1979 Hood alignment side to side

[chrismoore701]

I installed my hood last week got installed with decent gaps. I installed all the rubber bumpers. I have been working on the front. Opened and closed hood several times and it is now offset to passenger side by about a good 1/8" or better. I pushed it over the best I could and it looked great when I first installed it but has now shifted back. Would shims work here? Thoughts?

[Pontiac1976]

Your going to have to shim the fenders, or take some out @ back side mounting area.

[chrismoore701]

I started with the doors and then the fenders they are tight to the door. And the cab. The hood then attaches to the fender. So if I shim the fender the hood will move with it. The hood is off to the fender

[Pontiac1976]

Chaplain there is three spots for shims fenders bottom mount near lower part of door, top side mount at middle of the door back side of fender, top of the rear side at the cowl near door. Do not for get there is little play in the rad support if needed some time.
Same goes for the inner fenders. So leave inner fenders snug only @ fire wall & bottom rad support till you have it the "way you need it or want it".
Most time the bottom side mount shims are just for the door side alignment.

[snaptoo]

I ran into this same problem on my 80 c10 and finally gave up on the import replacement fender that was the problem !

[chrismoore701]

I have an aftermarket fender on passenger side. I will play with it a little more

[chrismoore701]

I have the fender shimmed up as mentioned. Just wondering if a way to rig it up with while under the passenger hinge on the fender. I know it is not the right way but I need to push it closer to the driver side 1/8"

[Pontiac1976]

You have to think a little out side the box with the after market stuff you may need to shif rad support.

[chrismoore701]

But the hood is even all the way down the fender. If the gap was wider near the windshield I would agree with core support being out of square

[snaptoo]

Even gap all the way
, just too wide ! Sounds familiar as mine was pass. side also ! Like the bend wasn't tight enough ? I'm going after a genie GM used fender !

[chrismoore701]

Everything is painted. New fender is not an option. I did a test fit when In Primer and lined up good. Had it lined up good when installed. But a couple open and closings, it shifted back

[ray_mcavoy]

Originally Posted by chrismoore701

I have the fender shimmed up as mentioned. Just wondering if a way to rig it up with while under the passenger hinge on the fender. I know it is not the right way but I need to push it closer to the driver side 1/8"

Yes, placing some shims between the passenger side hood hinge & fender might do the trick. It's not a typical place to need shims, but as Pontiac1976 said, sometimes you have to think outside the box when dealing with aftermarket stuff.

Shims in that location will shift the hood hinge away from the fender, which should in theory move the hood over. However, the hood hinges (even when in good condition) often have a little bit of side-to-side movement. So the hood might not follow.

You might want to check the alignment of your hood latch / striker plate first. I'm thinking if the latch is a little too far over to the passenger side (or the striker on the bottom of the hood is a little to far over to the driver side), it could be pulling the hood over to the passenger side when it's closed.

[snaptoo]

Have you tried moving the latch plate ?

[Pontiac1976]

Well when painted option are less. You could open the hood gap on both side a little so there even ( 73-80 hoods hinges do move a bit more on opening closing more so if the ground is not level so if you have your gap opening to close or you put a little to much pressure side ways closing the hood your might chip paint later time).
It's hard to see but look like the upper edge corner is could have been massaged a bit closer the cab lines on prep then shim out there. From factory the door gap to the fenders came a tad higher ( or stuck out 5/16 to 1/8 passed the door front edge side ).
AS said try the latch first shim @ fender

[chrismoore701]

Originally Posted by ray_mcavoy

Yes, placing some shims between the passenger side hood hinge & fender might do the trick. It's not a typical place to need shims, but as Pontiac1976 said, sometimes you have to think outside the box when dealing with aftermarket stuff.

Shims in that location will shift the hood hinge away from the fender, which should in theory move the hood over. However, the hood hinges (even when in good condition) often have a little bit of side-to-side movement. So the hood might not follow.

You might want to check the alignment of your hood latch / striker plate first. I'm thinking if the latch is a little too far over to the passenger side (or the striker on the bottom of the hood is a little to far over to the driver side), it could be pulling the hood over to the passenger side when it's closed.

That could deffinetly be the issue. That is something I did after the original alignment. I will try to push it ove and see what that does. I have family coming in from out of town today so will update when I can. Thanks for the thoughts

[chrismoore701]

I got it pretty close. The dog house was off by almost 3/4" side to side. Found this out after I put the bumper on. Not sure if I moved it but I tried to twist the cab. All in all the dog house might be off less than 1/4" and the hood is less then 1/8". So I am happy with this. Moral of the story is. Be sure the measure the dog house side to side on the frame before tightening down. It was still loose. But all the panels were tight. Cab to fender. Fender to core. And inner fender to fender. Made it real tuff to shift things around. Especially by myself

[phillipm]

Originally Posted by chrismoore701

I got it pretty close. The dog house was off by almost 3/4" side to side. Found this out after I put the bumper on. Not sure if I moved it but I tried to twist the cab. All in all the dog house might be off less than 1/4" and the hood is less then 1/8". So I am happy with this. Moral of the story is. Be sure the measure the dog house side to side on the frame before tightening down. It was still loose. But all the panels were tight. Cab to fender. Fender to core. And inner fender to fender. Made it real tuff to shift things around. Especially by myself

Can you explain more about what you actually moved? Or like a step by step? You mention a dog house but I've seen people refer to that as different amount of pieces. I've currently got a similar situation. Fenders fit and the gaps are straight but the gap on the pass side of the hood to fender is way too big. About triple what my driver's side is. Thanks!

[chrismoore701]

Ended up the cab was out of alignment. Adjust that side to side centered on the frame. Then adjust the fender gaps and alignment Then the hood should fit tight.

[chrismoore701]

Originally Posted by phillipm

Can you explain more about what you actually moved? Or like a step by step? You mention a dog house but I've seen people refer to that as different amount of pieces. I've currently got a similar situation. Fenders fit and the gaps are straight but the gap on the pass side of the hood to fender is way too big. About triple what my driver's side is. Thanks!

Are you building your truck? Or just putting on a new hood. Why is your hood off?

[bigblock73]

Easy thing to check or test...but check to make sure the hinge at the hood is not bound up, pulling the hood one way or the other. You would be surprised at what little amount of fine tuning can do for panel alignment.

[phillipm]

Originally Posted by chrismoore701

Are you building your truck? Or just putting on a new hood. Why is your hood off?

Yes just a fresh build but didn't have the body off he frame. Here it is. http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=705252

I've got a large gap (5/8)" on my pass side and a nice 1/4" gap on the drvr side. Gaps are nice and straight like you mentioned.

[chrismoore701]

Double check that the c ab is centered. then loosen the hinges just a little from the hood, not the fenders. and try to shove it to one side. be sure the hinges are snug to the hood, but not tight. see if that works

[Jaysonb]

There are alignment holes in the cab, and in the frame. They are right next to the mounts, a long 1/2" drive extension works pretty well to line things up.