Kip, This is a tough one to visualize without a picture, but if I read you right your problem is at the front of the hood where it meets the upper grill.
It seems like if the sides of the hood fit the fenders and the filler pannel that perhaps the very front of your hood is tweeked. With the hood closed can you push on the front corner next to the front hinge support bracket and bring it closer to the top of the grill.
My 46 has about 1/4" gap between the upper grill and the front edge of the hood. Check out my pictures in the gallery. You can see how my hood fits.
Hope this helps
George Wells
