Took my hood off to repair. Been trying to get it aligned now for about 6 hours. Pass. Side fits good in the front but the drivers side sits to low when closed,Tryed shims.not helping,also hood is cocked to one side more,than than the other,Pass. side hood pop up seems okay drivers side seems to bind and not spring up as far. Any one have some ideas.... Please help...

 

The up-down position of the front edge of the hood relative to the front panel is set by the hard rubber blocks screwed to the flange at the front of the hood opening, not by the pop-ups.

Make sure the hood hinge linkage pivot points are lubed and operating freely so the pop-ups lift the front edge of the hood as you raise the rear edge of the hood; the pop-ups help the linkage come off over-center as you raise the rear of the hood.

 

You also have an adjustment (up/down) at the mounting of the hinge, itself. Make sure that your low hinge is adjusted at the proper height.

The hinges also move forward and rearward at the mounting point. By moving this aspect, you can shift the hood forward or backward on that particular side of the car. This may be why your hood is not square in the opening.

The mounting holes in the hinge can also be massaged to reach the height that you need (last resort).

Is your radiator support level?

Also, make sure that you have the hood support attached as you are trying to fine tune the fit. It can play a factor in alignment as well.

If you check all of these things, you'll probably find your desired position.

Good luck!

 

Did this fits much better,but the pass. side is up to high now,doesn't hit the block..What's my next step,also the hood is cocked more toward the pass. side????

 

Read #3 and you'll be able to correct the hood being cocked to one side.

 

I wrote years ago as to how to adjust 53-57 hood with out enlarging the hinge holes or pop-up holes for NCRS

1. The hinges can be moved to aid in making the hinges go over center when closed
And the two bolts holding the hood can be moved to center the hood forward or back left or right.
2. The front two blocks set the hood line to the body by moving them up or down
3.The back hood male latches can be moved to center the male pins to meet the females and the stops are adjusted to line the back hood to the body line.
4.with the two pop-ups installed ( and they don't need the holes enlarged ) close the hood to see if the front hood line meets the body .
5. Now if the front hood line seats up from the body when closed it's not the pop-ups but the hinges ant going over center pulling the hood down on to the blocks and compressing the pop-ups.
6. The two hinge bolts at the front of the hood may need shimming but read no.(1) first// if you still need to get more over center you only shim the top bolt (both sides or one) and that will force the hinge to go over center (more) pulling the hood down on to the blocks and compressing the pop-ups.


If you followed this and everything works OK that's it. If you have problems with the pop-ups or back male latches using repro's your in for a hell of a time. (they suck) the spring are to strong and you may have to resort to cutting a coil off.

This is how the hood should work , when you pull the cable ( hard to see it happen ) the front and rear of the hood pops up at the same time, the reason the front pops-up is to clear the front hood from the body as you open the hood with (ONE) hand. And when you close the hood those last few inch's the front hinges go over center compressing the pop-ups.
If you see a person using (TWO) hands ,one under the front hood it's because the hood is not adjusted correct and he don't wont to chip his paint and when closing he'll push down on the front hood.

I hope I made it clear and you understand the physics of how the hinges and pop-ups work to gather.

 

[QUOTE=1955 copper;1568385243]I wrote years ago as to how to adjust 53-57 hood with out enlarging the hinge holes or pop-up holes for NCRS

1. The hinges can be moved to aid in making the hinges go over center when closed
And the two bolts holding the hood can be moved to center the hood forward or back left or right.
2. The front two blocks set the hood line to the body by moving them up or down
3.The back hood male latches can be moved to center the male pins to meet the females and the stops are adjusted to line the back hood to the body line.
4.with the two pop-ups installed ( and they don't need the holes enlarged ) close the hood to see if the front hood line meets the body .
5. Now if the front hood line seats up from the body when closed it's not the pop-ups but the hinges ant going over center pulling the hood down on to the blocks and compressing the pop-ups.
6. The two hinge bolts at the front of the hood may need shimming but read no.(1) first// if you still need to get more over center you only shim the top bolt (both sides or one) and that will force the hinge to go over center (more) pulling the hood down on to the blocks and compressing the pop-ups.


If you followed this and everything works OK that's it. If you have problems with the pop-ups or back male latches using repro's your in for a hell of a time. (they suck) the spring are to strong and you may have to resort to cutting a coil off.

This is how the hood should work , when you pull the cable ( hard to see it happen ) the front and rear of the hood pops up at the same time, the reason the front pops-up is to clear the front hood from the body as you open the hood with (ONE) hand. And when you close the hood those last few inch's the front hinges go over center compressing the pop-ups.
If you see a person using (TWO) hands ,one under the front hood it's because the hood is not adjusted correct and he don't wont to chip his paint and when closing he'll push down on the front hood.

I hope I made it clear and you understand the physics of how the hinges and pop-ups work to gather.


Ok I have the hood up to high in the front. Not sure if they are reproduction pop ups. Do i try shimming next? If so how? Shim the top bolt of the hinge between the hinge and the support? Or first adjust/ move the hinge. I can push down on the front of the hood and it looks better, but not perfect. It seems the springs are pretty firm on the pop up. Any help would be appreciated.

 

Ok I have the hood up to high in the front. Not sure if they are reproduction pop ups. Do i try shimming next? If so how? Shim the top bolt of the hinge between the hinge and the support? Or first adjust/ move the hinge. I can push down on the front of the hood and it looks better, but not perfect. It seems the springs are pretty firm on the pop up. Any help would be appreciated.

The hinges can be tilted backwards but try first shiming the TOP bolt of the two at the hood , that location TOP bolt and shiming it will bring the hood front line down plus you may have to lower the two stops

 

If nothing else works....and IF the pop-up is keeping the hood front too high on one side, you can remove the pop-up, take out the pin, put a washer or two between the pin and cup and then screw it back together. This will compress the spring more. OR Just remove a little of the spring until it sits at a level that you like. Sometimes, the repro pop-ups have a very firm spring tension.

Roy's article is a good one.

 

Thanks sorry to hi jack the old thread, but I get credit for searching right??? I just printed the article from NCRS Restorer CD and will work on the car later, looks well written. I'll let you know.

 

Roy or John i finally got the hood alignment looking good, but only if I remove the pop ups. They must be repos. If i adjust them all the way down they keep the hood up a good quarter on an inch. However the hood works great and doesn't scrape in front when opening it without them. So should i trim the springs in the pop ups or put a washer in or find springs with less tension or just leave them out? Do they serve any other purpose than helping the hood clear in the front on opening? Thanks in advance. Your article Roy was very helpful.

 

I would think you wont them in . So as I said cut the spring or buy Real ones . Remember the pop ups lift the hood front line so not to chip your paint . Also adding a shim as I said puts tension on the pop ups and the two blocks so the hood don't jump around.But you make the call