Pull Engine Time: Hood On or Off?:

[Dibbons]

According to my photo many years ago, I removed the hood on the '72 Satellite the last time I pulled the 318 motor. This next time I would like to make an attempt to leave the hood in place. Is this idea feasible? Who has tried it before? Thank you.

 

[Dako]

I don't see it clearing..Clarance.

 

[pnora]

4 bolts and its off. Why even think about it?

 

[jimbosride]

Why ??

 

[CoronetDarter]

Hood has to be off.
An alternative: if you're planning on also updating the suspension, drop the engine/trans from below, still on the K-frame.
I just did the drop on my Dart as I'm updating the suspension and replacing the clutch and pressure plate while rebuilding the engine.

 

[BeepBeepRR]

Hood off and jack the *** of the car way up. It makes sliding the engine and trans out super easy if you are pulling the trans too. The nose on the 71 and up is super long and hard for the hoist I have to get to the center of the block. I jacked up the rear of the car super high and engine and trans came right out with ease. You dont have to angle the engine you did that when you jacked the rear of the car up.

 

[70chall440]

Yes you can do it if you don't care about the hood. You have to get the cherry picker arm right down on the engine and then scrape the top of the arm across the bottom of the hood as you try and get the engine out typically with someone else pushing up on the hood at the same time.

This absolutely falls into the category of just because you can (read might) doesn't mean you should. As state, the hood comes off with the removal of 4 bolts. If you are worried about getting it back into the right place just mark the bolt locations (this is usually done already by the washer leaving a distinct mark on the hinge arm.

Best way BY FAR is to drop it out the bottom. I used to think this was so much work but now I would not even consider any other way. So much less drama, zero damage to the firewall and you get a far superior install.

 

[nitro_rat]

Just take it off, it's not worth fighting around it just to find out that your hoist won't clear anyway!

 

[WileE]

 

[j-c-c-62]

Of course, with a lift off hood the question is somewhat moot, regardless of the removeable center section of my radiator core support. to assist engine swaps.

 

[Kern Dog]

I don't see it clearing..Clarance.

It will.

4 bolts and its off. Why even think about it?

Because realigning the hood afterwards can be annoying.

Hood has to be off.

Not always but in cars with shorter hoods, maybe so.

Hood off and jack the *** of the car way up.

Yes you can do it if you don't care about the hood.

Says who?

Just take it off, it's not worth fighting around it just to find out that your hoist won't clear anyway!

Have you actually tried it?

Sometimes a man does not have a helper handy to remove a hood. In the case of this Charger, it wasn't necessary. There was no contact or damage to the car.
I did an engine swap in a 74 Dodge truck. THAT is a short hood by comparison. I should take a measurement but it seems like the distance from the firewall to the core support is shorter than the cars are.
I had to pull the front bolt on each side of the hinges to allow the hood to then stand more upright.

 

[BeepBeepRR]

There are many ways to skin a rabbit.. 71 Satellites have less clearance between the bumper and the hydraulic lift cylinder. Rather than scuff the bumper or risk denting it. Lifting the *** of the car was easiest for me. And in KD's last image the angle I pulled it was less severe than the angle of the engine in that picture.

 

[justavillain]

before you pull the hood mark the edges of the hinge brackets and boom takes all the guess work out of realigning it.

 

[YY1]

Hell of a needle to thread, but I've seen it done.

Several years ago, I bought one of these-

Speedway Hood Puller Engine Hoist Attachment Tool, Adjustable | eBay

$158 with free shipping.

Not that exact brand, but same Idea.
Mine was a prototype and was $100.
Makes it WAY easier. Slides into your engine hoist. Also folds for storage.

A 71-74 Satellite hood is about the max length I can do without it, but a 71-74 Charger is too long, and the weight over center makes it impossible for me.
Pretty much any hood remove/install job is a lot easier with the tool, though.

 

[#41]

The amount of work and care that it will take vs removing the hood is not worth it.....by a long shot.

 

[WileE]

Ok, having done this operation with various cars, various times, over 55 years or so, the engine can be removed 3 ways: hood on, hood off, dropped from underside. I personally prefer dropping the subframe method. Each method has it's own particular advantages and disadvantages. One caveat, if trans still attached, I've never done the "hood on method", and I don't think that would be possible, or worth the effort.

 

[Rebelrouser]

According to my photo many years ago, I removed the hood on the '72 Satellite the last time I pulled the 318 motor. This next time I would like to make an attempt to leave the hood in place. Is this idea feasible? Who has tried it before? Thank you.

View attachment 1805476

Because I work by myself, I leave the hoods on most of the time, I pull the carb and use a lift plate that attaches to the intake manifold, set the lift chain as short as possible. I then loosen the two front hood bolts and use a prop rod to hold the hood open as far as possible. Keeps you from losing the hood adjustment and I have issues finding room to store the hood off the car, and like I said I work by myself so I can't put it back on. Yes, I got buddies who will help if I need them, but I have to wait until they get the time to come over. Plus, I love my buddies like brothers but when they come over usually the beer starts to flow, and I have a lot of fun but I don't get much done the rest of the day.

 

[justavillain]

beer time in the shop is how I rebuilt my 440, and none of my buddies know anything about motors!
it was slow but got done. sometimes it is easier to have a helping hand and throw the hood on the roof with a moving blanket under it.

 

[Runcharger]

I usually pull the hood by myself. I put moving blankets on both fenders, plywood on top of that to protect the fenders and windshield and hook the engine hoist to the hood catch using a fan belt. Undo the bolts and swing the hood around. Work carefully but it is easier to do than explain.

 

[mopar jack]

If I have to remove a hood I like to drill 1/8" guide holes to make alignment easier.