This is the 2nd time I've done this retrofit on an '85 Vette. The first time I removed the factory LH fender to frame bracket to fit the stock lower hood prop bracket. It works fine without the fender to frame bracket. This time I modified the fender bracket to fit. This is the completed install without the hood prop attached to the ball stud.

This is the factory lower prop bracket I used from a '92 Vette. I cut off a threaded stud that wasn't needed and was in the way. You can see the shiny area where I ground it off. I think the aftermarket bracket is different and modification to the fender to frame bracket isn't needed. I can't verify that.

I modified the stock '85 fender to frame bracket by notching out the upper mounting hole so it would fit along with the stock lower prop bracket. I also notched out the side mounting hole so the bolt would fit since the brackets were stacked. This pic is before.

And after notching.

First the stock lower prop bracket is installed using the top bolt. The other side bolt is installed if you didn't want to use the fender to frame bracket that was notched in the previous pic. This would be the completed install without the fender to frame bracket. The lower hole on the prop bracket can't be used since there is no hole to thread into the rail.

Here's a view of the stock prop bracket and the modified fender to frame bracket. If I didn't notch the fender to frame bracket it wouldn't fit on top of the stock lower prop bracket. The one side bolt holds the steel line clip and the fender to frame bracket to the frame rail. That's all it needs.

It's amazing what the new hood prop and the smaller hood assists do to make opening the hood much easier. You actually have to stop the hood from slamming open once it's halfway up.
It's kind of hard to figure out what I explained and detailed unless you have the parts in front of you and seeing how they mount and what needs to be done to install the lower bracket. It's extra work to use the stock fender to frame bracket. But it probably adds some additional fender support. I haven't tried using the donor '92 fender to frame bracket. I don't know if it will fit without any modification. Maybe someone else will chine in. I know this is a really old subject but I noticed a lot of the pics are gone in the old posts. Thanks for looking.

Art

 

Thanks for the effort. You'll make someone's life a bit easier in the future.

 

Nice job...... worth a post in TECH TIPS....

 

Just did this to my 85 and worked great, thanks for the info..