hood strut

[Nacho]

Is it possible to get a hood strut for a GA, the reason i ask is because ive seen them on some aleros before not to many but ive seen them since the alero and Grand Am are basically the same car does anyone know how to go about getting a bracket or has anyone here done this?

[TA^Guy]

Shouldn't be hard at all. Some use two pins to connect them. I don't see why fabbing up mounts would be all that difficult.

I plan on using some for a Camaro when my truck is finished unless I end up tilting it with Buick hinges.

[tenspeed]

I made my own. I didn't know that the Alero had them when I did.

lowrider2962 just added them too.

[Nacho]

did you buy that premade or did you fab the mounts yourself and have to search for a strut with the right specs, and instructions how you did it would be nice too. Ive only seen one or two aleros with them i dont know if they were aftermarket or what but i definetly like them better then the prop rod.

[tenspeed]

It's a lot easier to get a kit, maybe on ebay or something for the Alero. I didn't know that they existed before I made my set up.

I went to the parts store with my ruler and started measuring supports. I wanted a pair that would fit between the hinge and the rubber bumper when closed. I had a pair of 3/8" ball mounts so I was looking for that kind of end. The store couldn't tell me what kind of car they were for. They were not set up to tell what cars used the supports I found.

I installed the 3/8" ball mounts in the hole in the hinge. I had to remove the hinge to tap the hole so I painted them at the same time. The other end of the support used 1/4" ball mounts. I couldn't find any of those so I made a pair by cutting the head off a bolt and filing it down, using my drill to turn it.

I made a block for the top mounts since it was going into a fiberglass hood. It's aluminum bar stock, about 3/16 - 1/4" thick.
I filed the inside edge so it sit snug with the hood contour. I drilled and tapped the block and the hood, covered the back with clear RTV so it's screwed and glued in place.

They work great, slowly raising the hood and if I want, I can stop it half way up and it holds in place for car shows. The supports were around $45 - $50.

[ManktheTank19]

I might want to try this on my hood....wondering if my hood is to heavy :???:

[tenspeed]

They work on my stock hood and my SD hood. How much does your hood weigh?

[ManktheTank19]

All I know it is pretty heavy because of the molding process

[ga5speed02]

I saw Jims i nperson and it is an amazing mod what the one peice can do. great work jim

[freekLED]

What about the one for the G6 from www.redlinetuning.com ? Might that one work? There is one set on ebay for the alero but it's not a kit with brackets as far as I can tell.

Jim, well done. Would you provide/post the data (P/N), load rating, etc) thats printed on the lift cylinders including open & closed end to end lengths?

[bballr4567]

LED,

It says on that site to contact them if they dont sell a kit for a car. Ill go in with a group buy!!

[Gagt518]

x2

[tenspeed]

Originally posted by freekLED
Jim, well done. Would you provide/post the data (P/N), load rating, etc) thats printed on the lift cylinders including open & closed end to end lengths?

The label on the package says "Mighty Lift!" C 95543 and it has a UPC code of 37495 95543. They are officially called "Gas-Charged Lift Supports". I think I got them at an Advance Auto store. You can use them but they have two different ends. There has to be a pair of easier lifts to work with. You'll need two 3/8" and two 1/4" ball studs.

The supports are 16" closed and 19" open (center to center of the mounts). The upper mount aluminum pad is 3/4" wide x 3" long and 1/4" thick. I usually over engineer everything and the pad may not be necessary. I wanted a little more metal to tap into for the upper mount since my "summer hood" is fiberglass.

lowrider2962 used parts from a padlock hasp to mount his.

From the instruction sheet, it looks like there are two types of ends. There's a ball socket and an eyelet. You could easily mount them using a bolt through the eyelet. You would have to use two nuts, a lock nut or thread lock so the eye can turn.

