Actually, those rubber bumpers that sit along the fender are for aligning the hood to the fender hights and the nose. It calls for 2 per side, and you place/cut them to fit per the service manual. After trying all kinds of other adjustments, I did what the book said, and the hood fit really well. Even the front...
I guess I could try that. I bought some once but the shop told me not to use they, they'd crack the hood. For some reason my year didn't come with them as I remember. If I do I think I'll wait until a good hot summer day and use smaller ones to gradually bring it up.