I made my own Aftermarket hood struts....here's how

[Racer_X]

after measuring, mixing, matching, weighing, etc, I figured out how to make the best aftermarket hood (fiberglass/carbon fiber) hood struts for my 94 Stealth. My hood has provisions for M6x1.0 bolts for the hood strut in the same area as stock. Stock size is larger (8x1.25 I think). Here are the parts I boght to make them (purchased at McMaster-Carr)

9416K342 40 lb gas springs x2
9512K73 ball studs x2
6275K53 6x1.0 right hand thread tie rod ends x2
9416K74 ball stud sockets x2
5/16-18 nuts x2

all of this cost me around 50 bucks.

here is what you have to do:

1. remove stock hood struts
2. using a 5/16 (or slightly larger) drill, drill the strut piston mounting stud out of the stock strut brackets
3. screw the ball stud sockets onto the piston end of the gas springs
4. install the ball studs in the factory bracket with the ball portion facing inwards
5 (requires cutting) trim down the back side of the ball stud/nut assembly to allow for fender clearance. I had to cut my nut in half, but it still holds just fine, plus it is so close to the fender when installed, that it isn't going anywhere
6. cut the base of the 6x1.0 tie rod ends down so that the barrel end of the gas shock bottoms the head of the thread inside of it (the hole in the tire rod end is threaded all the way down and is made of aluminum. Measure the length needed with a sample 6mm bolt)
7. Screw the tie rod end into the hood (I used needle nosed pliers to do this with. don't overtighten it. just get it in so it is threaded as far as it will go)
8. Lift up the hood really high and thread the gas strut assembly into the tie rod end
9. carefully compress the piston just enoguh to pop the piston end on the ball strut
10 DONE.

The stock hood struts are 100 lb gas springs (very heavy). A slightly less strength proportional equivalent for my hood would require 40 lb springs, so that is what I use. they are JUST strong enough to hold the hood upwhen ti is almost fully open, and the closer you get to fully open, the springs will actually provide positive lift. it isn't enough force to damage or warp anything, and everything clears properly (I did have to trim a corner off of an inner fender piece on the driver side with a dremel, but it was VERY minor).

DO ONE AT A TIME!!!!!! You may have to trim the ball stud socket some as well to provide adequate clearance, but I doubt it. Also, if your hood is heavier than my hood, you may need a set of 50 lb springs instead of 40 lbs (also doubt it, but the stuff is cheap anyway). When bolted to my car, the hitch weight on my hood was 12 lbs (measured at the hitch with the hood bolted to the hinges. The weight of my stock hood measured the same way was 28 lbs. You may want to take this into consideration.

enjoy

[ilmuto]

very nice write up! lets get some pictures posted up

[oohnoo]

TITS!
What hood do you have for comparison? And by hitch weight you mean the weight of the hood when measured at the hood catch when lifting up?

[Boostaddict]

Armond has the deft top secret hood. I don't think my "regular" 2g deft hood has provisions for hood shocks (don't remember)??? Strange as I'd assume they'd use the same under-hood skeleton

[Black_Sunshine]

Originally Posted by ilmuto

very nice write up! lets get some pictures posted up

i second this. pix would help us better understand what you did.

[mywetdream]

i have been using my stock oem struts...but my hood was open for 5 months ...so mg guess it weaken them enough to work with my c/f hood...but they are strong enough to hold my stock hood up as well

[Climber]

Originally Posted by Racer_X

I had to cut my nut in half

I'm sorry to hear that

Seems like a lot of work to save $50 compared to the 3sx struts.

[Racer_X]

not really. if I had to do it all over again, I could have the whole thing assembled in about 15 min. My time is valuable, but not THAT valuable (plus 50 bucks can be best used on other ways.......like gas ).

[Hannibalzero]

Nice. Any chance we can get pics of the hood open and closed?

[Climber]

Would any of these work?

eBay Store - The Parts Store: SUSPA Gas Springs Shocks Strut: