hood alignment-major problem
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 8,117
Likes: 104
From: charlotte north carolina
hood alignment-major problem
i'm rebuliding a 70 vert. finally reached the point of setting the hood in place. there's an 1 1/2" gap between the hood and the vent grill that's in front of the wiper door! the holes for the hood latches also are out of position by the same amount, so i'm sure that it's the hood that's out of position. didn't expect this!
it's a total front end rebuild. frame extensions, front cross member, and rad support all seem to line up. the front sway bar sits ok, and the little depression in the dewitts radiator outlet tube has about 1/2" clearance as it should. the inner fenders and the reinforceing brackets for the hood hinges also seem to be ok.
i know the frame is not from a 70, probably a 67- it doesn't have the inner bracing at the rear kick-up like the newer frames, but evererything seemed to line up ok.
i'm at a total loss to figure this out.
any ideas?
jeff
it's a total front end rebuild. frame extensions, front cross member, and rad support all seem to line up. the front sway bar sits ok, and the little depression in the dewitts radiator outlet tube has about 1/2" clearance as it should. the inner fenders and the reinforceing brackets for the hood hinges also seem to be ok.
i know the frame is not from a 70, probably a 67- it doesn't have the inner bracing at the rear kick-up like the newer frames, but evererything seemed to line up ok.
i'm at a total loss to figure this out.
any ideas?
jeff
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 65,492
Likes: 230
From: Orange Park Florida
The hood length from the peak of the nose to the center of the rear should be dam close to 55 inches....certainly within that 1.5 inches you speak of....
how does the front peak/edge line up?? if you set it in the opening without any bolts and latches, what does it look like???
that 1.5 inches says the mounting of the hood hinges could be off, either on the car/fenders themselves....or the hood itself...you sure you got that all squared away, and not into some other holes drilled by who knows who/what???
how does the front peak/edge line up?? if you set it in the opening without any bolts and latches, what does it look like???
that 1.5 inches says the mounting of the hood hinges could be off, either on the car/fenders themselves....or the hood itself...you sure you got that all squared away, and not into some other holes drilled by who knows who/what???
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 8,117
Likes: 104
From: charlotte north carolina
mrvette
thanks for the reply. the car doesn't have a surround or outer fenders as yet. i was told to fit the hood and then the rest of the clip. none of the frame or extension parts have been drilled or modified as far as i canl determine. the hood measures 55 1/4" from nose to rear edge. it lines up fine from side to side. the stupid thing is just too far forward! can't figure out how it could be. as i posted, everything looks as it should, extensions, cross member, rad support, a/c lines, hoses. even the spal fans are within 1/2" of the upper arm shaft-even if i moved the rad and fender braces rearward, it would make contact. i thought that the frames were different in where the extensions attach, but the sway bar attaches to the extension, and it connects properly to the sway arm bolt. do the extensions differ from year to year?
it's making me crazy-it looks ok, but the hood just doesn't fit!
jeff
thanks for the reply. the car doesn't have a surround or outer fenders as yet. i was told to fit the hood and then the rest of the clip. none of the frame or extension parts have been drilled or modified as far as i canl determine. the hood measures 55 1/4" from nose to rear edge. it lines up fine from side to side. the stupid thing is just too far forward! can't figure out how it could be. as i posted, everything looks as it should, extensions, cross member, rad support, a/c lines, hoses. even the spal fans are within 1/2" of the upper arm shaft-even if i moved the rad and fender braces rearward, it would make contact. i thought that the frames were different in where the extensions attach, but the sway bar attaches to the extension, and it connects properly to the sway arm bolt. do the extensions differ from year to year?
it's making me crazy-it looks ok, but the hood just doesn't fit!
jeff
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 8,918
Likes: 27
From: New Hill NC
mrvette
thanks for the reply. the car doesn't have a surround or outer fenders as yet. i was told to fit the hood and then the rest of the clip. none of the frame or extension parts have been drilled or modified as far as i canl determine. the hood measures 55 1/4" from nose to rear edge. it lines up fine from side to side. the stupid thing is just too far forward! can't figure out how it could be. as i posted, everything looks as it should, extensions, cross member, rad support, a/c lines, hoses. even the spal fans are within 1/2" of the upper arm shaft-even if i moved the rad and fender braces rearward, it would make contact. i thought that the frames were different in where the extensions attach, but the sway bar attaches to the extension, and it connects properly to the sway arm bolt. do the extensions differ from year to year?
it's making me crazy-it looks ok, but the hood just doesn't fit!
jeff
thanks for the reply. the car doesn't have a surround or outer fenders as yet. i was told to fit the hood and then the rest of the clip. none of the frame or extension parts have been drilled or modified as far as i canl determine. the hood measures 55 1/4" from nose to rear edge. it lines up fine from side to side. the stupid thing is just too far forward! can't figure out how it could be. as i posted, everything looks as it should, extensions, cross member, rad support, a/c lines, hoses. even the spal fans are within 1/2" of the upper arm shaft-even if i moved the rad and fender braces rearward, it would make contact. i thought that the frames were different in where the extensions attach, but the sway bar attaches to the extension, and it connects properly to the sway arm bolt. do the extensions differ from year to year?
it's making me crazy-it looks ok, but the hood just doesn't fit!
jeff
Pictues would be helpfull, but I can tell you there is a bunch of difference in a 70 and a 67 frame at the front frame horns.
Heel & Toe
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 15
Likes: 0
From: Iselin NJ
It's always best to dry fit everything before you glue anything. after you get the frame checked out, i'd put on the surround, bolt on the hood, fenders clamp or screw them just to make sure that everything looks good. then you can make your adjustments. check your gaps. if you need to you can shape them alittle (the good thing about fiberglass). make sure that you get the hood to latch with good gaps. once your satisfied, strip it all back down and glue it up.
good luck with it!
good luck with it!
