so lets say you have a raw front clip in this case 68-72 style,
you want to install the inner wheel wells, the hood hinge mounts locations depend on getting the wells in correctly they get their reinforcement from the radiator supports, can this be done without it mocked up on a car,
lets hear some ways you guys did this...
thanks.

 

Bats......as a rookie I can only show you a pic of the repair I made....



The inner fender well is sandwiched between this metal brace and the radiator support......the metal brace is riveted to the fender well in two places....two large bolts (7/16"?) hold the riveted wheel well and metal brace to the radiator support.....two 5/16" bolts also hold the metal brace near the top aft area.




The hood hinge also bolts onto the "top" of the metal brace----the fiberglass of the wheel well is sandwiched between the metal hood hinge and the metal brace.

It seems that the radiator support is the "key" to positioning the wheel well assemblies.

Sorry I'm not able to help.

 

I am trying to get back on track with my project,
I want to turn the stock 69 clip I have into a tilt like Hales with the working hood,
I want to install the inner wells with the clip off the car if possible but it might end up being better to do it on the car even with hood bolted on, so everything is right but I'm using the mako kits rear fender pieces the part that stays on the car when you open the clip so the clip will have to be cut to fit it...

 

My car was a old show car, so at one point sported wicked flares that were cut back by previous/second owner and so I bought it that way, the car has been owned by me for over 20 years at this point....

about a month ago some SOB in a jacked up pickup backed over me in a bank parking lot, I was parked and INSIDE the bank when it happened....lucky me, a cop was writing them up as I walked out......

BUT point being that there is NO top of the wheel section to any 'wheel liner' just the front and rear sections....both of which have been cut and replaced due to other concerns not the outer fender...I was shocked to find there was NO upper fender liner....dunno if it's stock or not....

 

in your case it may be better to get the hinge mount locations where you want them and mount the inner fender where ever it winds up.....i have a set of inner fenders off a 77 that have no upper section , just a piece of rubber at the top where it contacts the bottom side of the fender .....i too have a nice collection of "yard art "

 

like dg was saying the inner wheel well is in between the hood hinge on top and the mount for the hood hinge below while there is some adjustment for hood fit the placement of the inner wheel wells is very important to being within that goldielocks zone.....

 

I have a Corvette with a tilt front end on it in the shop currently....BUT...it is a complete front clip with NO working hood. AS a matter of fact..it is in the shop to get it right....due to not being quite right...obviously.

SO...unless Hales has photos of what was done so I or others can see what was done....I can say with all certainty...this desire to have a tilt front end with a working hood is going to be QUITE FUN....because of all the inner structure and materials needed to give the front clip rigidity and strength. I have not seen this build that Hales did.

Knowing that the hood hinges attach to the top of each inner skirt....and the amount of adjustment in each hinge is a given. AND knowing that the distance of the hood hinge area and the latches on the cowl for the hood to latch is also a given...YOU CAN install the inner skirts with the front clip NOT being on the car...but you have to make sure that when you set the inner skirts in place...you have the hood mounted to verify the gap the front of the hood and that it is flush. I do it that way when I am putting one piece front clips on the 1963-1982 Corvettes.

Having a function hood with a tilt front end will as I can see it a after thinking about it..... would depend on how the hood is latched at the cowl area. IF using the factory latches is one thing....and fabricating in a latch system that goes with the tilting portion of the front clip is another...so it depends on how you want it to be when completed....because each have their own set of challenges....and then how the front clip actually get latched when it is down.

SO....For me...to be able to give you any advice or suggestions...I NEED to see your vision....CLEARLY. And I mean CRYSTAL CLEAR. If I know what you EXACTLY want it to do....then engineering it up can be done. If using hydraulics tor also the front clip...no problem...just need to know and then what it will take to do that....if using hydraulics to raise the factory hinged hood...no problem...just more time and engineering....SO...anything is possible..but it is up to what you want....and how much time you want to put into this.

DUB

 

Thanks you answered my question right there and I was thinking hood fit is the first key to a front clip.

I guess I confused my question when I said it would be tilt, but I didn't want anyone to try hop that hurdle for me I have been involved with several tilts, not just on vettes, kit cars trucks etc...while the opening hood does toss extra rat hairs in the tuna salad of design it's still not too epic, each person has their way and I have seen many nice ones and a few craptastic ones....

"full tilt" I believe the thread was called he glassed in the hood but has pop open lights he really went to war beefing up the clip it's a heavy weight now, and admitted that the inner fenders alone will not give enough rigid support to the clip for the tilt to be right at least for me.

as you guys who know me well know that I plan, research, plan some more so when I do wrench it's hours not days...

anyway if things go right I wont be doing any of this but rather just selling the stock 69 clip....

 

I will wait to see what you want to do.

DUB