1972 Hood Adjustments to front Clip

[Christopher R.]

I finally installed the hood back on my 1972 corvette after a couple of years of frame on restoring it. I had to replace the radiator support, bumper brackets and lower crossmember due to the normal rust problems most of us have in the northeast. Anyway, i thought the car was back together properly with the shims in place and all of the gaps within tolerable limits. Then, i installed the hood and while it fits flush to wiper door and flush along the sides of the fenders, it is too high in the the front by 1/4 inch (the hood sits higher than the nose, and it wasn't like that when i started, but then again there was no weatherstrips on the radiator support either. So the hood is tight when it locks down and it sits high in the front - is that because the weather strip on top of radiator needs to compress or do i have to readjust the whole front clip. If i have to do that is is the preferable method as i don't want the paint or body panels to crack. Thanks everyone for your thoughts/opinions. All of my electrical, brakes and vacuum issues have been sorted out.

[Alan S.]

Re: 1972 Hood Adjustments to front Clip

Hi Chris,
My first suggestion would be to shim under the REAR bolts on each hood hinge (between the hinge and apron).
Because the pivot point of the hinge is forward of these bolts the shims have the effect of tipping the pivot point down and slightly lowering the front edge of the hood relative to the surround.
Maybe enough?
Good Luck!
Regards,
Alan

[Christopher R.]

Re: 1972 Hood Adjustments to front Clip

Ok. let me see this weekend if that works. Thanks for the suggestion as it makes sense because the front apron is tied into the front clip so raising the clip won't solve the issue on its own.

[Mark E.]

Re: 1972 Hood Adjustments to front Clip

Ok. let me see this weekend if that works. Thanks for the suggestion as it makes sense because the front apron is tied into the front clip so raising the clip won't solve the issue on its own.

I believe that's right. The hood hinges bolt to the inner fenders (apron), and the inner fenders are bonded to the front surround. So I would think the vertical alignment of the hood with the surround should be as it was before. Unless you messed with the inner fender to front surround bonding...

[Charles W.]

Re: 1972 Hood Adjustments to front Clip

Chris,
When I replaced the radiator air dam on my '72 the hood was proud of the nose by about 1/8 inch or more. I waited a few weeks for the dam to compress but it never did. Concerned that the hood would warp before the air dam compressed, I decided to replace the dam. The second air dam material was much less dense and the hood matched perfectly with the nose.

[Christopher R.]

Re: 1972 Hood Adjustments to front Clip

Yes, I agree, the one i purchased is feels way too solid for foam, what vendor did you get yours from?

[Charles W.]

Re: 1972 Hood Adjustments to front Clip

Both came from ZIP. I called them and expressed my dissatisfaction so they sent a replacement at no charge. I have always had great customer service from them. You might just remove the air dam to see if the nose and hood align better.