Read if you have weak hood struts/ supports.

[JimP]

I've never had any issue with the hood struts on my GN but today while going over the car to get it ready for storage the hood slammed down nearly taking off my left hand. I don't know if it was the colder weather but the hood just came down, as if my struts decided to call it quits right at that moment. I guess I'm lucky it didn't break my hand or did it, it hurts like hell and is swollen pretty bad I haven't bothered seeing a doctor yet.

Be careful guys and gals, I like to think I am careful, some say I am overly cautious but today this happened pretty much without warning. I've had my hood up countless times and never had this happen before, I'm just glad my 9 year old son didn't have his hands there at the time.

Jim

 

[TurboCrazy]

OUCH!!! Yeah, been there experienced that! Luckily, came down on my back, not my hand. Hope your hand isn't broke. A lot of times i use a prop rod just in case.

 

[charlief1]

Once the hood's open I like to clamp a pair of vice grips on the shaft. This keeps the hood from coming down but remember to take them off before you try and close the hood. If you forget you can bend the hood, which will piss you off to say the least. One other thing to think about is to take a tennis ball and cut a slit in it for the hook. This keeps you from hitting your head on it by accident.

 

[JimP]

I'll be replacing the struts, using a vice grip and even a prop rod, I like the tennis ball trick too. Only reason I posted is because I don't want this to happen to anyone else. It's just one of those things that can be avoided.

 

[GNTIM]

the fluid in the strut becomes less viscous in colder weather. Keep in mind that if you use vice grips, it will mar the piston and that will screw up the seal, making the problem worse.

 

[NCTURBOS]

FYI... Some new hood struts are too strong when replacing both and can also damage the hood. So, maybe look at just replacing one instead of both.

Also... The "old" struts can come in handy to someone who purchased an aftermarket fiberglass/CF hood, and needs weaker struts. So don't throw them away, but offer them up to someone who might need/want them.


K.

 

[ttaowner]

I have seen plenty of hoods cracked where the brackets attach hood to hood shocks probably from hood shocks that are too stiff

 

[novaderrik]

i think the coil spring setup that was used in most other G bodies is a direct bolt in swap..

 

[turboc87gn]

The struts do it in the cold weather when they start to get old i use needle nose vice grips they dont seem to mar the arm so much

 

[williamsGN]

I make it a point to never keep the hood up for extended periods, over night, etc. Only when I'm working on it, or showing it off

 

[turbo nasty]

Yeah had the safety latch come down on my back before....not fun

 

[charlief1]

Only when I'm working on it,

With these cars that seems to be most of the time though.

Yeah had the safety latch come down on my back before....not fun

And that's exactly why I brought up the tennis ball. With a slit cut in it you can put it over the hook and protect your head ect whether the hood stays up or not.

 

[marko62ss]

This reminds me of the movie Christine.

 

[GNTIM]

A buddy of mine was a Snap On dealer and this one "technician" had his scanner right below the hook in the hood, it got spiked by a falling hood, TWICE!

 

[HighPSI]

Also... The "old" struts can come in handy to someone who purchased an aftermarket fiberglass/CF hood, and needs weaker struts. So don't throw them away, but offer them up to someone who might need/want them.


K.

Great advice, Keith. The guys buying our glass hoods are always looking for weak struts

 

[Phoneguy]

Great advice, Keith. The guys buying our glass hoods are always looking for weak struts

I have a pair if anyone needs them. Saved them for this purpose.

Bryan

 

[rmar]

I have a pair if anyone needs them. Saved them for this purpose.

Bryan

And what a lovely pair they are.........



.

 

[Phoneguy]

And what a lovely pair they are.........



.

WOW...Ronnie...never expected that out of you. LOL

Bryan