C2 Nose & Headlight Support Rods = Hood Alignment?

[Roger P.]

The driver side front corner of my hood is about 1/8" higher than the front clip body surround. It is about the same from that point to the center of the hood, where it then works its way flush at the passenger side. There is one shim at the passenger hinge, and no shims at the driver hinge. I was searching the archives for a way to correct this issue, but didn't find a clear answer to the problem. Is it possible to adjust the nose upward about 1/8" so it can be flush with the hood? I already tried loosening the top bolt on both the nose & headlight support rods and pulled up on the metal nose support brace as I tightened the bolts, but nothing changed. The driver headlight support rod has a bend in it while the passenger support rod is straight. I am sure that there was a repair to the front end at some point in its past (replacement parking light panels, at least one inner fender, and ??)... perhaps the bent rod was how they "bubba" adjusted the nose. Should I remove the bent rod, straighten it, and then reinstall it? Will that raise the front clip surround, or will the hood & inner fender move up, too? Will the headlight bucket move with the nose, or will it stay in place creating a misalignment with the body? I would like to correct this minor issue if possible, but I certainly don't want to make things worse!

I would also like to take this opportunity to thank all who have served our great country!!

Enjoy your Memorial Day,
Roger (50141)

[Wayne W.]

Re: C2 Nose & Headlight Support Rods = Hood Alignment?

The inner fender is bonded to the fender and the inner fender is bolted to the radiator support. The hood height is set by the bond. The only way to lower the hood is to lower the hinge. Jacking around with the rods etc. does nothing to change the hood height relationship with the fender. Since you have no shims on that side, you will have to tip the hinge forward and down by adding a shim to the rear hinge bolt or grind off a little on the inner fender under the hinge.

[Russ S.]

Re: C2 Nose & Headlight Support Rods = Hood Alignment?

The way to correct it is to break loose the bond between the inner fender and the top surround and re-bond it in the appropriate position. Unless it really bothers you it may not be worth the effort.

[Roger P.]

Re: C2 Nose & Headlight Support Rods = Hood Alignment?

Wayne and Bob,
Thank you for your replies. I really don't want to do any major "surgery" for this minor adjustment, but I can certainly try to tip the hinge with a shim. If I grind off about 1/8" of material under the hinge, will I be creating a structural weakness for the hood support and/or initiating the potential for stress cracks? I see that the fiberglass is molded a little higher at the two bolt attachment points on the inner fender, but is recessed between the bolts. If I grind or file down the fiberglass to create a continuous flat surface at or just below the recessed level, I think that would lower my hood enough to be flush with the front body surround. Of course, as much as I would like to make this adjustment, I wouldn't want to create another problem!

Thank you,
Roger (50141)

[Alan D.]

Re: C2 Nose & Headlight Support Rods = Hood Alignment?

Also try to take a little off the hinge, ie mill. A little of this, a little of that may make it acceptable yet not perfect.

[Russ S.]

Re: C2 Nose & Headlight Support Rods = Hood Alignment?

I sure wouldn't want to grind down my inner fender. It isn't thick enough to grind off enough to fix the problem. Instead I would cut the side (vertical portion) of the hinge and remove an 1/8 inch and then re-weld the bottom portion of the hinge back together. You could grind it nice and smooth and if you wanted to have it re-plated. You would need to do this to the lower portion of the hinge not the top that bolts to the hood as there isn't enough clearance between the hinge and the underside of the hood.

PS. If your hinge is an original , I would get a replacement hinge to do the modification to.

[John H.]

Re: C2 Nose & Headlight Support Rods = Hood Alignment?

If the hood is actually 1/8" high at the front, shimming at the rear bolt should tip the pivot point of the hinge down far enough to bring it to flush with the surround.

[Chuck B.]

Re: C2 Nose & Headlight Support Rods = Hood Alignment?

Roger,

I had a similar problem with the front edge of the hood being too high on my '65. I added some shims under ther rear most bolt on the hinge as has been suggested and achieved some movement. My car had also received some front end damage years ago and the body shop had left off both of the headlight support rods. This allowed the nose to sag and after I installed new support rods the hood alignment is perfect. I was surprised that the nose had dropped that much. Your bent rod may be the cause of the alignment problem you are now experiencing.

Good luck, Chuck

[Roger P.]

Re: C2 Nose & Headlight Support Rods = Hood Alignment?

Alan, Russ, John, and Charles,
Thank you all for your excellent suggestions! When I get a chance later this week or over the weekend, I will install a shim or two under the rear bolt to see if that will do the trick. If not, I will then remove, straighten, and reinstall the headlight support rod to see if that makes any difference. Both of those things should be easy to do. If I still am unable to achieve a flush surface between the hood and surround, then I will consider messing with the hinge and/or grinding some of the inner fender below the hinge. I have my fingers crossed that one or both of the easy fixes will work! Wayne explained how the fender and inner fender are bonded together, so it make sense that the hood would simply move up with the nose. However, I have read some posts on the C.F., including Charles' story, where adjusting the support rods could make a small difference in alignment. My hood isn't off very much, so I am optimistic. I will post my results so you and others will know how things turned out.

Thanks again,
Roger (50141)

[Roger P.]

