Know that I did the whole install, pinning crank as well with the hood on.
If you want to take it off, the following was recommended by Tator to me (he is also a big fan of taking off the hood, I had zero SAFE space).
Set up two saw horses with heavy soft blankets over them, spaced to accept the
hood placed on them up-side-down.
1. Unbolt the lower of the two hinge bolts on the hood completely.
2. Loosen the upper bolt slightly.
3. Two people one on either side of the hood, both with wrenches.
4. Place a large towel on the center of the engine.
5. Holding on to the hood with one hand, finish taking off the second bolt, one at a time.
6. Place the wrenches and the second bolts on the towel.
7. Carefully carry the hood off the car, carefully turn over and place on saw horses.
