29 Tudor hood alignment

[ericr]

Fred these other guys can advise you on the frame issues better than me, and there are many posts about it here. Likewise, many members have relayed issues with repro '29 shells.


We need first to determine if you have an original radiator, since an original has correctly located mounting brackets/holes. That's the first step and an easier first diagnosis than analyzing the shell.


About loosening the various parts to experiment: I used to leave one radiator stay road loosely in place to prevent any catastrophes.

 

[ericr]

PS I think there is a very slight amount of adjustment where the rear hood rod support fastens onto the cowl but I never had much luck trying to cure problems fiddling with that.

 

[fred93]

I think your getting ahead of yourself. It would be a good idea to check the frame for level first. You can do this with a 2' straight edge from underneath. A bit of a challenge on the drivers side. Lay the edge along the top frame rail on each side and see where you are. The problem is usually in the rear engine mount area. It can be sagged in this area. The do a diagonal check on the frame to see if it's square. It will take two of you to do this.
If everything is square and level. then check the rad shroud for shape. Take a cardboard pattern off of the rear edge on one side and then flip it too the other side the shape should be equal. Cars are like houses, everything has to be square and level. I have another way of checking the frame with strings and plum bobs. But that's a different story. a little more involved. Let me know if you want to know how. JP

I will have the car up on my lift this weekend & I will try your suggestion. Thanks for the reply.

 

[fred93]

I was able to get the car up on my lift today. I am not quite sure where I need to place the 2 foot straight edge. The upper part of the frame between the rear motor mount and the crossmember that is towards the rear of the car is only 17 inches. Is that where I need to check with the straight edge? If so I will need to make one 17" long to fit up in there. I held the 2' straight edge on the bottom of the frame & it seems pretty flat-maybe 1/32" off.

 

[fred93]

I think your getting ahead of yourself. It would be a good idea to check the frame for level first. You can do this with a 2' straight edge from underneath. A bit of a challenge on the drivers side. Lay the edge along the top frame rail on each side and see where you are. The problem is usually in the rear engine mount area. It can be sagged in this area. The do a diagonal check on the frame to see if it's square. It will take two of you to do this.
If everything is square and level. then check the rad shroud for shape. Take a cardboard pattern off of the rear edge on one side and then flip it too the other side the shape should be equal. Cars are like houses, everything has to be square and level. I have another way of checking the frame with strings and plum bobs. But that's a different story. a little more involved. Let me know if you want to know how. JP

I got the car on the lift and the only place that I can use a 2' straight edge is either on the very bottom of the frame or after first crossmember right after the trans. There is only a short run of 17" after the rear motor mount and that crossmember. I may need you to fill me in on the plum bobs.

 

[fred93]

Fred these other guys can advise you on the frame issues better than me, and there are many posts about it here. Likewise, many members have relayed issues with repro '29 shells.


We need first to determine if you have an original radiator, since an original has correctly located mounting brackets/holes. That's the first step and an easier first diagnosis than analyzing the shell.


About loosening the various parts to experiment: I used to leave one radiator stay road loosely in place to prevent any catastrophes.

*************************************************************How do I tell if the radiator is original?