Take the measurement for the length of the hood and divide it in half so you can find the center of the hood front to back, place a light pencil mark on both sides at this measurement. Then pull a piece of tape straight across the hood. Now measure the width and divide in half to find the center of the hood side to side, again make a light mark on each side then pull a straight tape line front to back. You should now have a "+" on the hood showing center front to back and right to left. (besure you mark which side of the tape is on the light pencil marks or your stripes will be off center by the width of the tape, don't ask me how I found out). Now you can measure 7 1/4" from center at the front on each side and 8 1/4" at the back on each side of center. Since you have a piece of tape showing the center of the hood front to back, that measurement should be 7 3/4" from center on each side. Now you have three marks to pull your tape to so you can get everything straight.