I'm about to decide going from a long hood to wiper door on my '68 is way more work than it's worth... Here's what I've got, now. There isn't room for it. I can get the gap good on one side, but then the other side is way off. If I center it up, then both sides are too tight to fit the trim and screws.
Driver's side:





Passenger's side:





It was worse than this when I started. I unbonded both rear corners of the front clip and used a big spreader to push them out a bit, then re-glued. I was hoping that would do the trick, but I still need more. Ideas?

 

I had the same issue on my car when I did the frame off. When I go to put that piece back on, its too tight like that and won't fit properly. I have a machinist friend who milled down 1/8" off each side and cleaned out the mounting screw holes. Used some touch up paint on it as mine was already painted at this point. You are ahead of the game to catch it now.
Good luck.

 

This is just a guess... so if anybody knows for sure, PLEASE jump in... but is there a chance that the wiper doors may have changed dimensions over the years, and gotten a little wider? If that is the case, a later door would not fit an earlier car.
I know this is true for the rocker moldings... some years are longer or shorter than others. Is the same true for OP`s wiper door?
In the pictures, it looks like his wiper door and cowl vent are even on the driver side, but the wiper door looks longer on the passenger side?

 

Hi EM,
I don't think there's nearly as much material on the the ends of the grill and door to machine off as much as you'll need.
Also, IF you shorten the door you'll also need to shorten the ss door trim which will be even more difficult.
Remember you need to allow room for the fender trim caps too.
Is that the grill and door from this car? Has the car had a front clip replacement?
What is the fit of the hood like? Is it tight in the hood surround opening too?
I really think the answer is in spreading the fenders even further than you did.
NOT an easy solution to this I'm afraid.
Regards,
Alan

Very little material to machine before the ends of the door disappears…. not nearly enough for what you'll need.


You need about 3/16" minimum clearance for the grill and door on each side with the trim installed.






I don't know what year door and trim you're using. 68 trim didn't have a screw bur did fold over the end of the door so you'll need to allow for that too.


You'll need to allow for the fender trim too.

 

Alan,
As usual, thanks for the great pics. I should have put the hood on for the first pictures. I put it on and took new ones. To answer your questions:
1. the hood fit is decent. It's a little tight at the front, but nothing I can't fix.
2. Yes, I replaced the front clip with a used aftermarket one. I have a couple other fitment issues (the main one being that there is no way the front grill brackets are going to fit without cutting and re-welding).
3. No, the door isn't original to the car. It's a '69+ with the screws at the ends (though one hole is messed up).
I don't think I can spread it any farther than I already have. I cracked the place where the rear cross-piece meets the inside rail on both sides the first time by going as far as I dared. It also messed up my door gaps, which I have many hours in getting perfect. Now the clip's rear "points" stick out farther than the doors (which will be loads of fun to fix...). So, un-bonding the whole thing again isn't an attractive option.
I agree with oldgto that the wiper door portion is just too long. The gap is nice and even along the hood and grille, but the door part just looks too long. But I don't think there's enough meat to mill the edge down enough.
Crazy idea: what if I cut the fiberglass along the line in the last pic and angle it slightly to more closely match the door? Just spitballing...

 

Hi EM,
Here are some dimensions for you to consider.
What are your numbers like?
I'll be very interested in hearing what DUB'S thoughts on the situation are!!!!
Regards,
Alan

Forward.




As far back as I can measure because the tape begins to hit the center of windshield.

 

Alan,
Looks like mine is a little tight. Grrrr...
Also, a little dirty.

 

Hi EM,
It looks like the dimensions indicate the opening in the hood surround is too narrow and the gaps to the grill and door demonstrate that.
Since it seems DUB hasn't seen your thread I'd send him a PM and ask him to please take a look so he can offer you some suggestions!
The operating wiper door is worth the effort.
Regards,
Alan

 

It's definitely worth it. I have a long hood, too, and put it on this weekend just to see what it looked like. Nope. Short is the way to go. I'm going to the effort to go back to the correct '68 back-up lights (not to mention the whole front clip) so it would be a shame to skimp out on the wiper door.
As a side note, the long hood's gap seemed ok, but that doesn't mean a whole lot since the only place I have a problem is the rearmost few inches, where the long hood was flared enough that the issue couldn't be seen.

 

Hi EM,
I think DUB's going to want to see some 'wider' photos of the entire rear of the surround on each side and the fit at the doors that you described.
Regards,
Alan

He's 'pretty' good at this so I'd think he can help you. It might be very ugly again though before it's all finally back together.

 

Had same issue as yours, WAY too tight a fit after a new front clip. Car was already painted....thats the way I bought it.

So, borrowed a belt sander, took off about 1/8 off each side. I did the trim too which meant losing the folded ends on my '71. Came out perfect! Took a while, but it lines up nice now. Check all the screw holes too..

BTW, I would love to swap to the long hood (go to L88) and ditch all that vacuum crap!

 

Let me know if you need me.

DUB