rappini

I purchased a hood strut for my Vette from ebay as a direct replacement, however, as y'all know the channel that holds it up when you open it not on the new one and I can't figure out how to take the old one off. There are cups on both ends that won't come off and now I'm thinking I just got stiffed, and it wasn't cheap. Can anyone render a solution and has anyone ran into the same issue. Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks
Rappini

Cliff Harris

The cups on the ends are spring loaded. You need to pry on them to get them off. They will pop off the ball studs when you pry on them. Watch out that the hood doesn't fall on your head...

rappini

Thanks for the heads up I used an old mop to hold it up while I took the old strut off,(thanks to youtube).
On the bottom end of the original strut there is an aluminum piece or zinc die cast and it appears to be pinned I tried to punch it out but it didn't budge, I'm thinking now that I didn't hit it hard enough>