Where can you get replacement struts, cheap? My 90 only has one on it. If I'm not mistaken, there are additional spots for two more little ones. If I add these will my hood pop up automatically when I pull the hood release handle?

 

My only question is why would you want this? Sounds dangerous - think hood not latched properly, and body flex, while driving 55 MPH.

 

I don't think it's supposed to pop all the way up. I think they make it much easier to lift and close the hood. I have an 86L so mine has the two small ones and the large one. All of mine are shot and I am considering replacing them. Mid America and Ecklers has them but they are not cheap.

 

Do these little struts REALLY help??? My hood feels like I'm lifting 100 pounds or so when opening.

 

When I got my Vette in 2000 one of the small ones was missing. Though it was a bear to compress for installation it didn't seem to help noticibly. Maybe I need to replace all of them.

 

Try 'The Last Detail' 88-96 hood support $53.00. Ecklers is $66.99. http://www.TLD-Corvette.com
Phone 770-414-0077

Hope this helps!

 

I got mine from autozone..the brand is called mighty lift.I replaced the large main strut and the 2 small ones.Mine were all SHOT and the hood was so heavy feeling.
(LIFETIME WARRANTY on THESE)

By just replacing the 2 small ones, the hood woud stand up on its own.The new small struts were so stiff I had to push the hood past the raise point to install the new ones to clear the catch socket.Btw,if youre missing the 2 small struts,you need the clips that keeps the struts from falling out.

Then I Installed the new main one...the hood popped much easier and was easier to lift after.If it doesnt pop as much,you can also adjust the plastic cable nuts with two 13MM wrenches at the latches.Lock down the long nut and turn the short one at the end and it will pull or move the latch in or out to the desired place

BTW,one day I was doing a brake job up front and the car must have shooked some and the hood fell down and hit the back of my neck!!
Lucky for me,it was the curved part over the front tire and it just pushed my neck down when it slammed down...had my head bent down doing the brake work and never knew what hit me...if that part of the hood was flat,my neck wouldve been broken..I was sore for days..so I ran out and got new struts and learned a valuable lesson.

 

Ours have no hydraulic assist, it was added in 1988.

 

No. I replaced my '86 with GM struts; no difference in lifting, but it will stay at the full open position better.

I'm thinking about replacing the long strut (just a locking rod on the '86) with a later model replacement gas strut, for a total of 3 struts.

And driving with the hood unlatched is not much of a problem. It does lift an inch or two at speed; but passing motorists will alert you...(They'll have eyeballs the size of dinner plates)... :eek:



[Modified by Rich B., 10:15 AM 1/20/2002]

 

I'd think that the aero downforce on the front pivot hood would keep it pretty well down and not a big problem.