So the body shop did a pretty good job of alligning the hood. I wasn't extremely happy about it, but it was as good as most that I've seen.

In the wreck I had sheared the wires going into one of the headlight motors and still had to fix that. Once those were resoldered, it turns out the motor will pull the headlight down a lot futher then you would think. So that light wasn't lining up anymore. Got that alligned and the light hit the hood going up.. Argh.. Adjusted the hood and the the fenders were off. After 4 hours I got it to a point equal to the body shop (but with a working headlight).

Taking what I learned from that I spent anothe 4 hours on it today and got it 99% perfect. Few minor things that I won't say, only because I'm the only one that will notice.

Here's a front shot:

 

As a result, I now know more about alligning a hood then I ever wanted to. So if anyone out there needs any tips or tricks, post a pic of the problem and I'll try to help. There's plenty of adjustment bolts, plenty of adjustments that aren't standard adjustments, and several places that were turned into adjustments.

All of my non-standard adjustments are NOT visible. So I don't have a bunch of washers all around.

Here's a side view of the lines:

 

Don't mind the dust and fingerprints, you don't even want to know how many times I opened and closed the hood... I did make this plate to mount the stock hood spring on, so at least it popped up easily..

 

Good job its not too hard just takes time a miss aligned car sticks out like a sore thumb to me and looks terrible and unfinished. You seem to be patient and do quality work I seen your interior work most people get frustrated and start tearing **** up.

 

That looks pretty good.
I need to do something like you did with the spring so I can pop my hood myself.

 

I dont understand why they didnt make a spot for the spring.

 

They do, kind of.. The stock hood has tabs stamped into the steel. That's kind of hard to do in fiberglass. They do give you a bolt hole centered over the spring area though.

I took some 1/16" plate, drew the spring circle on it, and then drew (4) 1/2" tabs around it. Cut it all out with a dremel and smoothed it with sand paper. Drill a hole in the middle and fold the tabs up. Place the spring in the middle and then wrap the tabs around it.

Hardest part is getting the bolt through the hole and attached to the hood!

Kevin D.

 

Sounds easy thanks for the heads up im sure the ss hood is the same.

 

Since you offered , the hood is level with the headlights, but not the front nose. What would you suggest.

 

shr00m,

Is your hood functional? What did it set you back if I can ask. Did someone local have it available or was it mail order?

I really like the way it turned out for you. Rock on!

 

Congrats! Hood looks very good.

Just one question, why did you say 99% perfect? What makes it just shy of 100% perfect?

 

Cadillac,

Not functional.. yet.. Ordered it through ASCD at the top, came to about $500 after the TGO discount and shipping.

Soulbounder,

It's a 1% issue I have with the area around the headlights. You have to be right in front of it and look really hard to see it.

CoolTC,

I would start at the two bumpstops right inside the headlights. Lower them all the way and see if the hood drops any more. If it doesn't you will probably want to lower the latch. Two bigger bolts right at the latch.

If you can't lower it any more or you need to go lower, lossen the four bolts that connect the latch panel to the radiator support brace. Also lossen the lowest bolt on the triangular brace underneath right in front of the radiator. This will let you push the entire rear of the panel where the latch attaches down.

If the L-shaped fender bumps don't keep the hood lined up with the fenders, you can use the outer screw type bumpstops to keep the edges up.

It looks like you're pretty close, so just adjusting the latch like above should get you. If not, you'll have to raise the nose in the front, let me know.

Kevin D.

 

Finish off the seams on the bottom of the hood:

 

That's pretty slick.

I'll be cutting it out to make it functional and I'm adding some 'heat extracters' to the flat area by the windshield. Maybe I'll just pull the hood and smooth it all out and reshoot it.

Kevin D.

 

I angled the back half of the hood by the windshield to give it that "finished" look:

 

I think it looks fine with the seams those are expected when people go around removing seams stuff just doesnt start to look right. Thats just me I kinda like seams it goes along with door gaps and such you have to have them.

 

Seams where the two molds that make up the hood come together on the bottom

 

Thats what im talking about seams dont bother me you have them in production the stock hood also haves seams underneath where the 2 peices of metal come together.

 

I did it for strength and a smoother look...ASCD did a $hitty job imho when they glassed both together...some spots weren't even covered

 

Yeh i guess if it looks crappy i might do the same.