[push_rod]

I might have just gotten lucky when I put the hood back onto my coupe. I used a technique my cousin (WWII dry lake bed racer) told me. I installed the grille and fenders first. I then placed a padded furniture blanket over the fenders. I installed the hood, but left the hinge and hinge plate bolts slightly loose at the attachment points on the firewall. I opened the hood, and gently pushed it up as high as it would go (only enough to take up all the slack at the firewall attachment points.). While I held the hood up, my dad tightened up those slightly loose bolts. The hood shut and aligned perfectly, fitting tightly against the top and sides of the cowl.