dpollo

If you are doing a restoration, then a competent rebuild on your 201 is what is called for.  The later crankshafts will not fit.
 
Valves are slightly smaller too.    Power is modest but adequate.  Mill the head about '060 for more compression and if possible,
 
use a  218 manifold and carb.

You do not need to remove the hinges.    There are 6   1/4 inch bolts  (7/16 heads)  3 on each side fastening the hood to the hinges.  There may be an additional bolt in the center of the hood, holding it to the cross brace.   Mark the position of the hood relative to the hinge so you can put it back exactly as it came off.
 
If you undo the hinges from the body, my guess is that you will find it very challenging to ever make it fit again.

The rubber washer is the first item into the hole before the valve and spring so you are correct.
On the picture Don posted, the washer or seal, appears to be part of the valve.

The metal strip was originally encased by the weatherstrip and had tabs which went through the bottom of the door to make sure the weatherstrip stayed in place.  Use a good commercial grade weatherstrip adhesive and you will be ok  except when the weather conspires to freeze the strip to both door and body.

I answered this very question about a week ago but I couldn't find that either.
 
  Remove radio panel . Behind the instrument cluster there are 3    3/16 head nuts on studs.  2 are on either side of the speedo, the third is half way up on the left hand side.  Above and on either side of the speedo are 2  studs which press through rubber grommets on the dashboard itself.
 
Removal of the radio panel gives reasonably good access.   Of course, the speedo cable , oil pressure gauge line and temp gauge
will need to be either removed from the back of the dash, or in the case of the temp gauge removed from the engine and fed back through the firewall.  
 
 
   found the other post   page 5 near the top  P18 gauge cluster    1949  same as 50 in this regard