Battling front guard/inner guard fit up.... Help!

[Billhilly]

Doing final (final!) panel alignment and after some help/advice.
Repro front guards/OE inners that had some rust repair done to the 'upper' mounting holes. Thought I was ready for dismantle/paint but the back edges of the front guards (see pic) ended up 'tucked in'.
Removed inner guard, and I can man handle the guard into line. As I start to fit up the inner guard, and fit the bolts it pulls back in again. Haven't fitted the one bolt at the back/bottom edge. That would only make it worse....
So any one come across this sort of deal?
Where the two upper bolts that bolt into the main guard are, there is a gap of at least 3/4". Did the factory shim this connection?? The big square hole/cab gusset was shimmed if necessary correct?
Any thoughts guys? (Oh, I did search, couldn't find anything)