The alignment problem is the same on both sides of the hood. As you can see, there is about a 1/4" gap at the front where the hood and dogleg should be in line. The hood is resting on top of the radiator and can go no lower. The only way I can make the hood parallel to the top of the dogleg is to elevate the rear of the hood at the tank support (dash) by about 1". My Tank Support is short eared style and is about 9 1/4" total height from the very bottom to the top of the flange that bolts to the tank. It has been welded at the corners but doesn't appear to have been altered.
Even after I elevate the rear of the hood/tank by the tank support, the front of the hood, although lined up is about 1/4" too high and can go no lower because it is contacting the radiator. The radiator has a little plate from a local shop and has been worked on at some point. The upper hose lines up perfectly. I replaced the front bolster and this one is weld free and very flat where the radiator sits.
I also noticed, although this is probably common, the gap where the hood is welded to the gas tank is narrow at the top of the tank, but larger on the sides. It does not appear to have every been repaired or altered. This results in what appears to be a slight upward slant from where the hood meets the tank to the front of the hood.
The logical thing to do would be to try the hood from my other Cub but it is located at my farm which is a not so convenient 700 miles away.
So. I see the following possiblilites:
- Radiator is too tall.
- Tank support is too short. Perhaps altered at some point.
- Hood is warped or distorted, perhaps from welding the doglegs to it. (It appears to be fine but have no other hood available to try or compare.)
- Some combination of the above.
Thanks for any ideas you might have.
