Midyear Hood alignment: a raised front

[JLMICCA]

I have a '63 convertible with a hood alignment issue. The front edge of the hood sits about 1/4 inch above the headlight panel. There are no shims to remove under the hinges. The Corvette assembly manual mentions adding shims to raise the front of the hood but no incite on how to lower a high hood at the front. Is this a sign of accident damage? Can it be adjusted in any way? I mentioned it to a Corvette mechanic who said his only repair was to cut the hinges and reweld them shorter. It would see this would cause interference issues when closed. Any help out there?

 

[f2023]

I have a '63 convertible with a hood alignment issue. The front edge of the hood sits about 1/4 inch above the headlight panel. There are no shims to remove under the hinges. The Corvette assembly manual mentions adding shims to raise the front of the hood but no incite on how to lower a high hood at the front. Is this a sign of accident damage? Can it be adjusted in any way? I mentioned it to a Corvette mechanic who said his only repair was to cut the hinges and reweld them shorter. It would see this would cause interference issues when closed. Any help out there?

If I remember correctly, when I put my new hood on, I raised the back (by turning the bolts) enough that it would still catch and it brought the front down.
Ted

 

[magicv8]

I believe the "correct" solution is to raise the fenders by prying them from the inner fender panels and then rebonding them.

This "incorrect" fix has worked for me in the past:

To lower the hinges and remove the hood rattle of worn out hinge spring washers:

1 Obtain a small round file, (2) 0.25 diameter bolts, and (2) nylok nuts, (4) plastic flanged bushings used in c2 accelerator linkage between linkage rod and rubber grommet. The bushings have a 0.25inch inside diameter.

2 drill out the hinge pins with a drill the same diameter as the pin.

3 Use a small round file to enlarge the hole to accept plastic bushings while lowering the hole center in the bottom half of the hinge and raising the hole center in the top half of the hinge.

4 Install plastic bushings in both halves so the bushing flanges are against each other, trapped between the hinge halves.

5 Install the bolts through the bushings with the nylok nuts on the outside of the hinges and tighten just enough to remove all end play.

PS: As a side effect, any hood vibration due to worn hood hinge spring washers will be gone.

Results:

 

[JohnZ]

If it isn't more than about 1/4" high at the front, you can also shim under the REAR hinge-to-inner fender bolt on both sides; that will tip the hinge point down, and bring the front edge of the hood down.

 

[JLMICCA]

Hood Issue

Wow, the "correct" solution would be alot of work. Can it be that the car is that far off from the factory? Looking at your hinge photo, I see the bolts for the top and bottom hinge halves do not overlap. I wonder if slicing the bottom of the hinge below the pivot point with a cut off wheel and then welding it back together would have the same effect. At least these hinges are not too expensive!

I believe the "correct" solution is to raise the fenders by prying them from the inner fender panels and then rebonding them.

This "incorrect" fix has worked for me in the past:

To lower the hinges and remove the hood rattle of worn out hinge spring washers:

1 Obtain a small round file, (2) 0.25 diameter bolts, and (2) nylok nuts, (4) plastic flanged bushings used in c2 accelerator linkage between linkage rod and rubber grommet. The bushings have a 0.25inch inside diameter.

2 drill out the hinge pins with a drill the same diameter as the pin.

3 Use a small round file to enlarge the hole to accept plastic bushings while lowering the hole center in the bottom half of the hinge and raising the hole center in the top half of the hinge.

4 Install plastic bushings in both halves so the bushing flanges are against each other, trapped between the hinge halves.

5 Install the bolts through the bushings with the nylok nuts on the outside of the hinges and tighten just enough to remove all end play.

PS: As a side effect, any hood vibration due to worn hood hinge spring washers will be gone.

Results: