Hood Mismatch
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 23,367
Likes: 1,061
From: Virginia USA
Re: Hood Mismatch (LemansBlue68)
Try loosening the front bumper suports at the frame. Then take the radiator support bolts loose where it attaches to the frame. You'll also need to take the support rod and U bracket loose at the nose. This should allow you to lift up slightly on the nose. With the hood in place (not bolted on, just laying in place) you should be lift the nose to the point that the forward edge of the hood is flush with the surround. You may have to put some shims under the hood along the edge to lift the hood so that it's level with the rear 3/4 of the fenders. It's important to not firmly attach the hood so that you can move it around a bit as you make your adjustments. You'll find that the front end of these cars is very flimsy when all of these supports are loose.
Lift up on the nose until the surround and hood are flush and then have a friend insert the correct thickness of shims between the radiator support and the frame to hold everything in alignment. Now tighten down all of the other supports in place now that everything is aligned. The shimming of the two attachment points between the frame and the radiator support are the KEY adjustments here!!
I went through this with my '68 just recently and did just what I described above. Everything lines up beautifully now. If you have any questions send me an e-mail and I'll tell you how to get in touch with me directly and we can discuss. I don't think there's anything wrong with your front clip or hood, they just need adjusting. :thumbs:
Lift up on the nose until the surround and hood are flush and then have a friend insert the correct thickness of shims between the radiator support and the frame to hold everything in alignment. Now tighten down all of the other supports in place now that everything is aligned. The shimming of the two attachment points between the frame and the radiator support are the KEY adjustments here!!
I went through this with my '68 just recently and did just what I described above. Everything lines up beautifully now. If you have any questions send me an e-mail and I'll tell you how to get in touch with me directly and we can discuss. I don't think there's anything wrong with your front clip or hood, they just need adjusting. :thumbs:
My hood is like yours also at the front but only after I changed out the radiator and radiator support. I have not done anything to it yet because of the time involved to loosen everything up. I'll do it when I remove the front bumper to have it rechromed.....someday.
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 51
Likes: 0
From: Houston Texas
Re: Hood Mismatch (LemansBlue68)
I did as you said and loosened everything up. I took out the grills and the front bumper. There is an awful lot of fiberglass bondo on the inside of the nose which makes me think it was hit at some time. As I loosened it up all sorts of big square nuts used as shims fell out.
By raising and shimming under the bumper support, I was able to eliminate the center gap and get the gap at the hood front corners down to 1/16" which is acceptable for this driver car.
Color me happy!
By raising and shimming under the bumper support, I was able to eliminate the center gap and get the gap at the hood front corners down to 1/16" which is acceptable for this driver car.
Color me happy!
Intermediate
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 39
Likes: 0
From: newbern tn
Re: Hood Mismatch (triadecho)
my 69 is the same way on one side I have traced it down to the inner fender being bonded up to high in the fender well wich will cause misalinement of the hood because thats where the support bracket mounts for the hinges, You can also check the radiator support sometimes these set too high on one side and when you close the hood the hood hits it and causes it to rise on one side
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 51
Likes: 0
From: Houston Texas
Re: Hood Mismatch (mikesfst69)
My inner fender is not only bonded with gobs of bondo, it is pop riveted to the fenders making the thing like one piece. There is no way to make the hood corners match perfectly. There has also been some glass repair down around the Rf turn light. I feel other than a new front end may be in the cards some day.
"Pretty good' will have to do for now.
[Modified by triadecho, 5:35 PM 4/15/2004]
"Pretty good' will have to do for now.
[Modified by triadecho, 5:35 PM 4/15/2004]
