Projects 1953 f100 hood fitment

My 53 has a bent hood. Not sure how to attempt to straighten it to fit against cowl.
It is raised on passenger side on cowl. I believe I need to break the welds on support and try and sample the side so it sets down without putting stress on sheet metal. The photo shows the gap as hood is set in place on new rubber.

 

Most of the time it is hinge related. Springs, not round holes in the arms, etc. Had to push mine down after I shut it.

 

Looks like there might be a crack or kink in the edge of the hood. And you realize those hoods never fit right from the factory, right? Pretty sure the serious F100 guys cut either the hood or fenders or both, then when it looks right, weld it back up.

 

Went to a forward tilt hood because of fit and then made an adjustable brace to move the sides out on my 53.

 

These Hoods are a little tough to get right. Most F-100 owners don't even know the first movement of the Hood after releasing the latch is Forward, not Up. Doing it wrong for years changes the fit overall. I have never needed to cut any stock welds loose to get them right. That vibration crack needs to be welded up to hold contour, any low spot on the flange is from stretch and needs to be shrunk back. To get the hood to pull all the way down in the corners you need the hinge arms to go over center on last bit of movement. That means the passenger side hinge should be twisted Counterclockwise in the 4 mount holes of the Cowel to get there. I know it don't make sense but that's how they work. Down and back is the final movement of the hinge arms, that's why it's important to release the latch and pull forward before lifting the Hood up.

 

As noted above, it looks like the hood is peaked and needs to be pushed out at the sides in the rear.
I had to move metal around to get mine closer and work the hood brace as well.
I would go over to the Garage Journal and ask Robert at MP&C what he thinks.
MP&C Shop Projects - Page 186 - The Garage Journal Board

 

To find out if the Hood is in fact damaged or if it's tension from the hinge springs first remove both hinges and just set the Hood in place. If the rear brace is squeezed together somehow it will still fit bad. If it lays in place, then you know it's in the hinges. Make sure you have the correct flat washers to hold the adjustment in place once you get there.