unreals build

38533 Views 96 Replies 35 Participants Last post by WoodButcher, May 14, 2017

unrreal

Discussion Starter · Feb 9, 2010

9

i just installed a set of hood struts in my van, i just thought it was a good idea and it only took me an hour to do so. so heres the list :
- 2 mighty lifts part# E95212 this set will run you at about $24.00 a piece but they do come with the round bolts but (no nuts) how absurd is that!
- the nuts are gonna be M8-1.25 AND YOU ARE GOING TO NEED 4 OF THEM.
- 7/16" wrench, 12mm socket and ratchet, drill bits.

the overall dimension of the struts are from end to end 15.25" and from center hole to center hole [highlight=] 14.50"[/highlight] this is your most important measurement dont forget. and of course a couple of pictures :

"]0[/ATTACH] sorry i forgot to take some pics....

View attachment 6

AND FINALLY....

HOOD open and NO PROP ROD.... :thumbup:
AND dont forget to close the hood gently the first couple of times so that you can get used to the strength of the struts, YOU DONT WANT TO DAMAGE YOUR HOOD...

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1 - 20 of 97 Posts

marcus38

· #2 · Feb 9, 2010

good post!! i was wondering if anybody on this site had done this mod yet. was thinkin about doin it but wasnt sure on the strut length. i get my struts at www.liftsupportsdepot.com where did u get those?

astro355

· #3 · Feb 9, 2010

That is a nice edition. I do hate that prop rod. But I have a question.

Do you think you could have used shorter struts?

marcus38

· #4 · Feb 9, 2010

1 more question..whats the lbs. of force on that model. i think that means force to compress the strut. i see em for $15 each plus shipping on the site above. i got some 36 in from them already for my gullwing slider door. heavy duty and built well..no problems or complaints. several options also. lbs. of force,ball ends or eyelet ends. even mix matched ends!! check em out. shipped from cali to kentucky in 4 days!!

unrreal

Discussion Starter · #5 · Feb 9, 2010

marcus38 said:
good post!! i was wondering if anybody on this site had done this mod yet. was thinkin about doin it but wasnt sure on the strut length. i get my struts at http://www.liftsupportsdepot.com where did u get those?

i got them over at my local autozone, i was looking at the big selection they had and i decided to get those because of the bolts were already included.

unrreal

Discussion Starter · #6 · Feb 9, 2010

marcus38 said:
1 more question..whats the lbs. of force on that model. i think that means force to compress the strut. i see em for $15 each plus shipping on the site above. i got some 36 in from them already for my gullwing slider door. heavy duty and built well..no problems or complaints. several options also. lbs. of force,ball ends or eyelet ends. even mix matched ends!! check em out. shipped from cali to kentucky in 4 days!!

unfortunately i wasnt able to find the information on the lbs. i havent even been able to find a website for them....

Jasen

· #7 · Feb 10, 2010

This is one of the mods I've been thinking about. Nice :thumbup:

Heres another good source for gas springs, all kinds of them along with force lbs. and all the various accessories to go with them and all the info. They carry both pushers and puller.

Scroll through the page numbers at the top left highlighted in yellow.

http://www.mcmaster.com/#gas-springs/=5qyn4n

workinVan

· #8 · Feb 21, 2010

i just did the mod the other day and it was a simple 5 minute install, once i found some nuts to hold the bolts on.
I did however end up drilling to close to the backend of the hoodand had to redrill closer to the bend in thehood bracket, if anybody else is going to try it i would suggest drilling in the hood brackets first as close to that bend as possible allowing enough room for the nut you` use to contact flushly, then put the lower swivel bolt on the struts and eyeball where to drill it on the fender rails.
definately make sure you compress the struts by hand before you install them as they might be jammed up and you WILL bend the hood if you don't

mine looks exactly the same as the pics allready posted

webcat

· #9 · Feb 21, 2010

How about a video of you opening and closing?

Leeann_93

· #10 · Feb 21, 2010

That is the one thing I miss from my Lumina....I hate the damn prop rod on both the Bravada and the Astro. I'll have to consider this one...

unrreal

Discussion Starter · #11 · Feb 28, 2010

webcat said:
How about a video of you opening and closing?

i'll do that tomorrow when i get a chance...

workinVan

· #12 · Mar 1, 2010

http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v710/ ... deo035.flv
hope this works
quick vid sorry about sounding all sick and crap

JaxSPL

· #13 · Mar 1, 2010

God I want to do this. Would it be any different installing these on an earlier model astro?

This is probably going to sound newbish, but.. What about measurements? How did you measure out where exactly to drill the holes for them?

workinVan

· #14 · Mar 1, 2010

JaxSPL said:
God I want to do this. Would it be any different installing these on an earlier model astro?

This is probably going to sound newbish, but.. What about measurements? How did you measure out where exactly to drill the holes for them?

i based mine on looking where the bolt could be mounted without hitting anything when closing the hood, you might notice on my video there is an extra hole that would be the first attempt but i couldn't get the nut on cuz i used a self locking nut that was flared at thebase
start at the mount location on the upper hood bracket and it falls into place as the lower mount can be put pretty much anywhere on the fender rail, then just mirror it on the other side.
any longer or shorter of a strut would probably cause a binding issue but longer would be less likely then shorter

astroturf

· #15 · Mar 1, 2010

Very Nice. Jim

ProStreet_LS1

· #16 · Mar 4, 2010

Can you give us a measurement from the hood mount bolts to the strut mount? The early Astro has a different hood hinge, no bend to go by. Will probably have to modified the early Astro hood to make the struts work. Mike

webcat

· #17 · Mar 4, 2010

workinVan said:
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v710/newmanbabies/Fish/?action=view&current=Video035.flv
hope this works
quick vid sorry about sounding all sick and crap

Nice , i was just wondering if there's any resistance when you go to close it , in the video i see it opens very well.
thanks

workinVan

· #18 · Mar 5, 2010

took another video with my cell phone opening and closing.
once it reaches almost closed it shuts itself and latchs so no need to slam it
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v710/ ... deo039.flv
oh i forgot the measurment for a second from the hood hinge bolt to the strut mount point is 7 - 7.5 inchs

astro355

· #19 · Mar 5, 2010

workinVan said:
took another video with my cell phone opening and closing.
once it reaches almost closed it shuts itself and latchs so no need to slam it
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v710/ ... deo039.flv
oh i forgot the measurment for a second from the hood hinge bolt to the strut mount point is 7 - 7.5 inchs

Yeah, that's what I want to here. Regardless of how I align that hood, you have to slam it to get it to shut.

webcat

· #20 · Mar 6, 2010

workinVan said:
took another video with my cell phone opening and closing.
once it reaches almost closed it shuts itself and latchs so no need to slam it
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v710/ ... deo039.flv
oh i forgot the measurment for a second from the hood hinge bolt to the strut mount point is 7 - 7.5 inchs

Yea nice , closes like magic

1 - 20 of 97 Posts

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