Randy, if you only unbolted the hood and didn't touch the hinge attachment to the body: loosen the 4 hood bolts just enough to get some movement and push the top of the hood as far forward as you can - as you retighten. It's a bit of a dance to do this and keep the other alignments correct - that's why I only loosen the bolts slightly and not enough that the hood "falls" or moves on it's own. I've done this with many hoods and it should put the nose down to where it was before. I can do it in minutes and I've done it on Goldie more than I can count. (essentially you're moving the bottom bolts as far to the rear as they'll go and the upper bolts as far forward as they will go in the hinge slots given their up/down position in the hinge (which you don't want to change (as much as possible)))

If then you can push the front down when the hood is closed and it stays where you push it, it's slop in the hinges which is extremely typical. Some of that might be mitigated by altering the hinge-to-body alignment (3 bolts each side) but that opens another can of worms - similar to removing the door hinges OR hatch hinges FROM THE BODY - only not quite as bad... To do all that you'll want the grill and bumper off and out of the way cuz it'll be a process...

We found that panel alignment in Z cars is "most visually pleasing" rather than exact measurement almost all of the time.

Edited May 8May 8 by cgsheen1

When I removed and replaced the hood many years ago, one front corner stood proud. After multiple failed adjustments, I had a friend sit on the proud corner while I tightened the hinge bolts. It was too low when I tightened the bolts, but it was perfect when my friend got off the hood. I think it was a worn, sloppy hinge that caused it.

Thanks Chuck and Mark for weighing in. This is on my list to get sorted tomorrow morning. I'll report back here later in the day. Wish me luck, as I've a show to attend Sunday morning.😃 Thanks again!

Friend and I spent a couple of hours this morning again trying to align the hood. We made some progress but still not to my satisfaction. The challenge is that the various adjustment points can move in a variety of planes (forward, aft, up, down, etc.) and the results are not always predictable until bolts are locked back down tight. Chuck, since you seem to have the most experience with this black magic juggling act, I may enlist your help next week when you're available. I can bring my Z by.

Bring it by one morning and let's see what we can do.