HOOD - COWL Gap ? How to? - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

jondancer · 04-04-2016, 05:45 PM

I have what I think is to big of gap between the hood and cowl . I had the hood off and I also added a cowl seal. Now the gap seems big. How can "adjust" this?

davepl · 04-04-2016, 05:53 PM

Can't you just loosen the hood hinges and (carefully) slide it back towards the windshield a bit? Normally there's room for adjustment.

Of course that might throw your rad support and latch out, but then they're wrong and need to be fixed. You always start with what you can't move (like the windshield, and the cowl up against it) and then move on to the things that can move...

swamp rat · 04-04-2016, 07:54 PM

If the gap was fine before and your confident the hinges are real close to the same location as before then you may want to give the hinges a few shots of some penetrating oil as they could be binding up.

**71CHEVYSHORTBED402** · 04-04-2016, 08:12 PM

What the others have said. If it's an alignment issue, you might notice something between the hood and grille.

Here are some of the notes I took when I removed my hood recently. Items in red font seem most important in your case. You'll see "hood brace". This is the part where the hood mounts to the hinges. There may be a more better description.......

Hood to Hinges

Each hinge is mounted to the hood with two 9/16" head tapered screws with integrated washers. Incidental: The two “screws” on the fronts weren't tapered.

The front edge of each hinge was flush with the edge of the flat surface on the hood brace.

Reference the 1/2" holes on the hood brace. The outer edge of the nearest hole straight to the edge of the hinge was 17". This applies to both sides.

General Alignment of the Hood:

There was 3/10" separation on the RH side, and 2/10" separation on LH side, which is measured from the top corners of the cowl and hood.

The alignment on the rear portion of the hood and fender is too close on the RH side, and scratches the paint. Note this is near the rear rubber bumper that inserts into the fender. My first instinct is shim the RH fender, but the fender is flush with the door. However, the LH fender is approx. 1/10" an inch deeper than the LH door. If the LH fender is shimmed, that may solve the problem on the RH side, but could contribute to new problems, because the LH hood, cowl and fender line up nicely. Find out if the top rear fender should be flush with the door. Only input so far is I should feel lucky it's as straight as it is. Images captured.

**Ironangel** · 04-04-2016, 08:16 PM

Them seals bind the hood when they're new. Squirt some WD-40 all along the new seal. You may have the seal pushed in towards the cab a bit to far as well. If the WD-40 trick dont work right away, loosen the screws and pull the seal towards the motor a bit to allow it to fold more easily. If that dont work, then it may be time for new(er) and tighter hinges...~Ghostrider~

jondancer · 04-04-2016, 08:22 PM

Thanks guys

**71CHEVYSHORTBED402** · 04-05-2016, 01:03 AM

I use WD-40 for lots of things. Depending on the source, it's hit and miss whether or not it should be used on rubber. Personally, I tend to avoid it, though in this case I'm sure you're fine using it....... Lots of info. on the web concerning correct lubes for rubber.....Good luck! http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/forums...bber_Lubricant

04-04-2016, 05:45 PM	#1
jondancer Registered User Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: central michigan Posts: 1,192	HOOD - COWL Gap ? How to? I have what I think is to big of gap between the hood and cowl . I had the hood off and I also added a cowl seal. Now the gap seems big. How can "adjust" this?

04-04-2016, 05:53 PM	#2
davepl Registered User Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Redmond, WA Posts: 6,332	Re: HOOD - COWL Gap ? How to? Can't you just loosen the hood hinges and (carefully) slide it back towards the windshield a bit? Normally there's room for adjustment. Of course that might throw your rad support and latch out, but then they're wrong and need to be fixed. You always start with what you can't move (like the windshield, and the cowl up against it) and then move on to the things that can move... __________________ 1970 GMC Sierra Grande Custom Camper - Built, not Bought 1969 Pontiac 2+2 427/390 4-speed Coupe 1969 Pontiac 2+2 427/390 4-speed Convertible

04-04-2016, 07:54 PM	#3
swamp rat Registered User Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Spanaway Posts: 8,451	Re: HOOD - COWL Gap ? How to? If the gap was fine before and your confident the hinges are real close to the same location as before then you may want to give the hinges a few shots of some penetrating oil as they could be binding up. __________________ Mike. Swamp Rat build thread : http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=595019 72 3/4T 4X4 4" BDS Lift 33" BFG's

