carbon fiber hood support rod

[charleskieffner]

have done search already and burned thru muy mfgs. looking for carbon fiber HOOD SUPPORT ROD for an '87 911.

saw them somewhere in my endless searches and forgot to bookmark.

if anybody has seen them offered, please reply w/mfgs. name. thanks.

[gestalt1]

here it is:
http://www.seinesystems.com/Ult-Strut-Home.htm
(no affiliation)
-matt

[Scott at Pelican Parts]

Pelican has them here

[Esel Mann]

Has anyone used these?

I am considering using this to replace the hood shocks. I wonder if only a single strut on one side of the hood is capable of holding up the entire hood without any hood warpage from the other unsupported side.

Is anyone using this/these? If so, please comment on whether one is sufficient or two are really needed to properly support the hood in the open position.

Thanks!

Carlton

[NY65912]

I use one and love it. The hood prop weighs nothing and works great. Now to get one for the rear and eliminate those hood struts, that should save some weight!

The install on the CF prop took about 2 mins and is a breeze.

[jtratza]

Thanks Scott. I placed an order this morning after seeing your post. Tired of having the hood hit me on head and even more tired of replacing hood struts.

[mthomas58]

I'm in! After reading here that (1) hood strut replacement is a major PITA and (2) the HD ones aren't much better than the OEM's, this appears to be the way to go.

[charleskieffner]

hey scott outstanding. under misc.........of course. will this support stock oem hood w/ 4-hella compact 4000's w/rally pod?. i suspect it should being carbon fiber. would (2) be better???? we did add some weight to nose of hood w/light setup.

right now im using my rigid shop vac pipe for a support while under hood. will order monday.

i love it when theres a solution to a problem.

[JP911]

I made my own (for the rear decklid) with a carbon fiber hunting arrow shaft and an assortment of parts from a local hardware store. It attaches to one of the small bolts on the motor mount. Works and looks great, and cost me all of about $10. I plan to do the same in the trunk when I get the time.

[andfar]

Jon,

Be sure to post pics & construction plans for the DIY'fers. Thanks!

_________________
andfar
1986 911 Targa

[rfn026]

I have one. It works ok but you have to be careful that you don't knock the carbon fiber shaft putting things in and out of the trunk. The little magnet on the end is really mickey mouse.

The big problem is that there is nothing to hold the upper end in place on the hood. The secret might be to weld a washer onto the inside of the hood surface to locate the end. I might try JB Weld to do this and save painting the hood.

Over all it's not a bad idea. On the other hand a piece of wood would serve the same purpose. It would also be just as handy. The bottom line is that it's a good way to spend money - but it's not better than a stick of wood from Home Depot.

Richard

[Ron,K]

Found this site for carbon fiber rod and tubing. It shouldn't be hard to make your own and save a few bucks.

http://www.dragonplate.com/ecart/

[island911]

Originally posted by NY65912
I use one and love it. The hood prop weighs nothing . . . that should save some weight!

hmmm... have you weighed the OE hood struts? I had a pair in my hands yesterday . . .the hood struts weigh next to nothing.

If you're really into lightening that much, skip all sorts of hood proping devices. Hell, you could also save a few ounces by losing the hinges and latch, and pin the hood on.

[rfn026]

With all of the weight saving talk in this forum we must be a really skinny group of people. We can't possibly be any thinner so we're buying things like carbon fiber hood props to save wight.

I like the thought of removing the door hinges and just welding the doors shut. Oppps - NACAR did that 20 years ago.

Richard

[jtratza]

Some things are best bought than built. In the mid 70's I bought a beat up MG TF for $500. It had gone tail end first (guess 911's aren't the only ones to tail first) and busted the oak (yup oak like in wood) frame in the rear. I bought a 4 by 4 piece of oak for $10 and spent the better part of a week cutting and sawing and sanding it to match the broken original. A month or so later spotted a replacement piece in the Moss catalog for $9. More than once I've spent lots of time and almost as much money trying to save a few bucks when I should have just bought the thing correctly built to begin with.

[ted]

The Pelican/Seine props work great front and rear.

[NY65912]

Originally posted by island911
hmmm... have you weighed the OE hood struts? I had a pair in my hands yesterday . . .the hood struts weigh next to nothing.

If you're really into lightening that much, skip all sorts of hood proping devices. Hell, you could also save a few ounces by losing the hinges and latch, and pin the hood on.

I was being facetious by my statement. Although my SC track car is on a weight loss program. The SC is now about 2450 lbs. I see FG body panels in the near future (car has a full cage).

But ounces add up to pounds! I guess next I'll drill out the ignition switch or eliminate it altogether

[island911]

Originally posted by NY65912
I was being facetious by my statement. . ..
But ounces add up to pounds! I guess next I'll drill out . . .

Which is it? You were kinding about the weight loss or not?

Either way, what I wrote, applies; "If you're really into lightening that much, skip all sorts of hood proping devices."

A simple stick can be taken out and left at the paddock, w/ all the other superfulious gear.

[NY65912]

Island........I am very serious about the weight loss program. Although th CF hood prop weighs next to nothing. When I get to the point of a FG hood I will probably loose all the hood hardware ..... plus.

[Don Plumley]

I have one and it works great. You'll be amazed how heavy the hood is.