David, you may be able to get that hood to lay down on the cowl by adjusting the bracket located at the rear of the hood where the hood halves come together. See Chassis sheet metal 11-5 and 11-6, and figure 9 in the Chevrolet Truck Shop Manual 1948 to 1951. You are of course correct on how poorly these trucks were originally assembled. If it didn't squeak or rattle too much,it was sent down the road.
Carl
