My Hood Ornament Doesn't Fit

[Bradley S.]

After researching some hood ornament threads, I now know that there are two different hood ornaments for our trucks. One for 48-50 and one for 51-53. I thought there was only one from 48-53.

As HanksB3B stated in one of those threads:

The hood ornament was optional in 51. The 51 hoods have a different curvature than the 48-50's. That's my guess why the p/n changed. The one I have on my 51 works, and is the correct "art-deco" one but I suspect it came from the 48-50 series as there is a slight difference in the profile (where the base of the ornament meets the hood) that I wish I had noticed before I had it re-chromed. If I were to do it again I would have fitted it to the hood before I had it chromed. It's close though, one of those things that I, the owner am the only one who notices.

So the hood ornament I bought and had rechromed doesn't fit. About a 1/8" gap between the hood and the center ornament mounting bolt.

Anybody have a nice 48-50 hood ornament they want to sell? Reckon I will sell the one I have. If anyone is interested, PM me. It is not going to be cheap, it cost me $200 to have it rechromed. It is a beauty though. A couple pictures are attached.

Brad (PO'd in Fox Lake but I will get over it.....)

[ggdad1951]

well, before I sent my hood out for paint, I drilled the holes to match the hood ornament I have (the older version). I got it to line up to the hood just fine and marked the holes and sent out for to be painted. The ornament I have still needs the chrome work done on it (but in good shape really), but I'm very curious about the one you have, is it the "51+" version? If so, I'd be tempted to make some sort of deal with you as I can always have the holes filled, redrilled and repainted since it is still off the truck. PM me if any of this makes sense to you and we can take it off line (maybe a phone call). Then of course it'd have to fit my curvature to have it all work out....I do have an extra older one that needs more work as well that I'd pass off to you for what I paid for it....

[Bradley S.]

Hi;

I sent you a PM. I did not check the casting number. I need to do that to confirm it is the 51 ornament.

I had the hood sand blasted before paint; could that stress have warped the hood? I doubt it.

Brad

[townwagon]

Brad,

There is only one hood ornament. I know the parts books show two, but Dodge didn't actually make two ornaments. I have an NOS hood ornament in the box with the later part number stamped on the box. Inside the box is a obviously NOS ornament with the same casting number as the earlier truck.

I have also pulled a few of these ornaments from 51-53 trucks that were clearly put on by the factory (you can tell by the holes in the hood) and they all had the same casting number as the ones from the 48-50 trucks.

Dodge did that sometimes, they changed the part number in the books, but not the part itself.

My guess is that either your ornament is warped or your hood is bent.

Look carefully and you will figure it out.

Eric

[Dodgeb4ya]

The later hood ornament part number - stamped on the box is the part number for the "Accessory Dodge Hood Ornament" package. Its the accessory package part #.It includes the ornament and screws top mount it- a ready to mount accessory ornament package.

Bob

[Bradley S.]

Hi Eric & Bob;

Interesting. Well then the sand blast must have warped the hood a just a little because the old ornament I removed prior to blast fit perfectly. I still have it so I will compare the fit of the old ornament on the hood to the fit of the new ornament on the hood.

Blast did the same thing to my cowl vent. It just did not fit quite right afterward.

I wonder why others have had this same issue where the ornament does not sit quite flush.

I am glad to hear my nice newly chromed hood ornament is correct.

Thanks for the clarification. Happy now.

Brad

[ggdad1951]

Hi Eric & Bob;

Interesting. Well then the sand blast must have warped the hood a just a little because the old ornament I removed prior to blast fit perfectly. I still have it so I will compare the fit of the old ornament on the hood to the fit of the new ornament on the hood.

Blast did the same thing to my cowl vent. It just did not fit quite right afterward.

I wonder why others have had this same issue where the ornament does not sit quite flush.

I am glad to hear my nice newly chromed hood ornament is correct.

Thanks for the clarification. Happy now.

Brad

then you won't be calling tonight....glad to hear it all is worked out!

[B1B Keven]

Blast did the same thing to my cowl vent. It just did not fit quite right afterward.

Brad

I have an extra cowl vent if you need it.

[Bradley S.]

Thanks Keven; I already bought a new one and had it painted, no blast!

[ggdad1951]

so you made me curious, and over lunch I tried to line up my ornament with the holes I drilled....and they don't line up....something got tweaked during the tear apart of the hood for paint. The question will now be if I need to fill those holes, repaint and redrill or not. Dave had to do a little welding on the hood so I may have drilled the holes in the wrong location once Dave got the welding done to put the center back where it belonged or I can try to tweak the center back....sigh....and I thought I was being so clever! After work I'll get some bolts in it and see where she lands..

[Dave72dt]

Center section had a bit of twist in it and a couple low spots. Because of the peak line in the hood, check the bottom of the ornament for any protrusions that might keep it from fitting flush. Unless the curvature has changed a lot, should only need to elongate the hole(s). Might be easier to rework the bottom of the ornament to get it to fit flush.

[ggdad1951]

Center section had a bit of twist in it and a couple low spots. Because of the peak line in the hood, check the bottom of the ornament for any protrusions that might keep it from fitting flush. Unless the curvature has changed a lot, should only need to elongate the hole(s). Might be easier to rework the bottom of the ornament to get it to fit flush.

the problem will be the hole in the front. That is close to the leading edge of the ornament. The onrament doesn't have anything that will keep it from sitting down. Shoulda waited and drilled the holes post paint..... I'ts not just a little, by eyeballing the front hole the back was up over 1/2"! Dave, I might just send this back w/ your wife when she drops those parts off and have you fill the holes and drill them when the hood is mounted.

Edited January 26, 2012 by ggdad1951

[Dave72dt]

Does it sit flush in a new location?

[ggdad1951]

Does it sit flush in a new location?

yep, I can get it to sit down, needs to move back a bit. Let me play tonight and I'l report back.

[Desotodav]

The ornament mounting holes in the hood centre from a few of my trucks were elongated (see photo). I'm not sure if yours are the same over there, but this would allow for a slight amount of adjustment for the ornament when installing. I had problems with the grey one in the photo as it ended up being too long and distorted (from all of the panel work done?) to fit back on the 52 truck, so I ended up using the black one in the photo.

Desotodav

[ggdad1951]

yep, I can get it to sit down, needs to move back a bit. Let me play tonight and I'l report back.

yep, seems it needs to move back about 1/4", so the holes will have to get welded up and reapinted.... I'll drill holes once the hood is mounted so this doesn't hapen again.....

[John Mathias]

1st is the one right off my 53' casting#1097255, 2nd is off the 54' casting#1456250, last is a horn ring I got off a 53' in a "yard" casting#1272411

[NiftyFifty]

I got caught with a hood ornament listed on eBay as for a 49-55 dodge truck and not knowing better at the time I purchased it, same issues... 1/8 too high and not all the holes lined up but for the time I just drilled another hole and used it.

I got the right one from a member on here at the end of last season, now it uses the stock holes and fits. I wonder if you got the same as me... I'm thinking it's off a larger truck or a dodge car.