As others have said, removing the hood is well worth the hassle of having to adjust it later on.
Go ahead and do the motor mounts. there will never be an easier time, and if you go to headers you may find them virtually impossible to do with the headers on. Odds are the one's on there are shot, and stock replacements are only about $10.
A leveler makes the job a lot easier, particularly if you don't have a second set of hands. Make sure the hoist is big enough. You can rent one for about 30-40 bucks a day, one with a 2 ton capacity was plenty large enough for me.
If you're thinking about upgrading the cam or any other parts in the engine, now is the time to do it. If you're generous with the assembly lube like I was, have an exit strategy as it will pour out smoke at first.
I put all the accessories on the engine with the exception of the distributor before dropping it in. I went ahead and pulled the radiator because it was easy and to prevent damage. There is a lot of room to work.
Grab some beers and have fun! It's a satisfying project.
