Looking to remove my motor from the 70 Cutlass and figured it would be easier if I removed the hood beforehand. However, I do not want to damage the hood during the removal process.

So, from what I have gathered I should have at least another set of hands to accomplish this. Also I read that I should remove the front bolts first so as not to inadvertently bend the hood.

Another tip I have heard is wrapping the corners of the rear of the hood to prevent damage should it slip during removal.

Once removed, can I place the hood on top of the roof of the car without causing damage to either item? I figured I would place foam, old blankets as a barrier between the hood & the top of the car. I want the hood out of the way while it is in the garage and figured placing it on top of the car would be better than leaning it against the wall.

Approximately how heavy is the hood? I got my wife helping so I want to make sure she can handle her side.

Obviously, I have never done this before so any tips or lessons learned would be helpful.

d1

 

You may need more than your wife to help. They are H-E-A-V-Y.

I'd get two buddies, mark where the hidge bolts to the hood with tape or marker. There are shims between the hood and the hindges. Remember what went where and don't loose them

The eaiest way, Is for one guy to hold the hood in the front and another hold the side as the third unbolts it from the hindges.

I wouldn't put it on top of a car. Store it on a deck or patio or outside leaning againist a building with a treated 2X6 keeping it off the ground.

 

How big's your wife??? JUST KIDDING! Three people would be much better, I think, sucker's are a bit heavy and akward. I see no reason you couldn't put it on top, BEING CAREFUL. Others will chime in on that. Great to have you here with us!

 

hey, watch it. my wife helped me with my hood, undid the last bolt with one hand and everything

 

I used my wife and both kids(17 daughter and 14 son)
A third set of hands is very helpful.
Larry

 

x2 ... Same process here. The hood isn't that heavy, just awkward....

 

Tie it with ropes to a tree or the garage ceiling joists then remove the hinges and pull it up a little and back the car out from under it. I have a lift so I tied it to that, replaced the smashed hood with the clean one I picked up from PA all by myself.
It was a lot easier to have my wife and daughters help me do it the next time when I had to take it off to do the engine. My wife had one side of the iron intake manifold when we set it too.
I wouldn't put the hood on the roof, hate to see anything sitting on the roof of a car, they're so susceptible to dents and those dents are really hard to fix.
I've always done it, taken off and installed hoods that is, with another guy.
Just make sure the other guy isn't your daughter's wimp metrosexual boyfriend.

 

Agree with all above.

I would just emphasize that the problem is not the weight or awkwardness per se, but the fact that you've got an awkward, somewhat heavy item that is very delicate and surrounded by other things that are very delicate.
One slip and the hood, fenders, fender liners, or air cleaner is dented or worse.
One slip and your windshield is trashed.

Just be careful, mark how it was before, have the front supported, unbolt the bolts, and carefully lift it off.

You can do it with two people if one can stand still holding the weight of the hood over his head for several minutes without getting tired - put him at the nose to take the weight, remove the bolts, then, as you remove the last bolt, take some of the weight at the back edge of the hood (to keep it from sliding through the windshield when the last bolt comes out) and as soon as it's out, you control the back of the hood rising upward while your helper in the front lowers his end. Once it's somewhat level, with some weight resting on the tips of the hinges, you "walk" from the back to the middle while your friend "walks" to the middle of the other side. Now you've each got a side and can walk forward with the hood.

The most important thing to remember is that both the front and the back of the hood are delicate. NEVER rest the hood on its nose or on its back edge - always put it down on a soft surface, resting on one of its sides.

- Eric

 

I used 3 people with one at the front like mentioned earlier to push up as you take out the rear bolts first (hood can then pivot like a seesaw). Then the person up front was the guy who took the last bolts out while we had one guy on each side to hold the hood and then carry it away. I would say it weighs 100 pounds or so and is just awkward due to size. First, leave the hinges bolted to the fenders - too hard to re-align those as they can rotate. Remove it only where the hinges bolt to hood. I used masking tape to make a box around where they mounted to get it close on reinstallation. Some people drill a hole through the hinge and hood before loosening anything and then they insert that drill bit through the hole on reinstallation to get the right alignment.

Yes - blankets and more blankets on the fenders in case something slips. I stored my hood in my other garage bay on sawhorses since I have a convertible, but I suppose you could carefully put the hood upside down on the roof with enough padding.

Also - never store a hood on its rear ledge against a wall - only on one of its sides as the rear corners will bend.

 

Well, I got the hood removed. Used two other people to help. It went fairly well, but one of my helpers let the hood slide down the hinge after the bolts were removed. Wound up scratching some paint off, nothing that a little touch up paint can't fix.

I did place the hood on the roof of the car. My garage is just not big enough to place it along the walls for storage. I used blankets and some off those large "air bags" that come as packing material as a buffer.

Thanks for all the advice.

d1

 

Same here. And did it a few times.