How do you put the hood on???

[Lynn Patrick]

I just got my '44 2N running again after it dropped a sleeve a while ago. One new sleeve and piston and a set of rings later it runs great! I have it all together, but I always have a problem getting the hood back on. It either hits the radiator or the steering wheel. I finally got it on with a lot of prying and pushing (and scratching the paint!). Is there an easier way, short of removing the steering wheel?
How do you do it?
Thanks,
Lynn
 

[Curtsat15]

I always get a 2nd person to help.
 

[HCooke]

Removing the steering wheel makes it much easier. In
my experience the steering wheels of 9/2Ns are much
easier to remove than on 8Ns. Keyed vs splined
steering shafts. A second set of hands helps also.
 

[old]

2 people are needed to do it easy. You then have to slide it back under the steering wheel and then slowly let it down and over the radiator BTDT many times. Oh by the way it helps if you hold your mouth just right also LOL
 

[NOXJohn]

I don't have any help so I use my engine hoist and two straps. The hoist allows me to let it down real slowly and moving the straps allows me to change the pitch to get it under the steering wheel while holding the front over the rad cap. The engine hoist and straps make life a lot easier and permit the hood installation with a lot less damage.
 

[AJ-in-BC]

If you remove the steering wheel, it is a trouble-free one-man job to remove/replace the bonnet.
 

[Paul in Edmonton]

I've done it by myself twice with no hoist. It's a real PITA! A hoist or a helper would make it much easier.

I never took the steering wheel off, but it took a few tries to get the back end of the tin between the wheel and the top of the dashboard.

-Paul
 

[HCooke]

I agree it is much easier!
 

[kly]

I have an original Ford service book for my 9n. it says in the book to remove the steering wheel.

Wheen I bought the 9n. It had an extension on the steering shaft that raised the steering wheel. The extension was factory made, but never would tighten up right. I left the extension off when i rebult the steering box in 99. last summer I decised to put the extension up on ebay. It sold for $55.00
 

[Colin King]

The first time, I asked my girlfriend to help me.

The second time we were married so I was no longer allowed to ask for such things, so I did it myself ;-)

Both times I've scratched new paint jobs and said something like "oh fiddle sticks." Or something like that.

Some kind of hoist would be really nice for those of us (like me) who are too lazy to tag the steering wheel off.

Colin, MN
 

[Bill Crowell]

I have a cheap Harbor Freight electric hoist mounted up on the roof joists of my shop, which makes it very easy to remove my 8N"s hood, and to lift my lawnmower and rototiller up onto the work bench.