The hoods on many of our Buicks are very heavy. It takes two strong people to perform this operation on my '67 Riv. Here's a trick I invented that makes this task easier and perhaps save a windsheild or paint job: I found two 3/8" bolts about 3" long and cut the heads off, ground a dull point on them. When I re-install my hood I put one on each side of it to help guide it into the hinge, preventing it from sliding down the hinge and onto the paint job. (ouch!) After two bolts are installed, the studs come out and two more bolts are put in their place. Re-alignment is a snap if you scribe marks on the underside of the hood around the hinge location before removing it.
Good tip Joe :TU: I remember seeing this in the "Short Block" cartoons with Tangles and Marci in the back of CHP magazine years and years ago Is this cartoon still running in CHP? They had really helpful tips&tricks, here's an example from the 80's: <img src="http://img8.photobucket.com/albums/v23/Buickclubholland/Scannen0007.jpg">
I don't know if this magazine is still on the market, it's Chevy High Performance (CHP) After that I discovered HotRod magazine and still buying every issue since the early 80's. I have to pay over 10 US$ for a copy nowadays...
Something else you coud do to help is before you remove the hood is to drill a hole through the hinge and the hood (one on each side) to re align the hood when you but it back on.:Smarty: After you put the hood back on, just insert the drill bit back in the hole and tignten the bolts.......................
