Thanks Phil and Jaap for the help!
I think now that maybe someone had drilled and installed a hood ornament or the like in those front holes at some point. Will weld them up.
Looking at the hood today I noticed an interesting feature about the clips that hold it in the rear next to the windshield. They are actually springs that raise the hood up a little in the front when the front bolts are removed. That way you can get hold of it without having to pry it up. Was getting annoyed with the hood not staying closed until I realised that's what it is supposed to do!
And Bob, it's the fender that is the real problem with the alignment, as you said. Looked good from the front, side and top, but if you look at it from the back foreward, it still has a weird slope downward on the damaged part that I hadn't noticed yesterday. Will take the washers back off and keep on beatin'!
Thanks again, David