There's a mounting hole on the hinge (probably for the Alero lifts). Get a thick towel and remove the hood bolts on one side. The towel cushions the hood and saves the paint on the hood and fender. Remove the bottom hinge bolts and the hinge prys off. There's a locating stud in the center. You can also remove the hood but it's easier if there's another pair of hands. Use towels even with extra help.

A bolt could be tapped into the hood like I did or a bracket could be made from angle stock.

[carguy15102]

What about these it says they fit 95-04 Cavalier and Sunfire.

http://www.redlinetuning.com/QL-CHEVY-CAV-9504.html

[Nacho]

We actually had a 99 alero come in today and it had the struts one on each side the hood did look lighter like there was less to it then my grand am and the brackets were welded to both the hood and fenders, so i wonder if you could go to a dealer and some how get the brackets, unless anyone knows of a company that sells a kit?

[tenspeed]

Originally posted by Nacho
We actually had a 99 Alero come in today

Where do you work?

and it had the struts one on each side [/B]

I have lifts on both sides too. The pictures shows a close up of the one side.

the hood did look lighter like there was less to it then my grand am [/B]

Both hoods should be close to the same weight.

and the brackets were welded to both the hood and fenders, [/B]

The Alero hood has the brackets welded on the hood. I don't know about the Alero fenders but I know my GA hinge has a hole in it. Use the hole to mount the bottom end of the lift.

so i wonder if you could go to a dealer and some how get the brackets, unless anyone knows of a company that sells a kit? [/B]

Bend over if you go to the dealer for this mod. They charge huge bucks to replace stuff they pull off the shelf.

You could hire a small boy to hold the hood open cheaper than having a dealer fabricate custom parts.

The mounts are no big deal. Go to a home store and get some 1" x 1" aluminum angle. Cut a piece about two inches long, round all the sharp edges and screw/pop rivet it to the hood. There's your hood mount.

[tenspeed]

Originally posted by carguy15102
What about these it says they fit 95-04 Cavalier and Sunfire.

http://www.redlinetuning.com/QL-CHEVY-CAV-9504.html

Those would work if they are 16" when closed. It looks like a complete kit. The G6 kit comes with black hardware. Give them a call and see if they know what the open and closed length is.

[freekLED]

Thanks for the info Jim, just what I needed to do this myself (probably helps others too).

The upper mount aluminum pad is 3/4" wide x 3" long and 1/4" thick. I usually over engineer everything and the pad may not be necessary. I wanted a little more metal to tap into for the upper mount since my "summer hood" is fiberglass.

Not overkill, just very necessary since stock hood material is a bit flimsy. That pad is absolutely necessary to provide extra stability & reduce side to side flex of the stock hood sheet metal.

You can use them but they have two different ends. There has to be a pair of easier lifts to work with.

I bet there are lots of them. In this part of the world the sets I can get come with various/varying ball ends and brackets with ball ends already attached. I've already got various "gas lift supports" in various lengths and will check those 1st.
__________________________________________________ __

Carguy suggests using the Cavalier kit from Redline Tuning.

AND

Those would work if they are 16" when closed. It looks like a complete kit. The G6 kit comes with black hardware. Give them a call and see if they know what the open and closed length is.

I don't think this would work because of the weight difference between the 2 hoods, unless:
A - Redline is using a strut that has enough reserve pressure to carry the extra weight of a GA hood.
B - As Jim stated the length is 16" closed & 19" open.
C - The mounting hardware is the same form Cavalier to GA (which I really doubt).

I know the difference in hood weight since I own one of each vehicle and there is a considerable weight difference. Not sure how many LBs though.

Who knows though, maybe Redline has or can make(assemble) something that is a simple bolt on from their various kits.

[ga5speed02]

there should be a 'how to' on this. its fairly easy so some one should do it up :)

[ManktheTank19]

Originally posted by ga5speed02
there should be a 'how to' on this. its fairly easy so some one should do it up :)

:agree: with Mike

and maybe a group buy...seems many are interested :)

[ga5speed02]

well i have 'other' plans for my hood. but some one can do a how to and submit it in.