Re: 55PackardGuy's '54 Clipper Deluxe

Posted by 55PackardGuy On 2014/8/25 17:40:57

HH56,

Thanks, I've about eliminated the centering of the mechanism by loosening the bolts on the underside of the hood to where there is still some friction, and (with the safety catch retracted), lowering the hood to see where the plunger decides it wants to be. The bolt holes on the plate allow only forward-to-back adjustment, not side to side. The manual says to put it "all the way forward."

When I mentioned righty-tighty I was not referring to the threads on the plunger, they are definitely rh, but to which way to turn it to tighten the hood. None of the bumpers (which were so painfully pushed into the holes) are making contact, but the left side (facing the car) has the biggest gap.

There is definitely some kind of overall hood alignment or sheet metal problem, or the gap would be equal.

You mentioned felt where the springs mount to the hood. Interesting, because one side has it (the side with the biggest gap), and the other doesn't. That would explain a lot, wouldn't it?

Thanks for the "nutshell" adjustment instructions, as I did not find any of that information in either manual. That may just be me, but when they have separate sections for "body" and "sheet metal" with little rhyme or reason what gets put where... I guess I'll just share the blame with the manuals.

I'm going to go out and give the plunger tightening (or loosening--who knows?) a try and after that I'll take it to the two old bodyshop fellows down the street. I'm not loosening the hinges at the back or anything radical like that. I'm doing this solo, and horsing around with straightening an entire hood takes at least two in my book.