Lightweight Hood Strut Mod, How to.
Lightweight Hood Strut Mod, How to. This mod is for anyone with a fiberglass hood that is worried about cracking or warping their hood because of the stock hood struts. It takes about 15min and cost me less than $3.
1. Take one of your stock stuts and place it in a vice.
2. Mark a spot 1.75in from the bottom of the wide part of the strut.
3. Drill hole useing a 1/8" drill bit.
***Warning. The strut is under pressure, wear safety glasses and do not stand directly over the strut when drilling.***
4. Go to hardware store, buy a small hitch pin, it helps to bring the stut with you to ensure that the pin you buy fits.
5. Optional. Buy a small length of chain (I used the type they use to keep you from walking away with pens at the bank) and rig it to hold the pin. See pics.
1. Take one of your stock stuts and place it in a vice.
2. Mark a spot 1.75in from the bottom of the wide part of the strut.
3. Drill hole useing a 1/8" drill bit.
***Warning. The strut is under pressure, wear safety glasses and do not stand directly over the strut when drilling.***
4. Go to hardware store, buy a small hitch pin, it helps to bring the stut with you to ensure that the pin you buy fits.
5. Optional. Buy a small length of chain (I used the type they use to keep you from walking away with pens at the bank) and rig it to hold the pin. See pics.
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 11,329
Likes: 346
From: Jacksonville, FL (originally from Toronto Canada)
Great idea and nicely done. Do you use that for day-to-day opening the hood or only when you need to have it open for a long time? The reason I ask is because it would seem to be somewhat awkward to reach the struts from the front when you open the hood.
I think I'm going to do this on my 94Z (about to install a VFN hood on it). It makes much more sense than an ugly rattly prop rod, and I knew that there were issues with the factory struts and fiberglass hoods. Simple, easy, and I have a bin full of cotter pins at the house. Cost for me: $0. 
To answer all the questions...
Yes I use it every time I open the hood, I've been useing it for about 3 weeks now with no problems, and it's not that awkward. I only did it to one of the struts and it works fine. Heres a pic...
Yes I use it every time I open the hood, I've been useing it for about 3 weeks now with no problems, and it's not that awkward. I only did it to one of the struts and it works fine. Heres a pic...
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Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 11,329
Likes: 346
From: Jacksonville, FL (originally from Toronto Canada)
I was just speaking to the people at ramairhood.com and they tell me that there are spring loaded replacements for factory hood struts available at most parts stores. From the way he described them they're like the supports on folding table legs - they snap into position when you open the hood to hold it up and you have to push the support's hinge to get it to fold when you close the hood.
They don't advise using the factory struts on their replacement hoods but they do support (pun intended) using these spring loaded things. I'm going to see if I can find some and I'll let you know what they're like.
They don't advise using the factory struts on their replacement hoods but they do support (pun intended) using these spring loaded things. I'm going to see if I can find some and I'll let you know what they're like.
I've been having this same problem for a while. I want to actually find new hood supports that have less pressure. Anyone know where to start looking? Does anyone actually know the pressure of the stock ones?
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 11,329
Likes: 346
From: Jacksonville, FL (originally from Toronto Canada)
Originally Posted by WhiteBird00
I was just speaking to the people at ramairhood.com and they tell me that there are spring loaded replacements for factory hood struts available at most parts stores. From the way he described them they're like the supports on folding table legs - they snap into position when you open the hood to hold it up and you have to push the support's hinge to get it to fold when you close the hood.
They don't advise using the factory struts on their replacement hoods but they do support (pun intended) using these spring loaded things. I'm going to see if I can find some and I'll let you know what they're like.
They don't advise using the factory struts on their replacement hoods but they do support (pun intended) using these spring loaded things. I'm going to see if I can find some and I'll let you know what they're like.
The supports are called "lift locks" and the only place that sells them is Advance Auto. They're made by a company named Pylon and are designed for use with worn-out hatch and hood support struts. They are universal fit - they go on the original strut and snap into place when the hood is raised to keep it open. Then you push on them to release and lower the hood.
You still have to release the pressure from the factory strut as described above but you wouldn't have to reach over and insert a pin when lifting the hood. The pin method is certainly less expensive so the question is how much would you pay for the convenience of automatic locking? The lift locks cost about $8 each and you only need one.
No, spend the couple extra bucks and buy struts for a lightweight hood. I don't know if VFN advertises them, but I've bought two sets from them in the past. I believe I paid $55 for a pair shipped. Worth it. Both struts hold up the hood, and the hood closes easily when you want it to.
Staging Lane
Joined: Apr 2020
Posts: 51
Likes: 15
I'd like to but the only place I see that sells them says they'll only sell them to you if you are buying a VFN hood. However, I don't see any restriction in putting them in my cart so I might just try to buy them and see what happens.
I had to call VFN when I bought mine, pretty sure they said they wouldn't sell them separately, but did.