Adjust hood arc to match fender

DavidL

DavidL

Promoted Users
I’m prepping an aftermarket hood and the on the passenger side the profile of the hood doesn’t match the curve of the top of fender. It’s slightly higher than the fender in the middle and lower than the fender at the front and back (pic below). The fit on the driver side is perfect.

There is a 3/4” standing seam on the edge of the hood. Could I use a metal stretcher on that standing seam to decrease the arc of the hood? Or cut a series of vertical cuts through that seam to allow enough flex to adjust the curve then weld them up? Or any other suggestions?

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Picture of the seam:
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Shrinker/ stretcher is not going to work on that being it is two pieces. Even if it did chances are you wold make a mess of the hood. It doesn't need much just some tweaking. What I would try first is hand manipulation of the center. Meaning pushing down to try and lower it there. Sometimes you can place a 2x4 fore and aft of where its high and push by hand to lower the center. Even with the hood on the car.
As for the front and rear. At the rear I would first see if the lower hinge mount has any upward adjustability. If not I would shim it at the hood end of the hinge. The front I would first try adjusting the rubber bumpers. Adjust them up that should get you a 1/16. Secondary adjustment would be to bump the radiator support up where the rubber bumpers are. I can't remember where the rubber bumpers are on that car. It could be on the hood. or it could be on the rad support. Or both. If they are missing make sure you get them installed.
 
Should go without saying but to be sure when you push on it you want to do it at the edge or very close to it.
 
Those seem like very small dimensions. Pretty good for aftermarket hood.
The last one I put on had 1/2 inch gaps and took a lot of metalwork.

Agree you should be able to tweak it into shape.
If the hinges won't adjust where you need them you can use a carbide grinding bit and elongate the bolt holes. Can get 1/8 to 1/4 inch without compromising the strength.
 
Chris_Hamilton said:
Shrinker/ stretcher is not going to work on that being it is two pieces. Even if it did chances are you wold make a mess of the hood. It doesn't need much just some tweaking. What I would try first is hand manipulation of the center. Meaning pushing down to try and lower it there. Sometimes you can place a 2x4 fore and aft of where its high and push by hand to lower the center. Even with the hood on the car.
As for the front and rear. At the rear I would first see if the lower hinge mount has any upward adjustability. If not I would shim it at the hood end of the hinge. The front I would first try adjusting the rubber bumpers. Adjust them up that should get you a 1/16. Secondary adjustment would be to bump the radiator support up where the rubber bumpers are. I can't remember where the rubber bumpers are on that car. It could be on the hood. or it could be on the rad support. Or both. If they are missing make sure you get them installed.
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Thanks! I’ve even already got some 2x4s stashed out back.
 
I'm with Shine on this one. If you start stretching the hood, it will increase the length on that side causing misalignment at the front. It may also cause a deformed look to the hood itself.
Granted the amount of tweaking is minimal but that also means shimming the fender may prove to be the better option.
 
Don't know how you shim the middle of a fender to raise it up in the middle. Not on that car. I'm not saying beat the hell out of it. :rolleyes:Hand manipulation, Guys have been doing it for years, especially collision guys where this is an everyday occurrence. Oh and I see it worked for the OP so that's all that matters.
 
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With some of the Taiwan junk hoods, it wasn't uncommon for myself and another guy to push it down on the edge in the middle while the other pulled up on one end or the other. :) Some of it is easier to armstrong it than others.
Little car I'm working on now, the owner had taken apart the rear brace on the hood then welded it back up. (not sure why). Doing that cause the hood to open up. Tried everything to get the hood and fenders to align. Best I could get it, it was still 1/2" or more up on both sides. Only thing I could do was put a 2x4 under the hood at the rad support and take a 2x4 and a big hammer and whack it hard all along both sides at the edge.. If he had been watching when I did this he would have been horrified but it worked. Had a couple of dents which I worked out with the stud gun but that was the only way to fix it. You just have to do what you have to do sometimes.
 
texasking said:
2x4 and a big hammer is alignment step #1 on a lot of aftermarket sheetmetal :)
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Actually, I should have said step #2. Step #1 is to align it with bolt adjustment and shims best you can, but if a fender, for instance, is even with a door at the top and bottom but sticking out 1/2" in the middle, there is not much else you can do but get out the professional alignment tools.
 
Welcome to the world of aftermarket parts altho hoods and fenders are a little better now then years ago. Yep professional alignment tools..............
 
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