Appearance & Detailing Interior & Exterior Appearance Modifications

Hood struts?

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Old Aug 8, 2005 | 11:57 PM
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Default Hood struts?

Ok so I just put a fiberglass hood on my Z28, so I can no longer use my Z28 hood struts.

Is it possible to just throw some SS or WS6 hood struts on?

I figure since the stock SS and WS6 hoods are fiberglass, the struts oughtta be less stiff. Is this true?

The PVC pipe holding my hood up is kinda lame.
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Old Aug 9, 2005 | 01:32 AM
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Originally Posted by OctaneZ28
Ok so I just put a fiberglass hood on my Z28, so I can no longer use my Z28 hood struts.

Is it possible to just throw some SS or WS6 hood struts on?

I figure since the stock SS and WS6 hoods are fiberglass, the struts oughtta be less stiff. Is this true?

The PVC pipe holding my hood up is kinda lame.
just remove one of your hood struts and you should be fine, im doing the same thing with my cowl hood.
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Old Aug 9, 2005 | 01:46 AM
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They were the same for my metal T/A hood and fiberglass ws6 hood
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Old Aug 9, 2005 | 09:13 AM
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I put a Harwood cowl induction hood on my '88 Camaro. I traded my good hood struts for a pair of worn out ones. They were too weak for the steel hood, but were perfect for the fiberglass hood.
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Old Aug 9, 2005 | 12:24 PM
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I don't want to only use one hood strut... that causes uneven force on the hood when it's open, and when you're closing it.

Well if all the stockers are the same, I guess I'll look for something else.
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Old Dec 29, 2005 | 11:27 AM
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Hate to pull this out of the grave But I could use this answered as well. I just bought a WS9 outlaw hood and do not want to warp or crack it with only one strut. Is there a weaker strut we can buy that will do the trick?

BOb s.
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Old Dec 29, 2005 | 11:59 AM
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I'm thinking about trying a pair of 93-97 struts.
I think they're like 1/4 inch shorter and a little weaker.
Just going off what I've read.
Plus, beign older, they have a better chance of being worn out a little.
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Old Dec 29, 2005 | 01:49 PM
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hmmm Well I am going to go without any for the immediate future till I find something that works for sure. I don't wanna waiste money on painting the hood only to have a stress crack form

Bob S.
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Old Dec 29, 2005 | 03:08 PM
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I hear that, my car has been sans hood struts since the new hood went on, lol.
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Old Dec 29, 2005 | 04:37 PM
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I didnt change mine and I havent had any problems. Hell I never even heard of this before
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Old Dec 29, 2005 | 04:59 PM
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Some less quality fiberglass hoods require you to not be able to use the factory struts. In this case You will need to purchase a pair of weaker set of struts for your car. First thing you will need to do if fiquer out the strength of the struts you have. You can do this by placing one end on a set of bath room scales, then press down on the other end intill the struts begins to give, notice the weight on the scales. This will only work with regular scales not the ditial. m/s . This is the weignt rate of the factory strut. Then you can take the stock struts to a auto parts store and they can find you a set of less tention struts but at the same time get you a set that has the correct lenght from end to end. Hope this helps. I know if sounds a little folky but Hey it will work. Rex
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Old Dec 29, 2005 | 05:18 PM
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I just used my stock struts on my fiberglass hood. You cant shut it like you normally would by dropping it from a few inches from close (hoods too light and wont lock) but what I do now is just push in the latch, set the hood shut and push down on it a lil and it locks. Minor inconvenience for a beautiful hood.
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Old Dec 29, 2005 | 06:07 PM
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No problems yet with my fiberglass hood and using stock struts. Little harder to close, but no problems.
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Old Dec 29, 2005 | 08:10 PM
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Well Roger is putting it on tomorrow. I live close enought to go pick it up myself So I guess I will ask him.

Bob S.
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