Adjust the cones down further, then shim the rubber blocks to raise the side of the hood to match with the fender line again.
Hood Alignment Problem
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 444
Likes: 0
From: Roselle IL
Hood Alignment Problem
I am in the process of stripping my '75 for painting this winter. Along with all the miscellaneous body work, I would like to fix the misalignent with my hood. The following pictures show this misalignment near the windshield. The rest of the hood lines up pretty well. I have adusted the hood latches to the point that the hood is about 1/8" below the fender and there is still way too much sticking up at windshield. I also tried some large spacer at the hood mid-point, hoping that may drop the edges. That was not productive either.
Does anyone know what can be done about this? It really doesn't look good.
Does anyone know what can be done about this? It really doesn't look good.
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 10,560
Likes: 439
From: Wellington, FL
St. Jude Donor '11 thru '25
Although I've heard from very reliable sources that standing a hood up on the ends can cause this, your's looks quite excessive. Have you looked at the rubber bumpers to see if they are pushing up on the ends? I had less of a problem with my '75 and a knowledge Vette fiberglass techy advised to cut the hood at the point where the ends start to rise and redo them with fiberglass to the proper angle. If there is no more alignment available and the bumpers are not the problem, I'd say the hood is warped. 
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 65,492
Likes: 230
From: Orange Park Florida
You can lower those pins, see the sort of flower petal shaped holding cup on the bottom of the spring/conical alignment pins?? that is a locking bolt/jamb nut....loosen it, turn the pin down to required height, tighten jamb nut and try it....pulls that whold latch side down/up in height, you can then get it damn close that a way...
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 444
Likes: 0
From: Roselle IL
I have adjusted the pins down to the point that the hood is 1/8" below the fender line at the point of the the pin. I have further put in a spacer that pushed the hood an 1/8" above the fender line further down from the pins. This is what you see in the picture. I have run out of apparent alignment with the pins.
Clearly there is some kind of warpage. I hate the idea of cutting it apart and redoing it; I am not the best with fiberglass.
Any other have a secret fix to this delima?
Maybe I should think a bit harder about replacing this with the L-88 hood I always wanted. I don't like the idea of taking the effort on the paint and having it look sloppy.
Thanks for your assistance.
Clearly there is some kind of warpage. I hate the idea of cutting it apart and redoing it; I am not the best with fiberglass.
Any other have a secret fix to this delima?
Maybe I should think a bit harder about replacing this with the L-88 hood I always wanted. I don't like the idea of taking the effort on the paint and having it look sloppy.
Thanks for your assistance.
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 10,560
Likes: 439
From: Wellington, FL
St. Jude Donor '11 thru '25
Cutting and refiberglassing the hood is not as big a deal as it sounds. Get yourself a how to book on fiberglassing and go to work. The worst that can happen is that you ruin the hood which is not very likely, and even if you do, you were going to replace it anyway. BTW, you are not cutting it apart. You just want to cut it diagonally several inches inward from each side where the ends starts to rise just enough to where you can push downward on the rear of the hood until it aligns properly. Then clamp it to hold it in that position and then fiberglass the area where the cuts were made. So what if you have to do it a couple of times.
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Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 2,364
Likes: 103
From: Centerville Louisiana
Although I've heard from very reliable sources that standing a hood up on the ends can cause this, your's looks quite excessive. Have you looked at the rubber bumpers to see if they are pushing up on the ends? I had less of a problem with my '75 and a knowledge Vette fiberglass techy advised to cut the hood at the point where the ends start to rise and redo them with fiberglass to the proper angle. If there is no more alignment available and the bumpers are not the problem, I'd say the hood is warped.
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 10,560
Likes: 439
From: Wellington, FL
St. Jude Donor '11 thru '25
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 444
Likes: 0
From: Roselle IL
I tried bending the ends pretty hard today. Surprisingly that took up about half of the mis-alignement. I think that I may be able to slice the support piece and pull it together, as recomended.
I may try some weight for a few week and see what that does.
I may try some weight for a few week and see what that does.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 24,125
Likes: 15
From: Columbia Missouri
I don't know if it works or not but I have heard that weight and heat will help change contours. I have a few high spots, not by much, that I am going to try this with. I'm thinking a bag of sand or something and heat the area up with a heat gun slowly.
The way I read it is you make sure you have rubber bumpers under the weight so the hood can't go too far but I want it to go a little to far and then bring it back up with rubber bumpers.
I may lay the rubber blocks on theirs sides so the hood can sag just a bit too much under the weight and heat. Then, with the rubber blocks in the proper position when the hood is closed it will sit just right.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 444
Likes: 0
From: Roselle IL
Durango,
I am curious to learn of your experience here. It would make sense that heat would soften up the resin. I am somewhat afraid of over-heating, like my acrylic bending project a few years ago.
Good luck and please post your results.
I am curious to learn of your experience here. It would make sense that heat would soften up the resin. I am somewhat afraid of over-heating, like my acrylic bending project a few years ago.
Good luck and please post your results.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 24,125
Likes: 15
From: Columbia Missouri
I will keep you posted for sure but this isn't something I'll be doing for a while. Lots to work on and adjust so I don't have to adjust or tweak the hood position again. If the hood is not positioned correctly when you do this you will end up with lines that don't match again.
