Hood to cowl

[54-27329]

1954 CJ-3B.  Assembling body parts on chassis. New tub and fenders, old hood and grill. Old hood too big, about 1 1/2 in wider than cowl. Question 1: would reproduction hood fit reproduction tub and old grill or just modify old hood?  Question 2: where the cowl angles in and bolts to fender, with the hood down, there's about a 2 inch gap between the hood bottom and body.  Is this normal?

[Rus Curtis]

I've only owned an aftermarket hood and w/s frame.  It's my feeling that if all the body parts are aftermarket - from the same manufacturer, then they all fit together.  I sense that issues are seen during mixing/matching.

My w/s frame attachment arms weren't right - so I bent them. Its better now but I bribed a body shop into fixing my original that had screw holes everywhere in it.  The aftermarket hood was straight - no "oil canning" but the hinge wasn't right.  It caused the hood to sit too high at the cowl when attached.  I swapped out the rear hat channel/hinge of a bad original hood and was satisfied.  Until I ran across another original hood.

To your questions, there is a gap that runs all the way around the cowl - the hood should not sit down on the cowl.  I've noticed most hoods have a gap of about the same width all the way around - not noticeably wider on the sides.  There is also a gap between the side of the hood and top of the fenders - but 2 inches seems pretty wide.   

Lawrence Wades' jeep:
https://cj3b.info/Photos/Owners/Wade/WadeBeachwoodTop.jpg
https://cj3b.info/Photos/Owners/Wade/WadeFoliageClose.JPG
https://cj3b.info/Photos/Owners/Wade/CurtisPhotos/HoodHinge.JPG




How close to the radiator guard contour is your hood?  Nearly flush?

Have you scoured through all the images to compare?

Can you post images?

[Mark W.]

Interesting my repop hood is tight enough on my original cowl that it actually digs into the paint on the sides

[Rus Curtis]

I've had original hoods that have flared out too far and some that pinch in.  I stand on the inside of the short side (on top of the hat channel) and bend.  I do this in the grass so as not to scratch.  Just a little at a time.  Then swap sides to keep it about even.

[54-27329]

Will try to post pic.  Windshield was full of holes, had welder fill in all. Does someone have the dimensions for the wiper holes?