Fronzizzle

I replaced my stock hood with a Ram Air style fiberglass hood. The body shop put it on & said that it was too heavy for the gas cylinders on the hinges.

The cylinders on there look to be original, I'm wondering if I should replace them with new ones or if the hood will still be too heavy?

Not opposed to going old-school with a prop rod to help - do they make a prop rod specifically for a 1985 Camaro?

mikesz1984

normally fiberglass hoods are lighter, requiring a different cylinder. Also there are no prop rods that were ever made for our cars.

Fronzizzle

I read a lot of posts about using worn out or old pistons...maybe it didn't have to do with the weight but rather with the flex because the hood would just be held from the back?

Fronzizzle

I might try this:

http://ls1tech.com/forums/appearance...t-mod-how.html

Not sure why it wouldn't work for a third gen. I wouldn't have to get a prop rod that would be in the way, and the pressure of the piston wouldn't distort the fiberglass hood. Seems like a good & cheap fix.

RaisinHale

In 82 they built a model with a factory lightweight hood. I use these for my fiberglass hood and they work really well. I picked them up at autozone. Part number is E95976.

http://www.autozone.com/autozone/par..._0_3184%2C5635

HotRodLarry

My '83 has a factory fiberglass hood. They stopped making them in '84 due to issues with the panels de-laminating I think.

Ron U.S.M.C.

This idea might be OK for a steel hood but transferring the entire weight of the "fiberglass' on to one hing would not be recommend. If gas shocks will hold my steel cowl hood they should not have any problem with yours. There just worn out so replace them..

84Camaro_L69

It's the hood struts. Those things are super powerful on steel hoods and should work with no problem on your fiberglass ones.

BlackenedBird

iTrader: (5)

Did the stock steel hood stay up by itself? If it didn't, then the struts are definately worn out. Replace them with the correct ones for fiberglass hoods (mentioned above by RaisinHale) & your good to go.

Axoid

I found and installed 82 factory glass hood. I took the steel hood struts off because I was worried that they would be too stiff and crack the hood in the middle from the force closing it. I installed the fiberglass glass struts, but they are not strong enough to support the factory glass hood. It weights around 30 lbs. vs. the steel hood at around 60 lbs.

Fronzizzle

Axoid - I spoke to my body shop guy, this was exactly his concern (not sure where I got "too heavy" from). His thought was that continually forcing the hood closed would end up causing star cracking on the hood.

jb3829

iTrader: (1)

I bought a pair of glass hood struts off rockauto when I installed my daytona hood....I've haven't had any problems with them