After two other attempts at gas lift hood struts, I have succeeded! For a total outlay of about $32 (including the two failed attempts!)

Most gas struts have about 50 lbs of force, WAY too much for the 'little-girlie' hood of the '8......I found some more delicate ones at my local surplus joint, with around 20 lbs of push.

They mount to a bracket from the hinges, and anchor to the body at the panel bolt by the shock tower. The brackets and mounts are a little over-built, but better that way than flimsy.

More importantly, they are 100% BOLT ON! The stock struts, and all the aftermarket kits I've seen, need new holes, rivets, threaded inserts etc.

The cheesey hood prop is GONE!

S

 

The struts are probably going to be the hardest parts to find.......

The Symbol on them looks like a christian cross in a circle, don't know what company that is. Writing is the usual 'warning:high pressure, do not bite' stuff....Logo says either "STABILUS" or "STABIL U.S." (very small) Colmar Pa. USA.
#'s on strut - 9L28630 C239/94

S

 

The hinge end is cast aluminum, cut to extend forward over the rubber seal between engine compartment and wipers.
Bolt holes to match the hinge bolts. The stock bolts are huge, over an inch long, lots of room for added metal.
The hinge bracket is the only complicated bit to make, the bottom bracket is just a pivot and a bolt hole.

You could probably do a lot better job of matching color too, it is the only red I had, and is ALMOST, but not QUITE, exactly the wrong shade.....

S

 

I cut the bracket out of of piece of alloy computer scrap. Just used a piece with a 90 degree bend at the end. You need a minimum 150mm length, to reach over the firewall lip into the engine side.
Two holes to mate with the hinge, 60mm apart, then a smaller third hole to go over a little stud in the hood, 45mm from the top hinge bolt (see pictures).
I put a small 'pad' of metal under this area, supported by the 'stud', for a bit of strength.


S

 

The strut I used was 450mm, hole centre to hole centre, about 17¼ inches. Anyone who wants to make one will probably have to vary the measurements to fit their struts.

Again, I cannot get any more of these parts, they were surplus, and I think I bought the last two, and any brackets I made would be useless if you found different struts, or ball/stud/clip type connections.

S

 

Very, very nice mod. Now if we can just source those hood struts....

 

Not too optimistic in finding more at Princess Auto, but will rifle thru their shelves next visit to the 'city'.

We need someone with connections in the strut business......

S

 

http://www.stabilus.com/

also same site http://www.stabilus.com/englisch/Anw..._daempfer.asp? click on "The gas spring for Hood" at the bottom of the page.

Sales Office Automotive
36225 Mound Road
Sterling Heights, MI 48320

586-977-2950

better yet found this that also has mounting hardware for them:

http://www.casterpro.com/gaspage.html

 

Those hood struts were so 'yesterday'!

I redid them with real ball/bolts from a junkyard. (ball/bolts......mmmmm!)

The 10mm bolt on the fender came from a Taurus, and the top hinge bolt, from some kind of Pontiac stationwagon.

New slightly stronger lifters from my usual outlet have boosted my total outlay for the project to over $56! (Canadian, about $13, U.S.!)

I feel my phoney CF look gives it the final touch! Nice & Ricey!

S

 

I saw the same kit for $250 somewhere. I went to try and find it and then I saw this thread. Thanks, you guys, for saving me a bunch of dough.

Charles.

 

Vivid Racing (one of our sponsors here) sells this setup for $280 plus shipping. StealthTL's method is a wee bit more economical.

 

Very true. We've sold a set to a forum member who wanted thema and they weren't cheap. Personally I'd rather pay you to get the set up for me.

 

They are amazing! I have seen the factory fitment, drilling holes in the aluminium hood, threading inserts with a tool, and the result not looking so good!
felix

 

An update for those who are still trying to source the parts for this,
I finally found commercial hood struts for this mod -

they are the rear glass supports from a 1988 BroncoII, :o

-Motormite95090 ($27@)
-JC Whitney ZX125893R ($25@)
and Strongarm 4423 ($24@)

they are delicate little 'girly' lifters that won't bend the alloy hood!

S

 

StealthTL do you think the hood struts that they have at AutoZone will work I went their and their was a lot of them for like 30$ max they are universal is what they said I wanted to make this work but they hade different size's in length of the struts. they hade fat, short, tall and all kind, so i did not know what to get LOL i was like crap !!!!

 

I believe they were all too strong... I think he tried to source these through places like AutoZone first.

 

Very cool, Stealth! One of these days I'll be tackling this one... hafta add it to the to-do list! :D

 

A project the wife and I can do together. Also one that's in the budget too ......

 

I wonder if the struts that holds our trunk open would work on the hood?

 

Wow, thanks for all that info! This is an easier DIY project that I can do! LOL

 

AH.... Looks like your struts will block the access to take off your oil filter.

That's where I stand and put my arm in there. hand fits over filter and it comes off easy everytime. I don't need to be working my arm aound the strut or my move my face.

Let us know, please?

 

^ I know what you're talking about. I was thinking about doing this until I realized that the spot I usually lean into will be blocked by the strut piece. Not worth the trouble.

 

It takes about 10 seconds to remove the strut from the balljoint.

 

so if i get them from jc whitney is this everything i need? can you explain in more detail about the thing you had to cut?

 

wait didnt you actually replace them and get different ones? im lost can someone explain.. and your ricey CF is that a sticker or real outer layer.. i like it. even if its rice. lol tell meeeeeee thanks. =D