Installing gas charged lift supports for raising bonnet

Post by **mrsnak** » Mon Jan 26, 2009 9:30 pm

This was a great and easy solution to the problem of raising the bonnet and keeping it up after the original broken mechanism was removed.

Bought 2 Strongarm gas charged lift supports (#4404) These are 19" long.
Don't know if they are available in the UK, but seems you could find a substitute. These were designed for the 83-94 Chevy Blazer.

Got myself 4 valve tappet adjustment screws and 8 nuts off a type A motor. The balls on the ends fit the lift sockets perfectly.

Drilled 4 holes:

2 in the bonnet, 6.25" from the tip hole, and inline with the other holes so that the trim piece will fit nicely over it. Once tightened, used a Dremel cutter to cut off the tappet end flush with top of the nut.
I found that having the ball end protrude 4 threads from the top of the inside nut was ample space for the lift socket to seat well. I also used a washer on the inside. You can play with this.

Drilled the other two holes at the base, 2.25" from the bottom and 2.25" from the front. I used 3 threads space for these, but you can see what works best. Bonnet closes without the lift rubbing. I used washers for both sides of this one.

As you can see, the trim covers it perfectly.

This solution provides a solid way to raise the hood, and looks great.
(Now to clean up my ghastly engine area)

Post by **Sidney'61** » Mon Jan 26, 2009 9:38 pm

Very neat, I like it.
Well done

Post by **toginthemog** » Mon Jan 26, 2009 9:42 pm

what a great way of doing it, many thanks I have been wondering how to do it for the last 26yrs I will be able to dump my wooden prop at long last. regards Alan

Post by **mrsnak** » Mon Jan 26, 2009 9:53 pm

Thanks, glad to give back to the group.

Post by **Onne** » Mon Jan 26, 2009 10:21 pm

Good work there!

Is this is still with a metal "hood"?

Post by **mrsnak** » Mon Jan 26, 2009 10:46 pm

Onne wrote:Good work there!

Is this is still with a metal "hood"?

Yes, metal "bonnet".

Excuse us furriners.

I'm assuming that aftermarkets come in fiberglass.
I suppose this would work, also.

Post by **stag36587** » Mon Jan 26, 2009 11:47 pm

That looks fantastic - required modification for my mog

Post by **Kevin** » Tue Jan 27, 2009 9:29 am

What a good solution the gas struts look very similar to those fitted to many cars over here to hold the tailgate open. Is the 19" measurement open or closed.

Post by **mrsnak** » Tue Jan 27, 2009 3:22 pm

Kevin wrote:What a good solution the gas struts look very similar to those fitted to many cars over here to hold the tailgate open. Is the 19" measurement open or closed.

Yes, that's what these were for. 19" is open - I measured end to end.
Strongarm is widely available here. They even sell these on Amazon (where I bought them), but I see that it might be US Amazon only. They were only about $7-8 each.

I should say that I got the idea from the guy I bought my Morris from, who had done this to his traveller. Very inventive guy. He did all the trial and error to find what worked and the correct measurements. His car also has a big block Chevy V-8 in it! (350 CI)
Will post pix of that next time I see his car.

Post by **bmcecosse** » Tue Jan 27, 2009 4:55 pm

You can buy all sorts/lengths of gas struts quite reasonably from RS Components. Does look a neat installation.

Post by **Peetee** » Tue Jan 27, 2009 6:15 pm

That's handy to know Roy, cheers.
Thinking of doing this to the boot on Albert (pre '63 prop style) but haven't a clue how to work out the geometry.

Tue Jan 27, 2009 7:58 pm

When I fitted a telescopic prop to the boot of my saloon i used one from an escort, the only problem was that it did not close enough to allow me to pick up the orginal mounting point so I made a new bracket that picked up the orginal mounts points but moved the final point for the telescopic back about three cm.

Post by **ASL642** » Tue Jan 27, 2009 9:33 pm

I've got teles for the rear doors of my Traveller.

Post by **bmcecosse** » Tue Jan 27, 2009 9:41 pm

So - you release the handle - and the doors fly open !

Post by **FrankM83** » Tue Jan 27, 2009 10:07 pm

Excellent job mate!!! thanks for sharing!

Post by **ASL642** » Tue Jan 27, 2009 10:21 pm

Not quite, but at least they dont hit you in the back when your trying to get something out of the boot!

Post by **bmcecosse** » Tue Jan 27, 2009 11:57 pm

Ahh - but the original latch straps hold them open anyway !

Post by **mike.perry** » Fri Feb 20, 2009 2:55 pm

I've got teles on the back doors of my Traveller as well. They are great for holding the doors open when the car is pointing downhill, which the standard stays never did.

Post by **Peterson** » Thu Apr 16, 2009 11:01 pm

Hi , Good information . I have a pickup without the horizontal trim on the hood . Would you be so kind , as to give the horizontal dimension from the rear edge of the hood . Then I can drill and provide some mount opening reinforcement before I get around to my 4AGE powered "final assembly"

Post by **chanyboi** » Wed Nov 04, 2009 9:10 pm

are the bonnet lifters ball joint ends tapped into the bonnet and shell?
if not, how did you get a nut in the double skinned bonnet?