56 Hood Adjustments
Posting Guru
Joined: Jan 2002
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From: Midland, Texas
"...to get nice alignment with the fenders and cab....", ranks right up there with achieving world peace. Follow your shop manual instructions, then, with great good nature, accept the fact that this element of automotive engineering design won no awards and will probably never fit just right. best. himmelberg 
Posting Guru
Joined: May 2002
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From: Northwest Fl
I see you have added a front clip so you will likely have to adjust the front radiator support. The original frame and mounts had a variety of shims for this purpose and it is easy to forget this adjustment when tweaking for final fit. Mine drove me crazy for a few days until I finally got it at the right height. I finally had to lower my front mount 3/4" from where I thought it should have been.
If you having too large or too small of a gap at the rear of the hood next to the cowl or if the hood, at the corners, is not even, a height adjustment will likely help.
This is usually not an issue if you keep the original frame/front end intact.
If you having too large or too small of a gap at the rear of the hood next to the cowl or if the hood, at the corners, is not even, a height adjustment will likely help.
This is usually not an issue if you keep the original frame/front end intact.
Last edited by Huntsman; Nov 11, 2004 at 06:55 AM.
Thread Starter
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 1,674
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From: Rowland Heights
This is a great place to pick brains. Volare clip. I will check and try your suggestions. You mentioned the cowl. On one side it’s too close and the other too wide. At the front of the fenders the corners of the hood do not match the corners of the fenders.
Thanks!
Ed
Thanks!
Ed
Posting Guru
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 1,495
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From: Northwest Fl
If the gap at the cowl is uneven from side to side, my first adjustment would be to shift the front radiator support to the right or left to even the gap and then adjust the same radiator support up or down to even out the gap at the sides of the hood and cowl. Once your seem is even all around, I would adjust the fenders to the hood.
Shifting the radiator support side-to-side takes a very slight adjustment; 1/8" makes a big difference.
Shifting the radiator support side-to-side takes a very slight adjustment; 1/8" makes a big difference.
Last edited by Huntsman; Nov 11, 2004 at 10:14 AM.
New User
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 9
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From: Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
If you are having a real problem with the hood rising up too far at the rear as many do, you could use a new set of hinges. I have some new old stock for 56 as well as the 53-55 hinges, and reproductions as well.
Steve
Steve
