DIY: Hood struts from scrap!
03-02-2004, 05:54 PM
#1
Metatron
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DIY: Hood struts from scrap!
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
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
Last edited by StealthTL; 03-05-2004 at 09:57 PM.
03-02-2004, 05:55 PM
#2
Metatron
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Struts......
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 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
03-02-2004, 05:55 PM
#3
Metatron
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Hinge.....
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
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
03-02-2004, 05:56 PM
#4
Metatron
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Brackets.....
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
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
03-02-2004, 05:57 PM
#5
Metatron
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Struts.....what struts?
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
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
03-02-2004, 07:30 PM
#7
Metatron
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Sources....
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
We need someone with connections in the strut business......
S
03-02-2004, 08:19 PM
#8
Momentum Keeps Me Going
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
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
Last edited by Spin9k; 03-02-2004 at 08:44 PM.
03-05-2004, 09:54 PM
#9
Metatron
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Redone....
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 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
04-24-2004, 08:53 PM
#13
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not factory?
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
felix
11-18-2004, 06:45 PM
#14
Metatron
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Update.....
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
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 ($24@)
they are delicate little 'girly' lifters that won't bend the alloy hood!
S
11-19-2004, 11:33 PM
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StealthTL do you think the hood struts that they have at AutoZone will work I went their and their was a lot of them for like 30$ 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 !!!!
11-26-2004, 07:13 PM
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Originally Posted by RX8 XTC
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 !!!!
11-26-2004, 07:22 PM
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Originally Posted by StealthTL
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
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
06-06-2005, 11:42 PM
#21
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?
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?
06-08-2005, 06:28 PM
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^ 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.
06-10-2005, 12:37 AM
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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