Fiberglass hood struts

[kurtboyd]

I know the hood strut thing has been discussed quite a bit, but can anyone share their experiences with struts for glass hoods? Seems like there is a huge variation in prices for the struts but the pics typically look the same.

I noticed Duffs is for steel hoods only.

 

[Hank_]

I have a fiberglass hood and I used the B.C. Bronco's hood struts. They have a kit for the fiberglass hood. They were easy to install and work great. I would recommend them.

Henry

 

[1bad76]

I have a Proflo fiberglass hood with WH struts. My installer welded I some extra bracing to disperse the pressure on the hood.
The struts function very well. The pic in my garage is before the extra bracing was welded in.

 

[DirtDonk]

This isn't in the way of sharing an actual experience with them kurtboyd, but here are our instructions in case you haven't had a chance to read any of them yet.
http://cdn.wildhorses4x4.com/downloads/5805 10-29-13_1.pdf
It's for both the stainless and black versions for the fiberglass hoods.

Might not tell you anything you don't already know, but it gives you some more details to compare with.

Paul

 

[Steve83]

Browse the JYs for common struts that you can make work. That way, when they wear out, you can stop at any parts store & just buy new replacements, instead of having to HOPE some vendor is still in business, and selling struts (or complete kit$) that you'll have to wait to be shipped at your expense.

The donor vehicle for mine won't help you, but I found some that bolted up perfectly using the hardware from the donor vehicle. The only new holes in my hood are for 2 small screws per side. The lower studs threaded right into the original hood prop U-nuts.



Point is - they're available locally for a lot less than mail-order. You just have to do some legwork, and maybe burn up a little grey matter.

 

[DirtDonk]

Good point about the availability. I'm pretty sure that all of our black struts are common parts, but the stainless are ours specifically.
Not that you couldn't probably find something close enough at any auto parts store I'm sure, but they are made for us for the kits at least.
Lots of the OE struts use the same ball-stud ends with the same retaining clips, so it would only be a matter of finding the right length with those mounts.

If the gas struts in your WH kit ever wear out though, and you can't find something you like locally, just let us know. We'll try to take as much of the sting out of shipping a replacement set out as we can.

Paul

 

[rmiller747]

I bought the kit from Graveyard and installed on my blue fiberglass rig. No issues. Actually I like this upgrade better than almost any other one. Huge help on a lifted rig. Makes life much easier now.

 

[Explorer]

It boils down to the extra bracing and lb. rating of the struts. I have used junk yard struts on a lot of different vehicles, but with fiberglass or metal, you will crack the hood over time if you guess wrong. I prefer to buy the vendors kit's. Still cheap if it prevents you from damaging a hood.