I'll give it a try. Fiirst the more you take out of the hood front the more difficult it is. I find that !" to 1 1/2" is the max to make the transformation smooth.
You will want to keep the lower panel dikmensions the same except where it blends in w/ the hood top.
I mig weld some 4" supports between the two halfs in 6-8 places. I thnen hammer weld the 2 together using a hammer weldig method . You need the heat , hammer & dollie the shap the metal along w/a water soaked rag,.....Don