Gas Spring Hood Support Size?
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 386
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From: Lancaster Lancashire
Gas Spring Hood Support Size?
Hi guys, I know there have been a few posts on this topic recently, but being in good old Blighty, we can't get corvette parts at the local auto parts store.
I don't have the large gas spring on my 87, just the small assister gas springs near the head lights, which appear firm, but don't seem to offer a lot of help and a larger telescopic sliding support on the drivers side.
To my question:- does anyone have the dimensions for the later gas spring, ie. piston dia; body dia; extended /compressed lengths etc, so I can maybe source something over here. TIA :cheers:
I don't have the large gas spring on my 87, just the small assister gas springs near the head lights, which appear firm, but don't seem to offer a lot of help and a larger telescopic sliding support on the drivers side.
To my question:- does anyone have the dimensions for the later gas spring, ie. piston dia; body dia; extended /compressed lengths etc, so I can maybe source something over here. TIA :cheers:
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 34,873
Likes: 487
From: Lacey WA RVN 68-69
NCM Sinkhole Donor
Re: Gas Spring Hood Support Size? (Davemc1963-87conv)
According to the NAPA web site, the '87 hood lift support measures 4.930" compressed and 6.380" at its extended length. It doesn't mention anything about the piston diameter or other dimensions. Go to http://www.napaonline.com and on the left side, enter 8195311 in the "NAPA Part No. box).
The later design gas hood support rod showed up on the 89 cars. Eckler's, Mid America has a retrofit kit that allows the use of the later hood rod in earlier cars. There is a replacement bracket on the hood side that (I believe) reverses the direction of the ball mount on the strut. These are fairly pricey (the Mid America kit is $180.00) in their catalog. The small cylinders like on your 87 are priced at $80 at MAD, which is a real ripoff compared to the NAPA price of $18!!
The later design gas hood support rod showed up on the 89 cars. Eckler's, Mid America has a retrofit kit that allows the use of the later hood rod in earlier cars. There is a replacement bracket on the hood side that (I believe) reverses the direction of the ball mount on the strut. These are fairly pricey (the Mid America kit is $180.00) in their catalog. The small cylinders like on your 87 are priced at $80 at MAD, which is a real ripoff compared to the NAPA price of $18!!
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 386
Likes: 0
From: Lancaster Lancashire
Re: Gas Spring Hood Support Size? (c4cruiser)
Thanks C4cruiser, I think I may have badly worded my post, I was after the sizes for the later (89 on) large gas strut. Local venders have them with several different diameters. I could just get the large one, but thought I'd try and see what GM fitted, so it would look stock-ish. :cheers:
