Yep, that's it! Or have someone hold the hood for you.
Propping hood open while changing struts
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 9,680
Likes: 185
From: Sunnyvale CA
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16,'19
Propping hood open while changing struts
My hood struts are shot, and I have ordered replacements. I wondered what people used to prop the hood open while changing the struts. I hate to have someone hold the hood if there is a safe way to prop it open.
Racer
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 489
Likes: 63
From: Mason OH
Broom stick, 2 X 4, 1 X 1. Or you can do 1 at a time and put vise grips on the one you're not replacing. So many different things you can do.
Racer
Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 419
Likes: 87
From: Amory MS
Several years and another Vette ago, my hood struts failed at a car show on a windy day. I measured the extended rod and walked down the street to an auto parts store and bought a length of fuel line and split it lengthwise. Went back to my car and raised the hood and popped it over the rod on one of the struts as a temporary fix. Later I used it again when replacing the struts.
There are many ways to skin a cat.
There are many ways to skin a cat.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 5,492
Likes: 808
From: West coast CA
Change one at a time, and prop up the side you're working on with your back/body. It's pretty easy. Just make sure your tools are within reach.
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 14,083
Likes: 1,593
From: Edmond Oklahoma
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2017
Posts: 4,786
Likes: 425
From: North Georgia, USA
If there are two struts, change them out one at a time. Use vice grips (with a rag) on the other strut to lock it in place fully extended. That works on the old ones, even if they won't hold up at all.
Alternatively, I have a broom stick to use as a hood/tailgate prop. If it's too long, I use a 7/8" (or 22mm) combination wrench over it as a movable stop. The wrench will hang and tighten on the round stick at the proper location. That's also a useful hack for holding the brake pedal down when necessary for some service tasks.
Alternatively, I have a broom stick to use as a hood/tailgate prop. If it's too long, I use a 7/8" (or 22mm) combination wrench over it as a movable stop. The wrench will hang and tighten on the round stick at the proper location. That's also a useful hack for holding the brake pedal down when necessary for some service tasks.
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 4,959
Likes: 526
Yea....changing the struts isn't really rocket science. But don't be fooled.......sometimes getting those little clip thingys off can be a little bit of a B#$%H. If I remember correctly......removing the hood end of the strut allows you to swing the other end of the strut into a better position to reach the clip.....or maybe it's the other way around.
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Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 9,680
Likes: 185
From: Sunnyvale CA
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16,'19
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 2,800
Likes: 565
From: Mesquite NV
Have a friend or neighbor hold it up while you change them out. If you work or go to school, have ask a coworker or fellow student to give you hand. Takes about 5 minutes to change them one at a time.
