Engine lid shocks

vsock911 · vsock911's Garage

Hi guys, this might be a stupid question, but what is the difference in engine lid shocks? I bought a set of Weltmeister heavy duty ones that said they were for SC with a tail, which i have both. They are way longer than the stock ones that came off. What am i missing? i didn't see different part numbers listed for different lids.
Thanks,
-mj

Bob Kontak · Bob Kontak's Garage

The front ones are about 1 1/2 inches longer in the shock tube and 1 1/2 inches longer in the shaft (that's what she said) when extended - but mounted on the car.

sabeo.m · sabeo.m's Garage

I remember they are a tad bit longer, when I replaced mine I managed to compress the shock enough to align the holes. I used a screw driver to help align the deck lid holes against the hole on the shock long enough to place the bolt. These shocks are new and have a higher compression as opposed to my old 20 + year ones, so it's not easy to push in, I might of gotten lucky that day. good luck!

Wil Ferch · 01:03 PM

No you didn't get the wrong one or confuse front to back !!!

I also got the Weltmeister's and the "proper" ones for the rear were one-hole diameter too long !! For 2 separate replacements. I mention it to Weltmeister and they won't accept that its wrong.

You can unscrew the end.....hacksaw off about 3/16" or whatever it takes....and screw the end back on. Double check against a factory OEM to make sure the overall length ( hole-to-hole) is the same.

Do a search with my name and these shocks.....I'm sure I mentioned it before.

Wil Ferch · 03-18-2011, 08:21 AM

Look here....the Welts are clearly wrong and too long

Trunk and engine lid shock questions

Bob Kontak · Bob Kontak's Garage

Good info, Will. Do you unscrew the mounting cast part from threads on the end of the shaft?

Only thing I don't like is the OP stated "way longer". That is pretty subjective. Looking forward to his feedback.

Edit - Will, the link answered my question.

rusnak · 03-18-2011, 08:29 AM

I just replaced all 4 with new Weltmeister struts. Just open the engine or hood wide enough to fit the pin.

It's an easy 10 minute job except for the lower drivers side hood pin.

sabeo.m · sabeo.m's Garage

+1 rusnak, I was able to replace them fairly quickly as well, no need for a hack saw...

Wil Ferch · 08:55 AM

Don't tell me hack saw wasn't required.... I could *not* lift the lid far enough to get it to fit. At least not for my car and maybe not for some others. We shouldn't "adjust and pander" to ill-fitting pieces....should we?

Question.....with today's quality and dimensional controls.....you'd think they can get hole-to-hole diameter OAL correct. This is a complete 1x hole diameter too long !!

My opinion anyways.......

Wil Ferch · 08:57 AM

If it matters, I'm talking about the HD lifetime Weltmeisters....with the extra fat shaft diameter, in case it makes a difference..... I futzed with mine forever and I am mechanically inclined....no way was it going to be "force" fit... impossible.

The end-piece is actually pot metal and cuts well / easy with a recip saw..... quick and clean.....but "why" ?

rusnak · 03-18-2011, 09:10 AM

Yup, the extra heavy lifetime ones.

If someone can get Wayne to send me a new set, I'll make an High Def how-to video of how to install them.
(hint, hint)

vsock911 · vsock911's Garage

Thanks for the info guys. I will measure exactly the new ones tonight, but it sounds like Ferch has had the same experience, as mine are easily 1.5 inches longer. I will try again, but after the first few attemps, fully compressed they were still too long for the lid to close. Hopefully I will see the error of my ways as soon as I lay eyes on it again. If not, i'll have to call in the big dawg 911 expert up the street!

-mj

Wil Ferch · 01:13 PM

Well..... 1.5" too long..... ahh , that wasn't my experience. It was 3/16" -1/4" too long. If I recall, yes, the fronts were about 1.5" longer than the rear, on purpose and therefore correct for the front location.

And.....I don't need a video to help me install hood shocks.... I've dropped and replaced engines, ..please.....

Really, I had the lid up "against the stops" pretty hard and couldn't coax the Welts in-place without seriously chancing "bending" the lid or the hinges. YMMV.

vsock911 · vsock911's Garage

Well, it turns out they were definitely for the front. I bought them NOS from another vendor, so they were just advertised wrong. I needed them anyway, so i'm still WINNING!
thanks for the help.
-mj

sabeo.m · sabeo.m's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wil Ferch

Don't tell me hack saw wasn't required.... I could *not* lift the lid far enough to get it to fit. At least not for my car and maybe not for some others. We shouldn't "adjust and pander" to ill-fitting pieces....should we?

Question.....with today's quality and dimensional controls.....you'd think they can get hole-to-hole diameter OAL correct. This is a complete 1x hole diameter too long !!

My opinion anyways.......

Will, my apologies.. I meant to say I didn't need a saw for my application.

whiz05403 · whiz05403's Garage

Hey guys, what is the parts number for the rear heavy duty struts. Not digging the 2x4 holding up my engine lid. I can't seem to find them on Pelican.

Wil Ferch · 03-22-2011, 10:37 AM

No apologies....... we're all here to *share* experiences.....I'm tellin' ya how tough these puppies were for me....and it was obvious some brainiac at Weltmeister can't copy shock lengths w/o getting it wrong. That aspect went unchanged for 2 replacement pairs compared to the "correct length" Stabilus.

I'd ditch any of these in a heartbeat and *make* a strut from carbon-fiber arrow shafts and high-quality heim-joint ends....a variation of the Seine Systems unit.

Targalid · 03-22-2011, 11:14 AM

I had a tough time replacing the front shocks with the heavy duty ones so I called Pelican and they guy told me to do them both at the same time. I was trying to do one at a time, keeping one old one in place while doing the opposite side with the new one. No, that won't work because they are different lengths and the new ones are virtually incompressible without the leverage of the hood. You need to take them both out, then the hood lifts easily and you replace both at once. Simple, once I did that. I have not done the rear lid though.

83_Silberpfeil · 83_Silberpfeil's Garage

I went with Stabilus for my 83 SC Coupe. Correct length, no cutting, no hassle. Holds up the engine lid beautifully.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wil Ferch

No apologies....... we're all here to *share* experiences.....I'm tellin' ya how tough these puppies were for me....and it was obvious some brainiac at Weltmeister can't copy shock lengths w/o getting it wrong. That aspect went unchanged for 2 replacement pairs compared to the "correct length" Stabilus.

I'd ditch any of these in a heartbeat and *make* a strut from carbon-fiber arrow shafts and high-quality heim-joint ends....a variation of the Seine Systems unit.

rusnak · 03-22-2011, 02:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Targalid

I had a tough time replacing the front shocks with the heavy duty ones so I called Pelican and they guy told me to do them both at the same time. I was trying to do one at a time, keeping one old one in place while doing the opposite side with the new one. No, that won't work because they are different lengths and the new ones are virtually incompressible without the leverage of the hood. You need to take them both out, then the hood lifts easily and you replace both at once. Simple, once I did that. I have not done the rear lid though.

It just seemed obvious to me to do that.

I forgot to mention that I used one of those extendable mechanic's hood struts to hold the hood and engine lids open.