Alright, let me just say right away that I pitched this idea to my dad and he said I was over complicating things. But, that's what I do. Anyway, Our cars all have those goofy hydraulic pistons that hold up the hood and rear hatch. My hood pistons were replaced about two years ago and they are dead already. I was wondering if anybody has replaced these with a set of good old fashioned spring-loaded hood hinges. If so, what was involved? Please take me seriously here, I know it's a petty detail, but it bugs the crap out of me.

 

My initial concern is that it would have to be a ways inward and forward in order to clear when the hood closes, it obviously won't fit between the hood and fender like the strut does. The double hinge adds complexity as well.

 

You wont have the room to close the hood. Look at older cars. The hinge assemblies sit at least 5 or 6 inches below the hood line.

 

Buy good quality hood struts and this won't be an issue

 

i have a piece of 1/4"X2" aluminum that i leave under the hood to use as a hood prop- it's the perfect length to wedge between the fender and the bottom of the hood hinge..
yeah. it's ghetto.. but it was also free from the scrap bin at work..

 

My hood struts are still good and they've been on the car since before I bought it nearly 10 years ago. They might not be original, but they still work just fine.

I dislike seeing thirdgen's with prop rods when the hinges aren't that expensive. I won't say anything to the owners, but its one of those basic maintenance things.

 

if you are opening and closing the hood in cold (50* range) you will shorten the life dramatically

 

I have a different problem related to hood struts and hinges, with a fiberglass hood the struts are too strong. I fell like I am bending the hood in half every time I shut it. The hinges are not binding. Are there "softer" struts? Or is the solution to eliminate the struts and use a prop rod.

 

If you can find them you'll want the struts for an early z28 with the composite hood. Other than that I thing you'll want a blown set.

 

Keep a vise grip in your car and lock it on the strut when you need to keep the hood open. It will never let you down.

Or buy a good set of struts.

 

I bought these for my fiberglass hood a couple years ago & they work perfect every time to this day.

 

You missed his point. stock struts meant for the 60lb stocker hood are too strong for a lightweight fiberglass hood. On some hoods it puts too much stress on the hood and causes cracks in the fiberglass.

And "vice grip" as a fix? Thats just *******.

 

I got his point 100%. I know all about having a fiberglass hood. That's why they make the right struts for both applications. Get the right ones.

As for the vise grip. Try running with a built motor without being able to hold the hood open. Some times it can take a couple of weeks to get replacement parts. A vise grip is a necessity and as a mechanic, I think I use my vise grips more to hold customers hoods up in the shop more than I use them for actual work. Why? Because most people are lazy and cheap, and hood struts are not a necessity.

 

Hood struts for the early glass hood! Why didn't I think if that. THANKS!

rj

 

i might try to rig in a set of G body hood hinges- they have one pivot point and should work as long as the back of the hood stays clear of the windshield.. they also allow the hood to open almost perfectly straight up if you don't use the gas struts or coil springs that the G bodies have.. for a prop, i'm thinking of making some NASCAR style hood props like these:



http://pitstopusa.com/i-6328295-alls...hood-prop.html

thought about whipping up something similar for the rear hatch, but i gave up on that after i decided to see how heavy it was without the struts hooked up.. but once i make a lexan hatch, it's getting the same thing as the hood..

 

I'm not sure what car you have , But I was thinking of the same thing With my T/A, while I was at the salvage yard the other day and looking at a fearo's front trunk, And it looks like that set up would work, As soon as I finish building my fiberglass hood I'll be looking to use that set up