[fcsallan]

I spent a few hours today and fabricated a couple of new brackets and installed a set of struts to hold up my hood. I hit my head on that hood for the last time.

Now I just have to take them back off and paint them. Nice mod and as I said, it only took a couple of hours and a few basic tools.
I actually made the first bracket with mostly hand tools, hack saw, file hand drill but I got tired quick and pulled out the cut off wheel and did the finish work with a flapper wheel and the grinder. But the fact that the first one was done with all hand tools says, anyone can do this.

Hear are a few closer shots. There really wasn't much to it. I just measured the spacing of the two bolts on the hood hinge and then figured where I wanted the bracket to mount and removed any material that got in my way.

More in following post..................

 

[fcsallan]

And the rest of the pics.

And one of the other side:

The struts were from a late 80's Toyota Celica Hatchback. $27 a piece at AutoZone.

Easy mod. Enjoy
Allan

 

[corsairkid]

That looks good. Nice work.

 

[UN4GTBL]

That looks good, speaking of hitting your head i managed to drop my hood on my head about a month ago (long story, tried to do about 4 things at once while talking on a cell phone and i took out the support prop and down the hood went on my head )

I see you have a quad dakota too, does it have the 3.7 in it as well? If so would you say the nitro to have the same as, worse or better fuel mileage?

 

[Fenrir.no]

Welcome to the club! I did this mod a few months ago and painted the lifts to match my Inferno Red! I sure is nice not to have to put up that darn rod everytime now, right? What level (pounds) lifts did you use?

 

[fcsallan]

That looks good, speaking of hitting your head i managed to drop my hood on my head about a month ago (long story, tried to do about 4 things at once while talking on a cell phone and i took out the support prop and down the hood went on my head )

I see you have a quad dakota too, does it have the 3.7 in it as well? If so would you say the nitro to have the same as, worse or better fuel mileage?

The Dakota has a 3.7 but the Nitro R/T has the 4.0. AS to the mileage, they are about the same, although we drive the Dakota so little it is hard to remember. It is a 2004 with only 12000 miles on it. More for running to the landscape yard or Home Depot to pick up big stuff than anything else. I should say that is when I am allowed to drive it. It is momma's car so she takes it shopping occasionally as well, but only when I don't go.

Fenrir.no,

I think I originally used 40LB struts but they were a bit stiff then dropped down to 27LB but they did not hold the hood open until they were completely extended so I ended up with 32LB struts. The problem with the ratings by pound is they all use a different method to gauge it. The only apples to apples comparisons are when using the same manufacturer which all of these were.

How heavy are yours and it would be cool to see a picture of your install.

 

[Fenrir.no]

I think I originally used 40LB struts but they were a bit stiff then dropped down to 27LB but they did not hold the hood open until they were completely extended so I ended up with 32LB struts. The problem with the ratings by pound is they all use a different method to gauge it. The only apples to apples comparisons are when using the same manufacturer which all of these were.

How heavy are yours and it would be cool to see a picture of your install.

As far as I remember they're 35s or 36s - kinda difficult to check as they're painted... ! I think back when some other guys on a now dead forum (RIP nitro-rider), they found that 40s tended to bend the hood a bit and 30s manage to hold the hood up, but lost their pressure almost right away.
I'll get some pics up shortly!

 

[UN4GTBL]

The Dakota has a 3.7 but the Nitro R/T has the 4.0. AS to the mileage, they are about the same, although we drive the Dakota so little it is hard to remember. It is a 2004 with only 12000 miles on it. More for running to the landscape yard or Home Depot to pick up big stuff than anything else. I should say that is when I am allowed to drive it. It is momma's car so she takes it shopping occasionally as well, but only when I don't go. ...

Cool, just trying to do some pre-purchase research, we had a 3.7 dakota about a year ago...

Again Good job man!

 

[jas_Oz]

yeah I have 2 brackets here i need to paint to match my car, i hope to do the mod soon.

Good Work