Fender alignment, aftermarket hood fitment

[Salvagedcircuit]

My MJ was very much a misfit toy when I picked it up. Every front panel is not flush and the panel gap is variable. I re-mounted my passenger side fender and the panel gap and fit has greatly improved. However, there is now a huge gap between the front of the hood and the front clip. I can fit my entire pinky inside the gap. I'll be adjusting the driver fender soon but it looks mostly correct. The hood looks to be sitting correctly and even on the rear cowl seal. Is

 there anyway to tell if my hood is factory or aftermarket? Is there a dimension discrepancy between the two? My left and right fender are AMC parts with the 1987 date visible on both inside faces. I could not find any part number emboss on my hood.

 

Thanks!

[89 MJ]

My truck also has this weird gap and I know my front fenders and header panel are original to the truck, but my hood was off of a later XJ. The gap is annoyingly large, like yours. 

[fiatslug87]

It’s a feature, lets air in and heat escapes. 

[Pete M]

if you wanted to, you could scoot the hood forward a bit.  it's kinda a pain though. 

[Salvagedcircuit]

It's possible my hood was an after market or from a different year cherokee. It was painted. PO decided to spray paint can overhaul just the hood, so it's making me think it was swapped.

[The86manche]

Aftermarket parts will always have a stamp somewhere to indicate so. Might say "tyc" with a logo or something like that.