another quick one!

[Bitzer!]

I'll be pullin the engine and box out the old girl very soon for a bottom end rebuild    the question is obviously I gotta remove the hood but is it easier to remove the front panel (rad core I think!) ?

cheers guys as always

[hotrod24]

i would just remove the whole front clip and then you could reach everything.

[80stepsideguy]

Remove the clip aka doghouse as 1 then you can clean everytihng up and repaint it and reinstall it as a assembly.

thanks
pat

[ccz145a]

Yeah, They're a bugger to line back up. If your not replacing panels, keep it together.

[dumbucket1]

I always remove the radiator support only so that way the motor can go straight in instead of up over and down. It only takes me maybe a half hour to get them out but I've been working on these trucks for about 15 years.

[86 chevy silverado]

I had the motor in and out of my '81 so often I wouldn't even remove the hood. Disconnect the hinges and open the hood almost straight up, I used a 2x4 or broom stick to hold it up. If your doing a clean up/paint then remove the nose for sure.

[Lt.Del]

I used a 2x4 or broom stick to hold it up

sounds dangerous.  Don't hit the stick, or, BAM! right on your head!

[86 chevy silverado]

I made sure it was secure, believe me! Quick motor change though.

[Bitzer!]

Disconnect the hinges and open the hood almost straight up

good thinking Batman    I might drop the front panel out and clean it up anyway but I've got the fenders and hood lined up nicely!!

[86 chevy silverado]

I have to correct myself, I disconnect the hood spring and leave the hinge. I do that after everything is unbolted and motor is ready to come out so I'm not actually working under an insecure hood as it may sound.

[eventhorizon66]

I have to correct myself, I disconnect the hood spring and leave the hinge. I do that after everything is unbolted and motor is ready to come out so I'm not actually working under an insecure hood as it may sound.

OK, I was wondering - what does the hood rest on?

[86 chevy silverado]

On the '81 up the hood has a separate hinge and spring. The spring is what limits the hoods height and holds it up. Disconnect the spring only and the hinge allows normal position and operation of the hood just no spring assist and will allow you to go almost straight up giving you all kinds of room to lift the motor out. I do almost everything by myself so this helps if I dont have a second person to help remove the hood and afterwards you reconnect the hinges and close the hood...no realignment needed.

[eventhorizon66]

I understood you before.  What I meant was I was confused when you said "disconnect the hinges."  Removing the springs makes perfect sense.

[86 chevy silverado]

Gotcha, I didn't notice my mistake until after I posted.

[Bitzer!]

sorry for the delay in replying but thanks guys