Just commentary...I thought it was only me....my hood, as with so many others, just doesn't seem to want to "sit", it's about a .5" high on the cowl end and then is ok buy the time it meets the front clip.
I went to E-bay to check out other 72 Chevelle's and was amazed that almost all of them when you look at the pics have the same issue!!! Even some of the "show" cars have this issue...so I am not feeling it's only me.

There's a great post by I forget his name on the sitet that explains how to set the hood. Mnay of the techniques I have tried, but haven't worked...I'll try again.

I've seen plenty with them aligned. Unfortuantely, mine is not one of them.

I swear my hinges are just worn out as nothing seems to work. I did put a washer between the hood and the hinge at the front and that helped a bit.

The hood sits swings over too close to one site when I open it, and seems crooked. Looking at the top (nearest the windshield) of the hot and comparing it to the fenders, one edge is below the fender while the other is above.

I keep trying, but only keep screwing it up.

I also believe that with my Perf RMP, carb, and cowl induction type air filter, the combo sits to high, as the rubber around the air filter gets pretty squished (judging by the marks on the hood)

I am also going go try the washer trick and see how it does. But I have also fiddled endlessly with the hinges and seems to only get worse. But again, I look closely on e-Bay and so many cars have the same issue it's almost comical!

There is a trick to hood alignment. The reason they all sit high in the rear in because it is nearly impossiblt to get the hinges oriented just right in the fenders. If you open the hood and loosen all the fender to hinge bolts a little bit and then push the hood open more, holding tension up as an assistant tightens the bolts, everything will fall into place.

I'll try it this weekend and let you know how I did!! Thanks

rotate the hinges towards the back of the car, in other words raise to front of the hinge and lower the back, that should take care of the height problem, you will have to slide the hood forward at the hood to hinge mounting surface. Sometimes the hinges are worn beyond adjustment, if the adjustment doesn't cure the problem then they are probably worn out. I've tightened many of these hinges by removing them from the car, heat the peened over end of each pivot rivet cherry red with an oxy acetylene torch and using a hammer and vise as an anvil beat the peened surface to mushroom the pivot. Allow it to cool naturally and blast, paint, and lube. Works usually

Thanks guys for all of the input...I'll have an interesting weekend!!

"Basics of Basics" Panel alignment (click here) (http://www.camaros.net/forum/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=3;t=002285)

I am telling you guys I have done a ZILLION similar cars, I have NEVER, EVER had one that you couldn't align near perfect with the orginal hinges.

Rad support is square with the cowl, frame isn't bent (and even if it was there is SO much movement in hinges you can overcome it) There is NO REASON WHAT SO EVER why that hood can't come down in the back.

Loosen the hinge to fender bolts and have some one PUSH the hood OPEN, all the way, have them hold the hood as far OPEN as they can as you tighten the bolts. If you can even close the hood without it hitting the cowl to soon, there is something wrong, SOMETHING else wrong. The hood should be TOO LOW if you do this, a LOT too low.

Thanks martinsr, you're the individual I refer to in my original post. It's too bad you live in SF, I'd drive over to your house! any chances of coming to Massachusetts?

Again, I will go back to the drawing borad this weekend and give it a shot again. Interestingly, I did somewhat try your technique of loosening the fender bolts, and having my son hold up the hood, but if I recall, it didn't work. Do you loosen the bolts almost completely such that the hinge can pivot freely between the two bolts..or should it be snug? I would suspect you want the front of the hinge to pivot up, and the back will go down?

try taking the cowl seal out :rolleyes: if it will adjust to the right height then it is the seal. the new seals seem to be harder than the originals and keeps the rear of the hood up.

Almost every chevelle I've seen that had cowl seal replaced sticks up at rear of hood!!! Mike

Go figure, I did replace the cowl seal, but I could swear it isn't touching...though it probably is!!

As noted on e-bay, and not to pick on this guys car, but look at the cowl end on this beautiful 454....almost every other one on the site show this!

oops..just learning how to insert URL's

web page (http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=6164&item=2489064393&rd=1)

You guys may be right on the seal issue. If it is a repro seal that is too thick and too hard, it could hold the rear of the hood up. I personally have never had the problem. The hood on my Skylark is totally flush with the fenders as have all the others I have done. I have however never changed the seal, they always seem to be pretty nice and being they don't really "seal" anything to speak of I have never worried about changing it.

