Hood and Trunk Strut Redo Redux

[LetItSnow]

WATCH THIS SPACE!

I'll update this thread with the hood and trunk strut rebuilds, using aftermarket bits. Everything you need to know. Every cut, every part, every spec.

Complete: Everything is installed! Next: The How-To!

Experiment results so far:

* The 90# struts make a much better replacement up front than the 120# ones; they still lift the hood themselves, but they're definitely more civilized when closing.

* The measurements made in the original hood strut How To are short about an inch and a half. Thanks to John for the correction.

* With both 80# struts installed in the trunk, it won't pop it up, and it won't let it float down, so keep the kids' fingers out, but it does move in a much more friendly fashion. You still have to control its speed, but it's with a lot less effort. For note: My trunk has the wing.

* The trunk strut mod is currently facing a problem that was pointed out to me. Hood struts are still super good, though.

Bill of Materials (in progress):

I got these from ASRaymond:

Qty P/N Item Price Extended

2 GSNI225090 Gas Spring - Black Nitride (hood strut) $16.19 $32.38
2 GSNI515080 Gas Spring - Black Nitride (trunk strut) $14.13 $28.26
2 BS1002 Ball Stud $ 1.02 $ 2.04
6 BS11208 Ball Stud $ 1.39 $ 8.34
Shipping $13ish $13ish
$84.02

You'll also need:

(6) 1/4-20 nuts, stainless steel, which should cost about $2.
(2) washers - I used 6mm, with the smallest OD I could find. About $1.00
Paint for the brackets, if you're the type that doesn't care for exposed metal

Get some cutoff wheels for the Dremel, too!
.

[processengr]

.
Hi,
I have done the hood strut mod, originated by LetItSnow. Read 1st thread (NOT the trunk mod) and it is easy to do and works excellent for about $50.00

Slightly modified BOM
Qty P/N Item Price Extended
2 GSNI225090 Gas Spring - Black Nitride (hood strut) $16.54 $33.08
4 BS1002 Ball Stud (hood strut and base) $ 1.02 each $ 4.08
2 M8 Nuts $ ~.75 each. $1.50 a pair

Shipping $13.00 approx.
~$50.00

EDIT:
The 10mm ball stud (BS1002) with 8mm shank fits the oversize hole in bracket with reused plastic bushing better than the original stud with 1/4-20 shank.
,

[Wikedjuggalo]

Never noticed that sticker before, if going over 150 MPH increase tire pressure to 40 psi :O 150 is damn fast!

[Mike621]

Is there a way to do this without tapping or drilling? I don't have those tools at my disposal and my hood struts are blown completely from the car sitting with the hood down for a year.

[LetItSnow]

Wow, a lot has happened since Mike's post above - he's had my strut mod on for a while now!

I don't know exactly where my completed writeup went, but this picture tells the story. (EDIT, it's over <here>.) You essentially split the strut's bottom bracket and keep just the part that mounts to the body. The hole in the bracket is rather large, so placing a washer inside it allows a ball stud to hold in place. No tapping, no place for wobbly bits, no grabbing the strut rod with vice grips, and no obstructions if you choose to blast/sand/paint. There's not much to it.



I know this is quite a bump, but the thread was linked to today, so I figured I'd finish my part!

[svxcess]

Please post those actual SPD part numbers for the struts again, along with the ball studs.

Originally Posted by LetItSnow

Wow, a lot has happened since Mike's post above - he's had my strut mod on for a while now!

I don't know exactly where my completed writeup went, but this picture tells the story. (EDIT, it's over <here>.) You essentially split the strut's bottom bracket and keep just the part that mounts to the body. The hole in the bracket is rather large, so placing a washer inside it allows a ball stud to hold in place. No tapping, no place for wobbly bits, no grabbing the strut rod with vice grips, and no obstructions if you choose to blast/sand/paint. There's not much to it.



I know this is quite a bump, but the thread was linked to today, so I figured I'd finish my part!