So still trudging along with my project, got all the fiberglass repairs done, the car sanded and in initial primer and went to put my hood on to check alignments and didn't like the way the front of the hood was sitting a 1/4" high in the center and 5/16" high on both lower corners. the previous owner didn't car but I kinda do, so I did some forum searching and read about how the hood fit and finish was never great on C3's and most hood sit high or low and you have to live with it or the the possibility of shims being under my hinges (and there were none) or my nose drooping (wasn't) or the bonding strip for the headlight support was off or bad (its not) or my radiator core support may be low (its not) etc. I did read about the center support post and I remembered it was bent and I removed it 2 years ago to straighten it. At that time I decided to remove the welded washer end at the bottom in favor of a threaded 3" extension that I could put threw the existing 1/4" hole on the center of the core support for better attachment. after investigating I found I had tightened the nut to tight pulling the center of the nose down. So I removed the rod and put a nut on both sides of the threaded rod going threw the core support and used the top nut as a jacking nut and was able to bring the center of my nose to just shy of 1/8" of the hood top, then put the lock nut on the other side of the core support. Next I found a thread that mentioned cutting m the hinges to drop the corners or putting a shim under the back edge of the lower hinge to pivot the hood down in the front, both sound idea's. I was able to score 2 brand new sets of hinges from John (govettego) he wanted $25 a pair but he threw in the second set for good measure for free in case I messed up the first set...Awesome guy! So I took a light .1875" - heavy 1/8" out of the hood side of the hinge ,right were the metal starts to slope to the pin area (at the notch) tig welded it up and tried them out. and like magic my corners are a lot better not perfect but I can live with them, funny now the center of the nose is higher then the hood so I have to back off my jacking nut and pull the center down a pinch. I still have to align the hood a little and play with the gaps too. Since I found no threads of anyone doing this I figured I'd take pics and pass it on in case someone else needs inspiration.

Paul

original hood as it sat, high on the front edge's.

cut line

welded back up

passenger side

passenger side

drivers side

passenger side front view

looking from the passenger side across the hood to the center

looking from the center nose to the drivers side corner.

front view

 

impressive welds you did!!!!!! Great idea on cutting the correct angle into the hinges!!

 

Thanks Roger, but actually I didn't mess with the angle at all (at least not on purpose) by using the section of the hinge that I cut. I just moved the foot up. I figured if I cut to much out I could just shim it back up or to the best angle.

 

Yup. Nice job. Did that decades ago...I defy anyone to see the welds! (the only give-away was I couldn't re- zinc plate them (then). so they were aluminum painted.

The hood fits PERFECTLY.

Then I revamped the latches and keepers and re-bumpered the hood spacers as needed...just as they did at the factory. (they were basically placed 'as-needed'.)

GREAT FEELING HUH!

nice!

Unkahal

 

Very nice job of solving that one.
This will come in handy soon when I match up an aftermarket Stinger hood to my present project. The way it sits now the front is pretty high up while the rest is fine. I have seen where others have had to cut the hood top layer from the bottom layer, shave it and rebond it.
I like your approach.
I could always powder coat the hinges after welding them.
Thanks

 

Thanks, I'm just going to paint them.

 

yep, slice and lower, sometimes it is the only option left.

 

NEGATIVE shims, with metal glue! I had absolutely no binding problems with mine....got it all to line up with a 1/16th tolerance....if only the fiberglass was this accurate!

Unkahal