I have brand new cowl seals on both my, 68 and 71 Chevelles and the hoods fit flush with the top of the fenders. Like Brian Martin said, if you loosen the hinge to fender bolts and have someone lift the hood and then tighten the rear bolts the hood could very well drop well below the fender to the point where it hits the cowl. Even with a new seal on it. I have Soft Seal brand seals if that has something to do with it.

http://www.chevelles.com/showroom/71SSBB/100_0263.jpg

Looks like your hood is high in the back in that picture.

I just tried the lifting the hood technique for my high fit in the cowl.

I'll be darned...it worked for me. The hood's not perfect but it is a lot better.

The cowl seal keeps hot motor air from coming in your astro ventilation. Not sure what brand I have but might order the SoftSeal. Mike

Originally posted by 70isfine:
Looks like your hood is high in the back in that picture. Just trying to help the guy out. Don't need critics. Trust me the hood is as aligned as it should be. Camara angles/shadows can distort things. Why do have to explain stuff like this? :confused: :confused:

Next time I'll try to take a better picture...

71SSBB....the hood looks great!!!. If I could get mine to sit like that I 'd be very happy. I'll be out there today doing the hold the hood up technique.

Ps – how do you post an image. I’ve tried all of the UBB code buttons and nothing seems to work. Good old cut and past doesn’t work.

COWL SEAL, COWL SEAL, COWL SEAL!!!!!!!!!

Guess what, it was the cowl seal! Previuosly, I had put my hand underneath the hood a number of times to insure it cleared, and it did. But it must have got hung up in the middle where I couldn't reach it. I am definitely going to have to go to a softer seal in my case.

Thanks for all of the help guys...this forum has been incredibly helpful over the past five months as I've gotten back in to the game after a hiatus of 25 years (marriage, house, kids,you know!).

My '70 hood also sits high on the pass sidetowards the rear of the hood. Brand new GM hinges and springs, & max adjusment to get it right, however still sits high. I also put on a new repro seal afte rthe adjustments. Makes the hood sit even higher. Seal is from Metro and is way thicker and larger than the GM originals. We tried numerous times to adjust. I guess that is the way its going to be. In fact I will replace it with a GM original. Now my '69 hood - its sits perfect and the car has never been dissambled from what I can tell.

Super, have you tried to bring the hood down at the back EXACTLY as I discribe? Have you tried shimming between the hood and the hinge?

Super70, from what I have now read ovet the past weeks with this issue is that the "Softseal" brand is similar to the GM original(considered like a sponge) compared to the Metro - i.e harder rubber like I and I guess you have.

I have a Softseal on order with Classic Muscle

MARTINSR,

Have tried on several occasions to get the (original GM) hood to go further down at the rear. Got to a point where there was no more adjustment. I will attempt to re-read your basics of panel(hood) alignment and then give it another try. Unfortunately, I just had my '70 painted and would really not want to screw up the paint job. Actually, right now the hood has excellent gaps side to side all the way from front to the rear of the hood with the fenders although when the hood is raised the rear of the hood is already touching the fender and causing paint scratches on the rear of the driver-side fender. I used brand new GM hood springs and hinges.

dreilly - I contacted Metro to discuss and I was supposed to have resolved the matter. I've been too damn lazy to get contact them once again to get them to do something about it. I did not order it directly from Metro and I cannot find my receipt although I know its somewhere in that huge pile I've managed to collect during my car's complete restoration over the past ten years. I will order the SoffSeal brand. Also not really happy with the door panel rubber from Metro either - too thick on the ends and causes problems the raising the door glass. Aftermarket products just don't cut it sometimes. :mad:

There are also two rubber seals that mount on each side of the hood at the rear. Are those available from SoffSeal also?

Super 70...I don't know if Softseal makes the two rear seals. However, today I did order my new cowl seal from Classic Muscle (the Soft seal version) and they list the rear seals. They are a great group to deal with...great prices and service. Give them a call or visit their website.

Classic Muscle (http://1964-77chevelleparts.com/index.html)