Hood alignment woes

Discussion in '1955-1959' started by tunacan, Oct 7, 2011.

  1. tunacan

    tunacan Member

    Joined:
    Mar 9, 2007
    Messages:
    13
    Please help me understand why older hoods ( in my case a 59 fleetside) pop up in the back when closing and will not seat properly. I thought it was slop in the hinges or weak springs, but new ones nor any amount of adjustment seems to cure it. Is there a simple solution or an alternative?
    Thank you.
     
  2. Dillon Hill

    Dillon Hill Member

    Joined:
    Feb 10, 2011
    Messages:
    49
    I have the same problem with my 59. Glad to hear that it's not the hinges at least, I was considering new ones also. I have discovered that pushing the hood towards the windshield , when down, makes the back draw down tight.(?) Maybe moving the hinges foward? Some one must know.
     
  3. FLORIDA APACHE

    FLORIDA APACHE Member

    Joined:
    Sep 25, 2011
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    17
    Location:
    OCALA, FLORIDA
    hood adjustment

    My 58 had the same problem, new hinges and new springs cured it. I do remember someone telling me that sometimes the holes in the hinges need to be elongated more than they are to get a proper fit. Good luck.
     
  4. TruckPoor

    TruckPoor Member

    Joined:
    Nov 16, 2010
    Messages:
    40
    My 59 came with new hinges, but it still wouldent come down on the back on the drivers side. I finally put a shim under the front of the hinge that attaches to the hood, and that brought it down. Chris
     
  5. Bill Hanlon

    Bill Hanlon Member

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    Location:
    Fredericksburg TX
    The way you solve this problem on the '57 (and earlier - I know this is a different method of attaching the hinge than 58/59), is by shimming the bottom point that the hinge attaches to the firewall out away from the firewall. Mine took about 1/4" of shim on each side. I used old U shaped front end alignment shims. Sounds like Chris' solution would do the same.
     
  6. tunacan

    tunacan Member

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    Mar 9, 2007
    Messages:
    13
    Thanks for the suggestions. Off we go a-shimming!
     

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