dented hood and timming

[morefried]

My car has a bent up hood from the last owner. Is there any difference between an aluminum hood and a steal hood? I found a steal hood some what near in a junk yard. Question two I was under the hood and noticed that the distributer was turned all the way in one direction. normally that would tell me some one had it out and didnt get it back in right. can you roll it over to top dead center and just set the rotter on number one cyl? Or is there some thing different you have to do? when you hook up the timing light do you have to unhook any thing to set the timing and if you do were is it? Its my first MB and i just want to make it run the way it should! thx for any help