[t10648]

Just got a new hood for my 69 SS and put it on this weekend. It bolted on fine and the adjustment front to rear went perfect. I"ve got even spacing all around the hood. After putting the hood down the rear of the hood is about an inch to high on both sides. I've tried to adjust the hinges that attach to the inner fneder and they won't take any more adjustment up and down. Did I do something wrong. Where do I go from here? Thanks for your help

 

[ToocoolZ28]

Loosen all 4 hinge to fender bolts while someone else pushes up on the front of the hood, then retighten after it moves. This will also change the front to back fit.
Ron

 

[t10648]

Thanks alot, I'll give it a try when I get home..

 

[monte7ocar]

Ron what do you if that doesn't help?

 

[Raven1]

Ron what do you if that doesn't help?

I'm not Ron but it should help and I've been using the same technique in these cars as well as collision work for 25 years. It's standard practice. You can't just lower the hinges. The geometry has to be changed with the procedure described to align a hood. No modifications were made from the factory to achieve proper alignment and if it is needed something is amiss.

 

[ToocoolZ28]

I'm not Ron but it should help and I've been using the same technique in these cars as well as collision work for 25 years. It's standard practice. You can't just lower the hinges. The geometry has to be changed with the procedure described to align a hood. No modifications were made from the factory to achieve proper alignment and if it is needed something is amiss.

What he said ^
Ron

 

[cromedss]

Questions....Could you also put the hood in place with all bolts finger tight to get the hood where you want it? This would be without the wheel wells in so you can get to the hood through the fender to lift up if necessary?

 

[ToocoolZ28]

Questions....Could you also put the hood in place with all bolts finger tight to get the hood where you want it? This would be without the wheel wells in so you can get to the hood through the fender to lift up if necessary?

Maybe, buts that just complicating a job that really isnt that hard. With the tension from the springs it may not even work.
Ron

 

[WillW23]

Just tighten the front bolts snug, and adjust the hood back or forward, with the rear bolt loosened, then tighten the rear bolts and see where you are at. Also make sure you oil all 14 rivets in the hinge set, dry hinges could make the hood stay up in the back.

Willie

 

[71 chevlle]

I recently had issues with the same problem your describing.Originally on my car the bolts that held the hood to the hinge had 1 inch diameter washers.The bolts that held the hinge to the fender had 1 1/4 inch diameter washers.I just swaped the two different sized washered bolts locations and this gave me enough travel for hood to sit where it needed to be.I'm guesing the repo fender thread locations were a little off.The larger diameter washers interfered with the contour of the hinge to allow them to drop where they needed to be.Hope this helps it did for me!!!

 

[monte7ocar]

I'm at the limit on adjusting the hood at the fender. I got about 1/4" higher then the rear of the fender. I have reproduction hood hinges with stock springs.

 

[edgewoodrx]

Rule of thumb: To lower the back of the hood, raise the front of the hinge and/or lower the back part of hinge. As explained in one of the above posts, loosen the hinges at the fender, pick up on the front of the hood, and retighten. Sounds backasswards, but it has to do with the hinge geometry.

If the back of the hood is still too high after being maxed out you can add shims or washers at the front hood bolt between the hinge and hood. In other words, raise the hood higher at the front bolt.

I agree that if you have to resort to all this something is tweaked beyond limits, but on these 40 year old cars, the hood alignment can be an absolute freakin' nightmare. I have had to porta power the front of the fenders apart, loosen the core support and shift left or right, add/remove the hood to fender wedge rubbers, bend the alignment/retaining pin that goes into the latch, re-arch the back of the hood in order to clear the windshield wipers.........and on and on and on. The hood issues on these cars are the worst. Good luck.

Mike

 

[mhees69]

Hey guys!! been a while since I've posted. After spending 3 days trying to align the hood on my 69 SS El Camino and putting a $350 scratch in the LF fender, I resorted to the factory assembly manual and low and behold!! there is a baseline adjustment. I set my hood up just like it said in the manual and was perfect on the very first try.:hurray:. This adjustment method takes into consideration the distance between the hood hinge and the fender since we all know its not even from left to right. try this adjustment and you might be ok. If not, its only micro adjustments from there and I'm using a/mkt hood and hinges.