I pull the hood whenever I do an engine just so I'm not putting my back against it while working on things at the back of the block/ and the amount of extra light let in without one in my way is worth the 4 bolts that everyone seems afraid of taking out when doing an engine swap....whether truck or a body....
Have I done it without pulling the hood? Yeah. But taking out those 4 bolts just makes it soooo much easier.