85 hood strut
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 1,590
Likes: 60
From: ft myers FL/Munising MI
85 hood strut
ok....just can't take that heavy hood on my 85....through research in this forum. i've found that I need the gas strut, upper and lower brackets from a later model
gm part 464058 strut
14104803 upper bracket
10278271 lower bracket other than the strut, parts are discontinued from gm......anybody know where I can get these parts?
(besides a salvage yard}...my last resort...thanks....Paul
gm part 464058 strut
14104803 upper bracket
10278271 lower bracket other than the strut, parts are discontinued from gm......anybody know where I can get these parts?
(besides a salvage yard}...my last resort...thanks....Paul
Racer
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 326
Likes: 5
From: central Florida Florida
ok....just can't take that heavy hood on my 85....through research in this forum. i've found that I need the gas strut, upper and lower brackets from a later model
gm part 464058 strut
14104803 upper bracket
10278271 lower bracket other than the strut, parts are discontinued from gm......anybody know where I can get these parts?
(besides a salvage yard}...my last resort...thanks....Paul
gm part 464058 strut
14104803 upper bracket
10278271 lower bracket other than the strut, parts are discontinued from gm......anybody know where I can get these parts?
(besides a salvage yard}...my last resort...thanks....Paul
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 3,752
Likes: 276
From: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
ok....just can't take that heavy hood on my 85....through research in this forum. i've found that I need the gas strut, upper and lower brackets from a later model
gm part 464058 strut
14104803 upper bracket
10278271 lower bracket other than the strut, parts are discontinued from gm......anybody know where I can get these parts?
(besides a salvage yard}...my last resort...thanks....Paul
gm part 464058 strut
14104803 upper bracket
10278271 lower bracket other than the strut, parts are discontinued from gm......anybody know where I can get these parts?
(besides a salvage yard}...my last resort...thanks....Paul
The hood stays open by itself, I have to pull the hood down half way before i can drop it to close it.
Note the newer type hood strut is prone to being accidently bumped and have the hood bang on your head, by the ammount of posts of that on this site.
See the link below for new hood assist struts, you will need two.
http://www.parts123.com/parts123/yb....5Z50000050F~~~
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 3,752
Likes: 276
From: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
That is a nice looking engine Here ya go chrome hood assist struts, shame about the price.
http://www.parts123.com/parts123/yb....5Z50000050F~~~
You might want the underhood mirror's like they are also selling at corvettecentral.
http://www.parts123.com/parts123/yb....5Z50000050F~~~
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 865
Likes: 6
From: Auburn Michigan
Wow...I'm glad you brought up this topic. I've had my 85 for about 15 years and have always muscled that hood up. I knew there were the 2 small struts in the front, but they are so small, I figured they didn't really do anything.
Going to order a pair as soon as I'm done with this post...
Thanks
EDIT:...Done. Got some on fleabay on the way.
Going to order a pair as soon as I'm done with this post...
Thanks
EDIT:...Done. Got some on fleabay on the way.
Last edited by cohocarl; Apr 10, 2014 at 06:39 AM.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 1,590
Likes: 60
From: ft myers FL/Munising MI
guess i'll order the chrome ones....i'll let you know if it helps...I found that third strut and brackets online ...80 bucks......going to set me back 140 for the two little ones in front.....hope it helps....doubt I could get the third gas strut in chrome.....
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 6,528
Likes: 752
From: South Dakota
I changed the small struts on my '85. It really helped.
A tip when installing them is to have a helper who can hold the hood open further than the support lever arm will hold it. It gives a little more room so you don't have to try and compress the strut to put it in. I did it several years ago and I don't remember if I had to unbolt the support lever arm bracket to get it to go far enough or if just holding it open fully was enough.
Good luck.
playsdixie, great looking under the hood!
A tip when installing them is to have a helper who can hold the hood open further than the support lever arm will hold it. It gives a little more room so you don't have to try and compress the strut to put it in. I did it several years ago and I don't remember if I had to unbolt the support lever arm bracket to get it to go far enough or if just holding it open fully was enough.
Good luck.
playsdixie, great looking under the hood!
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 1,590
Likes: 60
From: ft myers FL/Munising MI
I changed the small struts on my '85. It really helped.
A tip when installing them is to have a helper who can hold the hood open further than the support lever arm will hold it. It gives a little more room so you don't have to try and compress the strut to put it in. I did it several years ago and I don't remember if I had to unbolt the support lever arm bracket to get it to go far enough or if just holding it open fully was enough.
Good luck.
playsdixie, great looking under the hood!
A tip when installing them is to have a helper who can hold the hood open further than the support lever arm will hold it. It gives a little more room so you don't have to try and compress the strut to put it in. I did it several years ago and I don't remember if I had to unbolt the support lever arm bracket to get it to go far enough or if just holding it open fully was enough.
Good luck.
playsdixie, great looking under the hood!
added tons since that pic...apparently you can get just about anything
under the hood in chrome....if you're crazy enough to do it..i'm down to wrapping the wiring harness and cables in chrome weave....you should see my Harley.....I buy mothers polish by the case.....
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 4,328
Likes: 15
From: Jacksonville FL
I bought a couple of the little ones from Ecklers when I first got my '85 and it didnt do sheeit to help open or hold my hood. I was pretty disappointed. One day I will update to the newer style. So many things to do so its pretty low down on the list.
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 3,752
Likes: 276
From: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
My 85 hood stays open by itself with the two small hood assist struts, i have to pull my hood down several inches before it wants to drop.
The scissor bracket is never used as the hood will pop up again if i pull it down to engage the scissor lock.
It's a breeze to oipen the hood now a one handed job.
Maybe i just got real good hood assist struts.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 20,179
Likes: 673
From: Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction.
St. Jude '03 thru '24
I did the long gas tube conversion on my 86.
Found parts at local junk yards, little sanding and paint VIOLA!
The parts are not a bolt in
There are differences between the years that require you to make a few mods for everything to work.
Not to worry, all the wiring covers up the discrepancies.
Found parts at local junk yards, little sanding and paint VIOLA!
The parts are not a bolt in
There are differences between the years that require you to make a few mods for everything to work.
Not to worry, all the wiring covers up the discrepancies.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 1,590
Likes: 60
From: ft myers FL/Munising MI
That is a nice looking engine Here ya go chrome hood assist struts, shame about the price.
http://www.parts123.com/parts123/yb....5Z50000050F~~~
You might want the underhood mirror's like they are also selling at corvettecentral.
http://www.parts123.com/parts123/yb....5Z50000050F~~~
Last edited by playsdixie; Apr 11, 2014 at 06:53 PM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 865
Likes: 6
From: Auburn Michigan
I ordered a pair on Ebay from Wisconsin Auto Supply which arrived and I installed them today. <$22 shipped. I wish I would have done this sooner. Makes a world of difference.
My old ones were so shot that I could take both in 1 hand and compress them by pressing down on my workbench.