Hood and Trunk gas struts

[Mark M]

Would like some recommendations on gas struts for my hood and trunk.
Specifically manufacturer, sizes, pressures, and installation placement.
I had contacted LS Technologies in Canada in the past but they have no interest in making a recommendation.
Mark

[Horseracejudge]

Hui Markm, Go to Advanced Search. Put in gas struts. Put in Shop Talk Forum.

There are some posts that might help you, Nick

[Karl Bebout]

Its pretty easy to calculate just where you can mount the struts and the lengths you need. a tape measure is really all you need. Consider the closed position so there is nothing interfering and mount the hood struts where they will not be in the way when you are working in the engine bay. The strut manufacturers will have tech specs either on line or in their catalogs as to lengths, mountings, and strengths. I'd recommend not going overboard on the strength since you are attaching to fiberglass. They are worth the effort. Sure beat a broom handle.

[Mark M]

OK reviewed prior posts and most are 9 to 10 years old. The prior posts do have info to some manufacturers and distributors which is a start. So my next question would be recommended stroke length and pressure for each application. I would install two struts each on the hood and trunk.

[55312]

I used cylinders from here McMaster-Carr
Go on the low side for pressure otherwise you will build a clever little catapult. I had to send them back and get weaker ones. I think I went with 30 lb but don't remember. I also used the ball mounts from an Escort "Pony" I got out of a junk yard for the hood and trunk connectors. Good luck finding those nowadays. McMaster-Carr has all kinds of mounting hardware.

Remember, all you want to do is help lift them and then just hold them up.

Tim

[Mark M]

Struts installed. Ordered from McMaster-Carr. For the hood I used two 9416K19 struts with 20 lbs of pressure. The 20 lbs. is perfect. For the trunk I used two 9416K16 struts with 15 lbs of pressure. The 15 lbs is a little weak but does work. I would probably recommend 20 lbs. For the strut ends I used 9416K47 quick release ball sockets. The mounting brackets that worked for my installation were 9512k95 and 9512k91. When raising and lowering the hood the fender flanges do flex a bit so I plan on beefing up the back side of the flange with some angle so the fiberglass does not fatigue.
Thanks for all your input.

[55312]

Good deal. Just a comment...I only used one strut for the trunk and it works fine while leaving a little more maneuver room to load stuff and deal with the battery.

Tim

[Karl Bebout]

Exchange your trunk struts, if you haven't buggered them up. They won't get any stronger with age and you'll be cursing them the first time the trunk lid hits your head. As Tim said, one for the trunk should be plenty, unless your license frame is solid gold.