Fiberglass Hood with Strut Questions

[MikeD930]

My '87 930 that came with fiberglass hood did not have hood struts when I bought the car in '09. I ordered a set of Stabilus Heavy-Duty hood struts from PP and I test fitted the strut today. I found that I only needed to use one strut instead of a pair since the hood is so light. Unfortunately, the strut placed some load on the hood that would cause the rear part of the hood to flex upward even though the hood bracket where the strut attached to is stock. So, I removed the strut. Now I wonder that may be why the previous owner removed the strut(s) when the fiberglass hood was installed.

Here's a photo of the closed hood with a strut.




Here's a photo of the closed hood without strut.




Do any of you have a fiberglass hood use hood struts? If yes then what is the model and brand of the hood struts? Are you using one or a pair of hood struts? Is there any problem with a hood flexing with the hood closed?

Thanks.

[jwasbury]

Hi Mike. Get one of these and be done with it. I won't replace those stupid struts again...they fail within 2-3 years.

Seine Systems > Ultimate Strut

[torresmd]

Yep Jacob has the perfect solution

[spence88mph]

Originally Posted by jwasbury

Hi Mike. Get one of these and be done with it. I won't replace those stupid struts again...they fail within 2-3 years.

Seine Systems > Ultimate Strut

I replaced mine with the higher spec ones from Pelican, hood and lid, 5 years in and they're as strong as ever. Sadly, I don't think I'm as strong as I was when I installed them though .

[jpnovak]

I drill worn out struts and put a pin in them. Or use the 964 hood prop
.

[MikeD930]

Thanks for suggesting Seine Systems strut. I'll look into it. I noticed that it uses a magnet for stock hood but then it suggested to glue the magnet to composite hood. I wonder how is this strut stowed away?

As for using drilled out struts that would work but I don't have any old struts anyway. It makes me nervous thinking about forgetting to remove the pin before closing the hood.

[JFairman]

When I saw this I thought it was pretty cool... made of carbon fiber with a nice spherical bearing rod end and everything.
My gadgetitus set in and I had to have one even though my 5 year old heavy duty hood shocks still work. They won't forever though.

It's strong and very light being carbon fiber and the length is just right. It comes with all the mounting hardware and a mounting bracket that is hidden behind the carpet in these pics.

I have an appbizz trunk carpet and I punched a tight little hole in it where the stainless steel button head screw for the rod end goes through to make a nice clean installation.
It comes with a nylon cup with a strong magnet to stick on the bottom of the hood or glue to the bottom of a fiberglass hood and a vinyl cap with strong magnet that goes on the end of the rod to hold it in place.

I just intalled it and stuck the magnetic cup to the bottom of the hood for now and you can see it in the first pic but I prefer to prop the end of the carbon fiber rod under the stronger frame around the edge of the hood. The vinyl cap with the strong magnet inside on the end holds it there nice without hurting the paint.

When not in use it pivots down nice and the end tucks in under the hood gasket channel and it stays there.
I like it.

some pics...