I'm attempting to transplant a sport hood from an 01 to a 99 Limited. The sport hood fully closes with about a full inch vertical gap between the top of the fenders and the hood at the very front (leading edge). Being that there's no adjustment on either the hood's anchor loop nor the hood locking mechanism, could there be a difference in dimensions between the Limited's "theft deterrent" hood latch (p/n: 53510-35160) and the regular Sport's hood lock (p/n: 53510-35170)?
BTW:Toyota states that these part numbers are for 99-02 T4Rs. I'm not sure how much of a difference there might be with earlier versions from the newer ones.

Also, imagine if you will...
As odd as it may seem, it appears as though the Limited's hood is more flat across the width of the hood at at the plane of the hood anchor loop whereas the Sport hood appears to have a more convex curve designed into it which brings the loop further down (away from the hood and closer to the ground). This is all from underneath, not atop.

Not sure what the problem is but I put a sport hood on my limited a year ago and didn't run into any problems. It wasn't oem though, it's a certifit hood

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HOOD ADJUSTMENT 1. SUBSTITUTE BOLT WITH WASHER FOR CENTERING BOLT Since the centering bolt is used as the hood hinge set bolt, the hood cannot be adjusted with it on. Substitute the bolt with the washer for the centering bolt.

2. ADJUST HOOD IN FORWARD/REARWARD AND LEFT/RIGHT DIRECTIONS Adjust the hood by loosening the hood side hinge bolts. Torque: 13 N·m (130 kgf·cm, 9 ft·lbf)

3. ADJUST FRONT EDGE OF HOOD IN VERTICAL DIRECTION Adjust the hood by turning the cushions.

4. ADJUST HOOD LOCK Adjust the lock by loosening the bolts. Torque: 7.8 N·m (80 kgf·cm, 69 in.·lbf)

Thanks for the tips. However, there's at least an inch gap between the hood and the cushions with the hood locked into place. I'm failing to see how loosening the bolts to the lock afford any vertical gains or losses; the bolt holes are not slotted.

Just for reference, does anybody else have a latch that looks any different dimensionally than this one? This picture was taken directly in front of it with the grille removed.

Can you post a picture of your hood gap?

My grill is still off so it was easy to look at mine. My '99 SR5 (non-theft deterrent, I assume--but it looks just like yours.) lines up exactly as yours, with the bottom of the slot directly cut through the middle by the top of that square profile that juts out of that top body cross-piece. So I don't think it's your latch.

What makes it 'theft-deterrent'? Both latch p/n's are listed for my frame number/VIN. I don't have the alarm, but it looks just like yours.

At the very least, it appears that there's an electrical contact switch built into the latch.

Ahh, I see. The post above is from the 02 manual but if it's not even hitting the cushion then there's nothing to adjust except the latch, which hardly moves at all.

I would try and get an '01 latch, they are cheap at a junk yard or on ebay or ask someone on here like DeathCougar if he has a latch like that for sale from a part-out. That must be what's going wrong here then.

By chance is the loop on the hood that goes into the latch larger/smaller the the last hood you had?

Is your latch opening before you try and close the hood? In the pic it looks closed.

I was going to say the same thing. I definitely have the non-deterrent latch with no switch so it's not your latch. I'm thinking you're closing on to an already closed latch.

I third the closed latch issue.

All hood latches are identical from 96-02, and starting in 1999 they added the switch on the Limited for the factory security. But changing latches won't solve your issue, since they are literally all identical. Assuming your truck hasn't been wrecked and the hood is straight, you have another issue here....such as the latch being in the closed position already (sometimes they stick).

The latch is not closed prior to dropping the hood. It seats all the way down to the bottom of the groove.

I spent some time in a salvage yard comparing and found minute differences in pre and post '99 latches.

I think the hood loop/anchor was pulled down in an accident. It's the only explaination I can think of. Luckily/unfortunately, the outer shell of the hood looks great though. Hopefully I can "press" it back up without distorting the top of the hood. Otherwise I may have to massage the latching mechanism to make it fit right.

Can you post a picture of your hood loop/anchor?