Hood Props

[kupcar]

Hi Guys, I'm looking for a way to hold open my carbon hood. The stock hood shocks are too stiff and I'm afraid they will fatigue the mounting points. I'm currently using a cut dow rod but I'm sure someone has an idea to mount and secure a prop rod. Ideas? Thanks, Jeff

[car 311]

old broom stick... had to wrestle it away from my girlfriend as she rode by on it....

[Cory M]

do a search, there are a bunch of options including aftermarket and factory Porsche parts

[Tony V]

These work great and use existing holes.
Seine Systems > Ultimate Strut
Tony

[Pete R]

What if you found someone that had a worn out set of hood shocks you could swap with. They may have enough life left to hold up a carbon hood.

[car 311]

after further consideration, for the cost of carbon hood can't you get somebody to stand there and hold it up while yir in there??.....

[kupcar]

I've done the girlfriend's broomstick thing. The girlfriend became a wife and now she purposely drops the hood on me. The Siene system looks interesting. I've even drilled out the old shocks to relieve the pressure in them and then clamp the shock shaft to hold open. That was a pain. Cory, I tried a search, didn't turn up anything. I guess I must have worded it wrong.

[campbellcj]

I was also using an old broomstick but lost it someplace. I have one of the old RSR-style telescoping metal rods too, but it is heavy and cumbersome compared to a plain ol' stick. I'd be interested in a lightweight and elegant solution too as I routinely get bonked on the head while filling up the fuel cell, especially on windy Willow Springs afternoons.

[HarryD]

Have you looked at this thread? Best hood prop rod solution?

I am sure there are others as well.

[RichardNew]

My carbon fiber one broke. I replaced the carbon fiber with a length of aluminum tubing from Ace Hardware.

Richard Newton
Newton's Laws

[KTL]

I made mine out of a length of M6 threaded rod, a rubber end cap (kinda like a non-slip tip) and a tiny spherical rod end that is bolted into the trunk area. Cost me a total of $15 for the rod and rod end from McMaster Carr.

[Cory M]

Originally Posted by kupcar

...Cory, I tried a search, didn't turn up anything. I guess I must have worded it wrong.

I didn't mean to sound dismissive. I just didn't remember the names of the aftermarket one (Seine Systems) and I know the part numbers of the factory ones were listed in another thread. Rothsport sells a copy of the factory unit at a higher price. I've had both Seine and factory and preferred the factory. The cheapest option is to drill an old hood strut and stick a pin in it, it works great and stands up better to a strong wind than the other options.

[kupcar]

Everyone, Thanks for the info. There are more options than I thought. I'm currently using the drilled strut with a clamp on it. Went this direction because a forgetful mechanic tried to close my hood on my old wooden prop rod. The prop rod won. Thanks to everyone I now a solution to the problem. Thanks Again, Jeff

[KTL]

Here's the part numbers for the 964RS prop rod via Pelican

[Steve W]

Take a thin aluminum rod about 16-24" long and attach it so it pivots on an attachment point on the inside frame of the trunk lid on one end, and do the same at the other end along the trunk on one of the carpet snaps. Cut the rod in the center and create a pivot like a cripple with something like a couple of small eye screws. Have another thin tube about 3" long slide freely over the assembly so that when you open the trunk, the tube slides down the rod and centers itself over the cripple joint, keeping the rod straight. When you want to close it, slide the tube up which allows the rods to fold. If you have a fiberglass hood, you won't have to worry about wind overflipping it.

[KTL]

Originally Posted by Steve W

Take a thin aluminum rod about 16-24" long and attach it so it pivots on an attachment point on the inside frame of the trunk lid on one end, and do the same at the other end along the trunk on one of the carpet snaps. Cut the rod in the center and create a pivot like a cripple with something like a couple of small eye screws. Have another thin tube about 3" long slide freely over the assembly so that when you open the trunk, the tube slides down the rod and centers itself over the cripple joint, keeping the rod straight. When you want to close it, slide the tube up which allows the rods to fold. If you have a fiberglass hood, you won't have to worry about wind overflipping it.

That's a nice idea Steve. Thanks for the tip. My fiberglass hood always seems to want to take flight while i'll filling the fuel cell.

[trak ratt]

“Pylon Lift Lock” I like this solution for my race car! Can even take one off. Prolly put it on the right side as I'm right handed. Same principle as the original 356/VW hood release. Added benefit is no stick in the way when working under the bonnet.

But may not be the best solution for a street car as everyone else will expect to just pull the hood down. Our '60 356 and '65 MGB had bent hoods from ham fisted attendants so be for warned