Help, can not get hood lined up. 59 fleetside

[FFredo]

I have the front fenders, grill support, grill and hood in primer now. Does any one have a tested workflow for getting the hood right? I've had this thing on and off a dozen times. Adjusted the hinges, grill support and hood latch.
Hinge on the left has been replaced with new after market
No matter what I try the hood is off center. It touches the fender on the left side and leaves about a 1/2 to 3/4 gap on the right fender.

[skip99]

had this one book marked for a 52, maybe look here?

http://stovebolt.com/techtips/bodywo...alignment.html

[OrrieG]

From what I have read here TF is not as complicated as AD. First install the radiator support and latch assembly. Install the hood with hinges and springs to align with the cowl when closed. Think you need the weather stripping across the cowl installed to get the height right. Adjust the latch assy and rad support to get the alignment. Then align the fenders to the hood. It might be that the cab is not square to the frame or firewall is not parallel with the radiator support which would tweak things diagonally. Or if the firewall and radiator support are parallel they might be out of plane (check with cross measurements). I would also look at replacing the other old hinge so you have a matched pair, the new one might be pulling the hood to one side. Do you have the rubber bumpers installed that cushion the hood from the fenders? Only thing else I can think of is that the hood brace that the hinge bolts too might be tweaked or bowed. Once you do get it all lined up you can drill 1/8" pilot holes in case you ever need to take it a part and reassemble. That trick works for door hinges and latches too. This week end I hope to pickup the pulley I need at a swap meet so I can get the engine and front end buttoned up so I can start trial fitting the front clip myself.

[meter swinger]

Maybe start with trying to eliminate things one at a time. For instance remove the hinges and see if it lays flat on the truck. Then try look at the hood does it lay flat on a flat surface like a table? Then the fenders are they mounted plumb? My 59 isnt "perfect" either the 50's trucks left the factories with alot of tolerance, so you have the uphill battle of making the gaps to modern standards. Hard to do but not impossible. Post some pics. And also post some in the paint and body section. Youll likely find someone with alot of experience there.
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[FFredo]

Thanks for the help guys, I want to get this together today (took the day off) so I can drive to the vintage drags at Barona Casino this week end (Google King of Clubs). I'm going to take it apart and try all of your advice. Will post pics later today.

[big_b]

sounds like you need to loosen the fenders at the cab and rad support. get your hood so it sits nice and even at the cowl and set the fenders/rad support to the hood. that works the best on a vehicle with a clip, stock, crashed or sitting on a newer frame. do yourself a favour and remove the springs from the hinge to set the hood, it will save you alot of pain and frustration.

like mentioned above your cab may not be centered. to me it sounds like the rad support is sitting to far to one side. if you loosen fenders at the cab and loosen the rad support at the frame you will see how much wiggle room you have and that will help you determine if the cab is out, the front end may just need a push to the other side to make your 1/2" gap on one side a 1/4" gap on each side.