hood struts - suggestions on which to get?

[paradigm]

Just acquired an '87 Grand National in pretty rough shape. It needs hood shocks - any suggestions on which to go with?

Thanks!

 

[1KWIKSIX]

Get these ones made for a Fiberglass hood.
They work perfectly & keep a steel hood up when opened , but allow it to close completely & effortlessly without having to slam it down.

 

[1KWIKSIX]

Get these ones made for a Fiberglass hood.
They work perfectly & keep a steel hood up when opened , but allow it to close completely & effortlessly without having to slam it down.

Correction : these are originally for aluminum hoods but work perfectly on our steel hood & have 96 lbs compression vs 120 lb compression for the originals

https://shop.advanceautoparts.com/p/strongarm-hood-lift-support-15.35-ext-length-5.62-travel-96-lbs-of-force-1-pk-e4491/19940215-P

 

[mblum]

I'm using this one on my 86 GN, works great.

More Information for ACDELCO 510307

 

[paradigm]

Thanks everyone I will check these out.

 

[Anthony P]

If you do a year, make, model (Y,M,M) search for the hood struts, the results all point to struts for a STEEL hood, which most of us still retain the factory steel hood.

The struts for a STEEL hood are very, very strong when new, and still very strong as they age decades later. The commentary many have said, is the fear of "taco-ing" the hood when attempting to close it as the force required to get that pair of new struts to close is more than one would expect. It's like you might fold the hood in half trying to pull it down.

About 30 years ago when I replaced my original hood struts, the ADAP parts store guy provided me with MightyLift hood struts for an Aluminum hood. I commented I have a factory STEEL hood and that these struts are not the correct part. His reply was that he knew/expected the car to have the factory STEEL hood, however, that I really do not want replacement struts for a STEEL hood...what I really want are struts for an Aluminum hood, and that's what he put on the counter for me. He was spot-on in that statement.

Any of the Y,M,M recommendations for aftermarket hood stuts for ALUMINUM hood will work fine. StrongArm, MightyLift, Stabilus, etc. If you wanted an ACDelco hood strut, look closely as you'll find which aftermarket company supplies the struts to ACDelco. Both have that little blue sticker with a date code. The original stuts were by Gas Spring Co. (GS) from Colmar, PA. GS was bought out by Stabilus years ago. All will work fine. Lots to choose from on RockAuto's site.

 

[1KWIKSIX]

If you do a year, make, model (Y,M,M) search for the hood struts, the results all point to struts for a STEEL hood, which most of us still retain the factory steel hood.

The struts for a STEEL hood are very, very strong when new, and still very strong as they age decades later. The commentary many have said, is the fear of "taco-ing" the hood when attempting to close it as the force required to get that pair of new struts to close is more than one would expect. It's like you might fold the hood in half trying to pull it down.

About 30 years ago when I replaced my original hood struts, the ADAP parts store guy provided me with MightyLift hood struts for an Aluminum hood. I commented I have a factory STEEL hood and that these struts are not the correct part. His reply was that he knew/expected the car to have the factory STEEL hood, however, that I really do not want replacement struts for a STEEL hood...what I really want are struts for an Aluminum hood, and that's what he put on the counter for me. He was spot-on in that statement.

Any of the Y,M,M recommendations for aftermarket hood stuts for ALUMINUM hood will work fine. StrongArm, MightyLift, Stabilus, etc. If you wanted an ACDelco hood strut, look closely as you'll find which aftermarket company supplies the struts to ACDelco. Both have that little blue sticker with a date code. The original stuts were by Gas Spring Co. (GS) from Colmar, PA. GS was bought out by Stabilus years ago. All will work fine. Lots to choose from on RockAuto's site.

Yup, as stated, grab the hood struts for the aluminum hood.
You won’t regret this choice

 

[wdxwrx]

I had NAPA struts on my car.
I always felt like I was going to bend the hood when closing it.
I bought new ones from Highway Stars.
They work perfect.
The parts they sell, and their customer service is always top notch.