front end collision.

 
Rep Power: 318

I was goin to hammer it in, but didnt want to slip and put a real ding in it. I just cut about 5 slits in the mound and cut the pieces out with tin-snips. Then sanded the edges smooth.

 
Rep Power: 412

Just remember to clear coat whatever you sanded or it will rust.