Hood assembly for a vehicle and method of aligning front end assembly components for a vehicle

A method of aligning a plurality of front end assembly components for a vehicle comprising:

• operatively coupling a centering tool to a top support member of a positioning and reinforcement structure to orient the centering tool in an upwardly disposed manner;
• pivoting a hood downwardly to bring a hood locating aperture proximate the centering tool, wherein the hood locating aperture is defined by an inner panel of the hood at an underside of the hood;
• aligning the hood locating aperture with the upwardly extending centering tool;
• and
• pivoting the hood further downwardly to insert the centering tool into the hood locating aperture for fixing the positioning and reinforcement structure in a cross-car direction.