04-04-2016, 08:12 PM	#4
71CHEVYSHORTBED402 Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Northern Nevada Posts: 7,120	Re: HOOD - COWL Gap ? How to? What the others have said. If it's an alignment issue, you might notice something between the hood and grille. Here are some of the notes I took when I removed my hood recently. Items in red font seem most important in your case. You'll see "hood brace". This is the part where the hood mounts to the hinges. There may be a more better description....... Hood to Hinges Each hinge is mounted to the hood with two 9/16" head tapered screws with integrated washers. Incidental: The two “screws” on the fronts weren't tapered. The front edge of each hinge was flush with the edge of the flat surface on the hood brace. Reference the 1/2" holes on the hood brace. The outer edge of the nearest hole straight to the edge of the hinge was 17". This applies to both sides. General Alignment of the Hood: There was 3/10" separation on the RH side, and 2/10" separation on LH side, which is measured from the top corners of the cowl and hood. The alignment on the rear portion of the hood and fender is too close on the RH side, and scratches the paint. Note this is near the rear rubber bumper that inserts into the fender. My first instinct is shim the RH fender, but the fender is flush with the door. However, the LH fender is approx. 1/10" an inch deeper than the LH door. If the LH fender is shimmed, that may solve the problem on the RH side, but could contribute to new problems, because the LH hood, cowl and fender line up nicely. Find out if the top rear fender should be flush with the door. Only input so far is I should feel lucky it's as straight as it is. Images captured. __________________ Tony 71 Custom Deluxe, SWB, 2WD, 402, A/C. I developed an assm. guide "kit" for restoring it from ground up. With assys, the guide accts for 1000s of OEM identifications and part numbers, all written in short order. 700+ images include assm, illust., charts, and points of interest. Much of the info. applies to all 67-72 GM trucks, and to a lessor degree all 67-72 GM vehicles. My build thread, and more on the guide https://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/...d.php?t=730025 Last edited by 71CHEVYSHORTBED402; 04-04-2016 at 08:23 PM.

04-04-2016, 08:16 PM	#5
Ironangel Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Falls City, Nebraska "100 Miles From Nowhere" Posts: 2,219	Re: HOOD - COWL Gap ? How to? Them seals bind the hood when they're new. Squirt some WD-40 all along the new seal. You may have the seal pushed in towards the cab a bit to far as well. If the WD-40 trick dont work right away, loosen the screws and pull the seal towards the motor a bit to allow it to fold more easily. If that dont work, then it may be time for new(er) and tighter hinges...~Ghostrider~ __________________ Michael of the clan Hill, "Two Seventy Two's" 71 1-ton Dually 350 4-Speed 71 C/50 Grain Truck, 350 Split-Axle 4-Speed 02 3/4 ton Express 14 Indian Chief Vintage 1952 Ford 8N, "Only Ford Allowed On The Property" "Be American, Buy American"

04-04-2016, 08:22 PM	#6
jondancer Registered User Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: central michigan Posts: 1,192	Re: HOOD - COWL Gap ? How to? Thanks guys

04-05-2016, 01:03 AM	#7
71CHEVYSHORTBED402 Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Northern Nevada Posts: 7,120	Re: HOOD - COWL Gap ? How to? I use WD-40 for lots of things. Depending on the source, it's hit and miss whether or not it should be used on rubber. Personally, I tend to avoid it, though in this case I'm sure you're fine using it....... Lots of info. on the web concerning correct lubes for rubber.....Good luck! http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/forums...bber_Lubricant __________________ Tony 71 Custom Deluxe, SWB, 2WD, 402, A/C. I developed an assm. guide "kit" for restoring it from ground up. With assys, the guide accts for 1000s of OEM identifications and part numbers, all written in short order. 700+ images include assm, illust., charts, and points of interest. Much of the info. applies to all 67-72 GM trucks, and to a lessor degree all 67-72 GM vehicles. My build thread, and more on the guide https://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/...d.php?t=730025 Last edited by 71CHEVYSHORTBED402; 04-05-2016 at 01:16 AM.



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