Hood brace question???

[buildinga55]

I have my 48 Chevy back together now and have the hood lined up pretty well except the driver side of the hood at the cowl just above the fender where the hood is vertical is kicked out about 1/4 -3/8" only on the driver side. The passenger side is perfect. I recall when I was doing the body work on the hood that there is a brace on the back of the hood, by the cowl, that goes from side to side. The brace has a center support that bolts the two sides of the brace together. I took that off and was cleaning while preparing for paint. Is there a chance there was any kind of shim or washers under that brace on the two bolts toward the center of the hood that might make the hood peak a little in the middle that would bring the kicked out part of my hood in to the body some? I know this is hard to describe. I may have to take some pictures. I know I had the hood fitting better than this before I painted it. It just seems like if the center brace was shimmed on the inner bolts near the center of the hood, it would bring the sides of the hood in and closer to the body. Anyone dealt with this?