hood struts - Third Generation F-Body Message Boards

pontiacsteve · 10-15-2009, 09:13 PM

Hood struts for a fiberglas hood are 3x more money, than for a steel hood.If you put on the ones for a steel hood would it break the plastic hood?

jgrismer · 10-15-2009, 09:20 PM

I't closes harder but mine hasn't broke yet. I am probable going to add some dynamat to it to keep the paint cooler and add a little weight.

Scorpner · 10-15-2009, 09:34 PM

It's not the weight of the hood, but the strength. I've seen fiberglass hoods fold over when standard struts are used. You can get by cheap (or free) by finding someone that has a used set that's partially worn out.

pontiacsteve · 10-16-2009, 06:41 AM

Thanks for the feedback to both of you.I will spring for the right ones to be on the safe side.

1ATony · 10-16-2009, 10:31 AM

HI Steve,

Those struts are all built with different retentions, so that if you have a fiberglass hood it would have less retention than the struts for a steel hood,because the steel weights more and it takes more force to push it open.

Here's a link to them on our site,their all broken out pretty well with option choices vrs correct retention.

Camaro Hood & Hatch Struts

pontiacsteve · 10-16-2009, 04:31 PM

So is an SMC hood the same as a fiberglas hood and use the same struts? I am currently working on my new project(82 Z-28)

Sickness91Z28 · 10-19-2009, 01:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pontiacsteve

So is an SMC hood the same as a fiberglas hood and use the same struts? I am currently working on my new project(82 Z-28)

I used the GM replacement hood struts for the SMC hood....and they work perfect. They are worth the money...