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Hood struts to replace tension rods


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On my 76 280z I am putting in a turbo 5.3 and the FMIC will force me to remove the tension rods.   I was just planning to use a prop rod, but I stumbled across a couple of old threads that discussed using gas struts.  This would be really nice if it worked and wasn't super expensive.

 

https://forums.hybridz.org/topic/57247-hood-lift-shocks/

 

https://forums.hybridz.org/topic/91439-hood-strut-conversion-for-s30/

 

 

Most of the links and pictures are dead.  Has anyone else done this?

 

 

 

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Just found another thread here: 

 

https://forums.hybridz.org/topic/122185-m-powered-z/page/3/#comments

 

 

Really good info and pictures.  Hopefully grannyknot stops in this thread to comment if everything is still working well and anything he would have done differently

 

@grannyknot

 

 

 

 

Edited by fusion
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5 hours ago, fusion said:

Just found another thread here: 

 

https://forums.hybridz.org/topic/122185-m-powered-z/page/3/#comments

 

 

Really good info and pictures.  Hopefully grannyknot stops in this thread to comment if everything is still working well and anything he would have done differently

 

@grannyknot

 

 

 

 

I'm still using them and they work well enough, ideally it would be nice to find a lift that pushed up with a bit more force but the lifts are so small that there isn't a lot of selction in the size. They do give you a lot of extra room in front the the Rad support for cold air intakes.

Here is the long version, page 8, post #191, https://www.classiczcars.com/forums/topic/50240-thinking-about-installing-an-bmw-m6-engine-in-my-z/?&page=8#comments

Edited by grannyknot
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1 hour ago, grannyknot said:

I'm still using them and they work well enough, ideally it would be nice to find a lift that pushed up with a bit more force but the lifts are so small that there isn't a lot of selction in the size. They do give you a lot of extra room in front the the Rad support for cold air intakes.

Here is the long version, page 8, post #191, https://www.classiczcars.com/forums/topic/50240-thinking-about-installing-an-bmw-m6-engine-in-my-z/?&page=8#comments

 

It is remarkable how long these tension rods work for. 50 years later, they are still helping to keep the hood aloft when you have it open. 

 

Previous owner removed the stock hinges/tension rods and replaced them with horizontal "pins" into the sides of the hood, making a half-assed hinge. One of the few times i drove the car before the restoration process, the pins gave way and the hood flew off at 75mph. I was very lucky it did not hit anyone, or my windshield. It tore the hood pins (near the cowl) right off the sheet metal, tearing open a bag of chips. 

 

My only advice on the topic is, think it through and make each component stronger than you think it needs to be. There is a tremendous force of lift on the hood on an S30. 

 

I went back to using the OEM hinges and tension rod, and plan to put in new hood pins with custom mounts. 

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2 hours ago, grannyknot said:

I'm still using them and they work well enough, ideally it would be nice to find a lift that pushed up with a bit more force but the lifts are so small that there isn't a lot of selction in the size. They do give you a lot of extra room in front the the Rad support for cold air intakes.

Here is the long version, page 8, post #191, https://www.classiczcars.com/forums/topic/50240-thinking-about-installing-an-bmw-m6-engine-in-my-z/?&page=8#comments

 

Thanks man. So the struts you are using are 43lbs, would you recommend like 50lbs would be optimal?

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21 hours ago, fusion said:

 

Thanks man. So the struts you are using are 43lbs, would you recommend like 50lbs would be optimal?

If you say so, it's been too long for me to remember, so a 50lb lift would let the hood come up easier but will also resist a bit more when you go the close it.

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  • 2 weeks later...

Did this on my build too. Used parts from Princess Auto and welded it together myself. Works perfect. I believe the struts were 45lbs.

 

https://www.classiczcars.com/forums/topic/50908-1976-280z-restoration-project/?page=90&tab=comments#comment-564166

 

 

IMG_8491.JPG

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  • 1 year later...

Nice mod. The link has no part numbers or specifics for the struts used - do you have the part number and/or the length of the strut used? I saw it was either 45 or 50lb weight. The earlier linked ones seem to be NLA - but was 12.48" length correct?

Edited by HusseinHolland
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