Re: C2 Nose & Headlight Support Rods = Hood Alignment?

Hi guys,
Well, I finally got the chance yesterday to straighten the bent support rod (which didn't help) and add a shim to the rear hinge bolt (which did very little) in an attempt to align my hood with the front body surround. As I studied the situation closer, I see that the bigger issue is that the center of the hood near the emblem is the high point... the driver side hinge is only marginally above the body surround at the corner. If I push down a little on the front center of the hood, it aligns very well. Is there a reasonable way of raising the center (nose) of the body in front of the hood without potentially creating other issues? If not, how much of the inner fender below the hinge can I safely grind away in order to lower the hinge? Do any of the vendors sell a replacement hinge that sits a little lower than the original hinge? When I look on the various websites, it appears that the hinge supplied by Corvette America is made from thinner metal than the other vendors. If so, the small difference on both sides of the hinge could lower the hood a fraction. Any thoughts??

Roger (50141)

[Alan D.]

Re: C2 Nose & Headlight Support Rods = Hood Alignment?

I would try that however it depends upon the cost and time to get, your call.
As previously mentioned Mill a little from both sides of hinge (similar result of thinner metal) Again that depends upon the access to
equipment & friends so cost can be low.

[Roger P.]

Re: C2 Nose & Headlight Support Rods = Hood Alignment?

Hi Alan,
Thanks for your reply. Before I change or mill the hinge, or grind the inner fender below the hinge, I was curious if there was an easy way of lifting the nose about 1/8" or so since I believe that is actually the problem. I certainly don't want to break the bond between the inner fender and the top surround, but I thought there might be a way of shimming something at the core support. I don't know what is involved in doing that, or if it could create other issues (such as misalignment of the headlight buckets). However, if it was an simple as sliding in a 1/8" thick shim at the center of the core support (or something like that), then I would certainly give it a try. Anyone else have a similar experience??

Roger (50141)

[Wayne W.]

Re: C2 Nose & Headlight Support Rods = Hood Alignment?

Hi Alan,
Thanks for your reply. Before I change or mill the hinge, or grind the inner fender below the hinge, I was curious if there was an easy way of lifting the nose about 1/8" or so since I believe that is actually the problem. I certainly don't want to break the bond between the inner fender and the top surround, but I thought there might be a way of shimming something at the core support. I don't know what is involved in doing that, or if it could create other issues (such as misalignment of the headlight buckets). However, if it was an simple as sliding in a 1/8" thick shim at the center of the core support (or something like that), then I would certainly give it a try. Anyone else have a similar experience??

Roger (50141)

The inner fender is bonded to the fender and the inner fender is bolted to the radiator support. The hood height is set by the bond. The only way to lower the hood is to lower the hinge. Jacking around with the rods etc. does nothing to change the hood height relationship with the fender. Since you have no shims on that side, you will have to tip the hinge forward and down by adding a shim to the rear hinge bolt or grind off a little on the inner fender under the hinge.

This has already been answered.

[Roger P.]

Re: C2 Nose & Headlight Support Rods = Hood Alignment?

Is there a reasonable way of raising the center (nose) of the body in front of the hood without potentially creating other issues? If not, how much of the inner fender below the hinge can I safely grind away in order to lower the hinge? Do any of the vendors sell a replacement hinge that sits a little lower than the original hinge? When I look on the various websites, it appears that the hinge supplied by Corvette America is made from thinner metal than the other vendors. If so, the small difference on both sides of the hinge could lower the hood a fraction. Any thoughts??

Wayne,
OK, I guess you have already answered my question. However, I wasn't sure if the nose was bonded in the same way as the ends where the hinges are located since there is no inner fender to bond the nose to at that point. Obviously, you have a ton of experience with this and I, on the other hand, have very little experience. I wasn't trying to ask the same question twice, but rather ask a similar question about raising the nose a fraction. If what you are saying is true and there is no way of raising the nose about 1/8", then I will again ask my previous question above that wasn't answered... how much of the inner fender fiberglass below the hinge can I safely grind away without creating a structural issue?

Thanks for sharing your knowledge,
Roger (50141)

[Russ S.]

Re: C2 Nose & Headlight Support Rods = Hood Alignment?

Hi guys,
Well, I finally got the chance yesterday to straighten the bent support rod (which didn't help) and add a shim to the rear hinge bolt (which did very little) in an attempt to align my hood with the front body surround. As I studied the situation closer, I see that the bigger issue is that the center of the hood near the emblem is the high point... the driver side hinge is only marginally above the body surround at the corner. If I push down a little on the front center of the hood, it aligns very well. Is there a reasonable way of raising the center (nose) of the body in front of the hood without potentially creating other issues? If not, how much of the inner fender below the hinge can I safely grind away in order to lower the hinge? Do any of the vendors sell a replacement hinge that sits a little lower than the original hinge? When I look on the various websites, it appears that the hinge supplied by Corvette America is made from thinner metal than the other vendors. If so, the small difference on both sides of the hinge could lower the hood a fraction. Any thoughts??

Roger (50141)

Did you add the shim to the bottom half of the hinge and not to the top half? It needs to be under the rear bolt of the bottom half of the hinge.