I’ve done a ton of searching & read a lot of the posts regarding fiberglass hoods, using worn-out struts or struts off of an ’82-’84 Camaro, etc. I also spent about 30 minutes talking to the guy that installed my hood and painted my car and he isrecommending to me to not use any kind of gas-filled strut. The bottom line is, I’d *probably* be fine if I used struts, but I *know* I’ll be fine if I don’t.


So, my next step is to come up with some sort of hood prop rod that is (1) functional, (2) safe and (3) looks good. I currently have one of those extended rods that you can buy at AutoZone, but it’s not permanent enough for my taste, not to mention I really don’t want to drive around with it in the car.


I have no doubt that I can fab something up that will make me happy, but my question is the best place to have the prop rod hold the hood. When I use the extended pole I have, I prop it from near the safety latch on the hood down to where the spring hits. I like this as it keeps both sides free and keeps the hood open pretty high, but it also requires something that is about 40” in length, which will be hard to fit under the hood.


The alternative is to put something by one or both of the hood hinges, but I’m not sure if that will put undue stress on the hood in that area when it’s held open.


I did read a post where someone drilled out the gas piston and put a pin in it to hold the hood up; I like this idea but again, not sure if I do that on one side if it’ll put too much stress on the hood there & cause cracking. Thoughts?

 

I have a fiberglass ram air style hood on my 3rd gen and I have had gas struts on it since I installed the hood and never had problems. I try and be careful as I open and close the hood, but just watching it I would say if I ever have cracking it will be from the hood flexing around the ends of the hinge more than and stress the strut puts on it.

Prop rods are functional, but every time you work under the hood it seems that the rod is in the way, and then when you bump it and nock it down the hood slams on the back of your head etc.

 

I can't use any style on my hood as it i race weight fiberglass, but if I had a street hood I would be looking at the Fiero hood prop

 

I have a Harwood hood and it is plenty thin and flexy, I would say it boarders on being a pin on only. I wouldn't be at ease using only struts/worn struts or some type of hinge locks to hold the hood open. I have been sticking with the good 'ol expanding rod!

 

http://www.autozone.com/autozone/par..._0_3184%2C5635
These supports are exclusively for fiberglass hoods.

 

Here's what I did for my used fiberglass hood and the struts I used:

https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/body...lass-hood.html

I use them every couple of days and have had zero issues with them. I hate prop rods, so this is why I did it.

 

I ordered the fiberglass hood struts & installed them this weekend. Hold the hood up fine, doesn't take a lot of pressure to pull the hood down so I think both of these are okay.

The only concern I have is, with the hood closed, it looks like maybe there is a "bump" near the driver side strut, like it's being held open. The hood doesn't fit perfectly as is, so I'm having a hard time determining if it was always like this or if it is caused from the strut. I took the strut off & closed the hood, then put it back on and closed it. It appears to me that it is indeed holding it open a little near the hinge, but it's very hard to tell.