pulling motor out of 72

[toddtheodd]

Ok,
For the first time ever, I am pulling a motor out of one of these trucks (72 c/10 350/th350), and so of course I have a few questions.
1) Should I remove the hood? I know I have to remove the radiator, but should I also remove the hood?
2) What is the best way to hold the transmission up? I am pulling just the motor, and not the transmission. I remember seeing somebody pull the motor out of a Chevelle once, and he used a few bungie cords to hold the transmission up. Good or bad idea?
3)
4) After I get this thing pulled, and stripped down to the short block, can somebody come over and tell me if the short block is ok or not?

I am pulling this motor myself, and doing the work myself, because I can't afford having a shop do it. So a few of the things I know I should check, but don't know how, is the crank and block. I don't know what a good cylinder looks like compared to a bad one. And I have no idea about cam bearings or crank bearings.

I just can't see paying a place hundreds of dollars to take apart, and put back together my motor, when I am perfectly capable of doing it myself.

Toad