In the 10 years I had the last '66 B, & the 4 years before that when I had
the '80 B, I had the hoods on & off so many times I couldn't possibly begin
to estimate the number of times I did this operation alone.
As others have already said, use a pair of towels at the rear corners of the
hood, laid over the cowl/fender joint at a 45-degree angle to the 90-degree
opening. Place the towels (double or quadruple thickness) so as to have the
towel under the hood corners. Now, here's the trick to make it easy - prop
the hood open with a broom handle or other strong stick long enough to keep
it up at about a 45-degree angle. Position each end at the front in the
very center of the hood & the hood-lock area.
You can now release all 4 bolts. I would suggest undoing 1 on each side
completely. Then loosening each of the remaining 2 so you can turn them by
hand. Once you have removed the last bolts & the rer of the hood is resting
on the towels, remove the hood prop stick, lower the hood to the point you
can still grab it at both sides. While standing in front of the car, grab
the sides of the hood as close to mid-way as you can, then lift it pivoting
the rear upward until the hood is vertical. Then carry it to where you will
want it.
To re-install, reverse the procedure.
To align the hood, tighten the hood bolts just enough that they keep the
hood in position. Lower the hood & adjust by trail & error with a plastic
putty knife helping you move it fore/aft, left/right & a rubber mallet to
hit it down. You will have to gradually tighten the bolts. But, you'll
eventually get it exactly where you want. Then sock down the bolts one
final time.
IT IS A ONE-PERSON JOB!
Norm SIppel
'59 Turner
'60 Alfa Spider
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