berts53, remember they were not fit perfect like sheet metal panels fit today...even from the factory. Don't mean to discourage you but mine fought me all the way. Fenders, hood, grille, you name it. It takes PATIENCE which I don't have alot of. After reading the tech tip here on the bolt about TEN times to really grasp what was being said I finally whipped it one day in about an hour!!!
A couple things are definite. I left the fender bolts loose enough to put a jack under the back of the fender and lift it up a bit if needed. Then as someone mentioned loosen the Hinge bolts and move the hood to the front, to the read. There is a LITTLE wiggle room. Once you get the hood to where the gap looks good across the good then tighten the one bolt from the inside on each hinge. This is with the hood down. When I closed mine I could hear it barely squeeze the cowl lacing just before being all the way down. Be sure to leave the Hood Springs Un-fastened till the last thing. Raise the hood and but the hood springs on then let the weight of the hood "settle" the hinge on each side. Yes one hinge may be a tat higher/lower where you fasten it to the firewall but let the hood weight determine that........this is a key point. Now you can put your front hood latch on the top panel and adjust it to where it latches good.
When I got my hood to close and latch good I did jack up the back of the fenders and it helped a little...but there seems to be a little "crack" between the hood and fender I don't like but it looks as good as some factory installed stuff I've seen in pics.
Whew, I hope this gives you new hope. It can be done but be patient. You CAN do it.
