2N hood removal?

[Bruce (VA)]

I've got a friend who needs to pull the hood on a 2N & says the steering wheel needs to come off first. I know it doesn't on an 8N; does it need to come off on a 2N to get the hood off?

Tnx
 

[trouttman]

[cphillips]

I have never taken the steering wheel off of any n-series Ford before removing the hood. The Steering wheel may need to come off for the dash to be removed but not the hood. The only time removing the hood is difficult is if a loader is involved.
 

[Bruce (VA)]

OK, tnx guys.

Steering wheel removal is a PITA on a good day; no need to do it unless it's required!
 

[Del Huebner]

To get my hood off of my 2N I had to remove either the steering wheel or the air cleaner because of the stack on the air cleaner. I was going to remove the steering wheel anyway so I went that route and I think it was easier than trying to get at the air cleaner under the hood.
The cap ont the top of the stack pops right off but the hood has to come straight up.

 

[Bodo]

On my 9N, the air cleaner portion that goes through the hood separates from the main body of the air cleaner. No need to remove the whole thing.
 

[Bob Harvey]

Ditto to the NO ! You can take the whole thing almost completely apart (BTDT) without removing the steering wheel on a 2N (in my experience). HTH
 

[HCooke]

Steering wheel removal on a 9/2N is much easier than an 8N. Keyed shaft versus a splined shaft. I got a couple of splined shaft steering wheels that I gave up on but I never had a keyed steering wheel that I could not remove. Just don't lose the key! The hood will come off and go back on much easier with the steering wheel not in the way. Also you can lube that top thrust bearing when the steering wheel is off.
 

[Royse]

I didn't have to take mine off except the one that was bent.
There is very little clearance.
My through the hood breather also comes apart and out through the battery compartment.
I agree with HCooke that they do seem to come off easier than the 8N
type wheels and it makes it easier to take the hood off.
I know the steering shaft can be damaged using a gear puller, but on the really
bad ones this is how I hooked up my gear puller to get them off.
This picture was of my Jubilee just after the steering wheel came loose and up against the nut.


 

[Hobo,NC]

[POPGUN]

No! I have done it 4 times on 3 2Ns and left steering wheel on.
 

[tesmith66]

Looks like a personal preference thing. I can get the hood on and off with the wheel on (2N), but it is VERY difficult. I pull the wheel now and am much happier.
 

[Colin King]

Bruce,

It's no different than the 8N hood removal. I just removed the hood on my '47 2N a couple of weeks ago to weld up cuts in the sheet metal. I'm guessing he's trying to do the removal solo, which might make him think that the wheel has to be removed - if he's trying to remove the hood straight up and away. I've found the the easiest way to do the solo removal is to spread the dog legs and lift the front of the hood up onto the rad filler neck. Now go to the back of the hood. There should be enough angle to carefully clear the dash just under the steering wheel. It's definitely tight, though.

HTH
Colin