Rear hatch without stuts, wil it harm anything?
#1
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Rear hatch without stuts, wil it harm anything?
I think I know the answer, but want to run it by the pros on the site.
I have an 88 GTA notchback that the previous owner put a normal rear hatch on...
I found an original fiberglass notchback hatch to replace, as I want to put the car back to stock.
I am not able to find e correct hatch struts to use.
So my question is, will it be ok to run the hatch without struts? Will I be hurting the body when raising the hatch (I know it won't stay up of course)...and how about the power pull down, that be ok as well?
I have an 88 GTA notchback that the previous owner put a normal rear hatch on...
I found an original fiberglass notchback hatch to replace, as I want to put the car back to stock.
I am not able to find e correct hatch struts to use.
So my question is, will it be ok to run the hatch without struts? Will I be hurting the body when raising the hatch (I know it won't stay up of course)...and how about the power pull down, that be ok as well?
#2
Re: Rear hatch without stuts, wil it harm anything?
My friend's car has bad struts.....doesn't seem to hurt anything but it does tweak the glass an awful lot...also the hatches are incredibly heavy and very hard to lift without working struts...strut lifting capacity vary for different years depending on spoilers/no spoilers/ etc...so you should be able to find the correct variety for the notch back.
#3
Re: Rear hatch without stuts, wil it harm anything?
I would be very careful closing the hatch. The pulldown motor housing is very brittle plastic and are notorious for breaking when people slam the hatch shut. Just let it down gently and push on it to latch. Struts are 60-80 bux a pair, but the rebuild kit is 100 for the pulldown motor. You really don't want to buy both.
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Re: Rear hatch without stuts, wil it harm anything?
I can see the notchback struts are a little longer, have different connectors, and have no connectors for the defroster.
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Car: 1989 Iroc-Z Camaro
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Re: Rear hatch without stuts, wil it harm anything?
I found this if it helps . Seems you will also need the support cylinder bracket. Part #5
http://www.gmpartsdirect.com/catalog/frameset.cfm
They have what your looking for.
Sorry there is no direct link. You will have to go through the standard search procedure.
Maybe someone can find you a better price because that's $172.00 for the pair.
SHOPPING CART Description MSRP Price Your Price Qty Total Cost Collision Catalog - 1988 - Pontiac - FIREBIRD
body hardware, lift gate, support cylinder W/NOTCHBACK $86.25 ea. SuBTotal: $86.25
http://www.gmpartsdirect.com/catalog/frameset.cfm
They have what your looking for.
Sorry there is no direct link. You will have to go through the standard search procedure.
Maybe someone can find you a better price because that's $172.00 for the pair.
SHOPPING CART Description MSRP Price Your Price Qty Total Cost Collision Catalog - 1988 - Pontiac - FIREBIRD
body hardware, lift gate, support cylinder W/NOTCHBACK $86.25 ea. SuBTotal: $86.25
Last edited by Ron U.S.M.C.; 09-18-2013 at 12:32 AM.
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Re: Rear hatch without stuts, wil it harm anything?
Your hatch is livin' on the edge without struts.
I have broken a rear window when I was using a hatch with no struts. They are REALLY heavy, and twist a lot.
I think it's pay me now or pay me later.
:edit: I re-read the post. My experience was with regular hatch. I don't know about the weight or rigidity of notchback. Still, I personally would worry about twisting. Let me know your experiences with it.
I have broken a rear window when I was using a hatch with no struts. They are REALLY heavy, and twist a lot.
I think it's pay me now or pay me later.
:edit: I re-read the post. My experience was with regular hatch. I don't know about the weight or rigidity of notchback. Still, I personally would worry about twisting. Let me know your experiences with it.
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Re: Rear hatch without stuts, wil it harm anything?
My notchback didnt have struts when I got it. Smashed the hell out of the power pull down assembly. I got standard Trans Am struts and it works perfectly fine with no issues.
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Re: Rear hatch without stuts, wil it harm anything?
I broke a hatch window, after struts went bad. Not a good idea to let that maintenance hang.
#9
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Re: Rear hatch without stuts, wil it harm anything?
I found this if it helps . Seems you will also need the support cylinder bracket. Part #5
http://www.gmpartsdirect.com/catalog/frameset.cfm
They have what your looking for.
Sorry there is no direct link. You will have to go through the standard search procedure.
Maybe someone can find you a better price because that's $172.00 for the pair.
SHOPPING CART Description MSRP Price Your Price Qty Total Cost Collision Catalog - 1988 - Pontiac - FIREBIRD
body hardware, lift gate, support cylinder W/NOTCHBACK $86.25 ea. SuBTotal: $86.25
http://www.gmpartsdirect.com/catalog/frameset.cfm
They have what your looking for.
Sorry there is no direct link. You will have to go through the standard search procedure.
Maybe someone can find you a better price because that's $172.00 for the pair.
SHOPPING CART Description MSRP Price Your Price Qty Total Cost Collision Catalog - 1988 - Pontiac - FIREBIRD
body hardware, lift gate, support cylinder W/NOTCHBACK $86.25 ea. SuBTotal: $86.25
My car actually still as the support cylinder bracket already on the car, so I am good on that front.
I am going to guess that the left and right struts are probably the same since it only shows one strut on the diagram?
#10
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Re: Rear hatch without stuts, wil it harm anything?
#11
Re: Rear hatch without stuts, wil it harm anything?
To the ones breaking the window without struts...how? The only way I can see it happening is if you twist the glass while raising/lowering, which really isn't the struts (or lack of) fault. That's just user error. The struts do put tension on the glass and help keep it straight when opening/closing. But I don't really see much beyond that.
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Re: Rear hatch without stuts, wil it harm anything?
To the ones breaking the window without struts...how? The only way I can see it happening is if you twist the glass while raising/lowering, which really isn't the struts (or lack of) fault. That's just user error. The struts do put tension on the glass and help keep it straight when opening/closing. But I don't really see much beyond that.
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Re: Rear hatch without stuts, wil it harm anything?
Last edited by Mad Myche; 09-18-2013 at 10:30 PM.
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Re: Rear hatch without stuts, wil it harm anything?
#15
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Re: Rear hatch without stuts, wil it harm anything?
Ok so unfortunately heard back from them today and they said that the notchback struts have loon been discontinued/not available, so back to square one.
Anyone have any other ideas?
Anyone have any other ideas?
I found this if it helps . Seems you will also need the support cylinder bracket. Part #5
http://www.gmpartsdirect.com/catalog/frameset.cfm
They have what your looking for.
Sorry there is no direct link. You will have to go through the standard search procedure.
Maybe someone can find you a better price because that's $172.00 for the pair.
SHOPPING CART Description MSRP Price Your Price Qty Total Cost Collision Catalog - 1988 - Pontiac - FIREBIRD
body hardware, lift gate, support cylinder W/NOTCHBACK $86.25 ea. SuBTotal: $86.25
http://www.gmpartsdirect.com/catalog/frameset.cfm
They have what your looking for.
Sorry there is no direct link. You will have to go through the standard search procedure.
Maybe someone can find you a better price because that's $172.00 for the pair.
SHOPPING CART Description MSRP Price Your Price Qty Total Cost Collision Catalog - 1988 - Pontiac - FIREBIRD
body hardware, lift gate, support cylinder W/NOTCHBACK $86.25 ea. SuBTotal: $86.25
#16
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Re: Rear hatch without stuts, wil it harm anything?
1ATony,
I don't see anything on your site listed for an 88 notchback...?
I don't see anything on your site listed for an 88 notchback...?
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