Old post I see but...
With the hood open, I put masking tape on top the fenders and marked the approximate front and rear of the blower using a long straight edge(yardstick/broomstick) laid across the fenders. That will get you the approximate front and rear locations. Maybe add 2" to this measurement, depending on how picky you are or if there's going to be fuel lines and cables etc.
To get the sides, use a tape measure and add 2" for engine torquing over. I'd rather not mash up the hood with the engine, so I was a little generous there.
Removed blower and closed hood, took 2 wide pieces of masking tape on the hood, laid parallel and almost touching to guide my cuts, and also to protect the paint from the jigsaw base. This is essentially the blower outline.
I used a soup can as a radius and a sharpie to draw on the tape rectangle on the hood.
Cover anything under the hood you don't want metal shavings in!
Next I took a drill multi bit and a deep breath and made a hole for the jigsaw blade in the flawless black beautiful paint. Ugh. Make sure you drill on the piece you're going to discard...
The hood cuts so easily, except at the center. Go slow and don't push down hard and the paint won't even get damaged.
Good tips - well thought out! Thanks for sharing. I'm not quite ready to cut up a hood yet but getting closer.
