Help with hood on 9000 series International vibrating noises

We have seen the sheet metal of the firewall flex and make a pop sound like a metal bottle lid every time it flexes. No set way to fix it other than giving it a boot and introducing a slight bend in the metal or removing it and reinstalling with a washer between the plate and firewall on only one bolt to cause the firewall sheet metal to buckle just enough to prevent the noise. I know it is annoying, but it just trial and error.

 

I made up a plate that goes on the cab side of the firewall with three holes for the bolts that secure that top pecker. This clamped up and spread the load more across the firewall and stopped the noise. Btw those hood hinge bushes are $600 here in Oz! Thanks International but I usually like to be taken for a nice dinner before I get ##&##@!

 

Sorry IH it's in behind the dash now so near impossible to get a photo. But if you have a friendly metal shop nearby, unbolt that pecker and take it to them. Tell them to cut a piece of 1/8" plate in a rectangle that is about 1/2" taller than the three bolt pattern on the pecker, and about 2" wider on each side. Drill holes to match the bolt pattern then you have your clamp. The fun bit is then to get it in through the dash and in behind the insulation lining the firewall while a friend holds the pecker on the front( this thread is getting a bit racy!) Hope this may be of some help. Cheers

 

When my 9300 started rubbing, I spent a couple hundred and bought new springs and all plastic stops and rubber alignment brackets and replaced them all. Was perfect after. Mine was rubbing the fiberglass through at the top of the firewall. I think the 2 small rectangle pieces on the sides did more then anything to stop it from rubbing.