Monte3
Shade Tree Mechanic
Registered: 03/08/08
Posts: 50
Loc: Battle Creek, MI
Can I get some input on the proper way to adjust the hood on a '37. On both sides of the hood I have to push backward and down to get the sides aligned so that the hood can be latched. Obviously this has been rough on the cowl paint and the grill shroud paint causing chips in both. Since the center strip is the hinge(at least that is how I remember it) how can an adjustment be made to fix this problem? Thanks, Gary
The hood sides on my '37 slide a bit forward whenever I open the hood. When I close it, I tap it a back a bit with an open hand to force it rearward. After all the time I've done it, I can tap it just about perfectly the first time.
One of these days I'll look at it and see if there's any way to shim it, but, after owning the car for 20 years, that's probably not going to happen too soon.
There are some adjustments. The bracket at the tail of the centre strip can be moved about so the tail of the hood can be positioned. As mentioned the radiator support can be adjusted at the cowl so that the radiator surround can be moved back and forward and from side to side. The nose of the radiator support rods has elongated mounting holes so the radiator surround can slip side to side. The base of the radiator surround is also adjustable. The problem with all of this is that it is best done without the front fenders/guards attached. It is almost impossibe to get absolutely right so there will always be a bit of handwork when closing.Hope this helps.
Monte3
Shade Tree Mechanic
Registered: 03/08/08
Posts: 50
Loc: Battle Creek, MI
Thanks for all of the suggestions, guys. Yesterday a friend stopped by and we tried to adjust the hood. At some time in the past the center strip got bent upwards.This causes the strip to be about a 16th of an inch too short and pushes the whole hood upward near the center. Time to start looking for a new hinge strip, I guess.