DIY s13 hood lift support...aka, best diy ever!

[srpowered240sx]

I just did a google search for "ball socket" and the rest all came with some measuring and boredom from 1am until about 2:30, lol.

sweet, well im sure it helped someone out. come on now, its been week or so, lets see some projects. im sure someone decided to go do this....

[enigma2103]

as soon as i get my car up and runnig again and all the body work fixed this will be on of the first things i do

[partymonster 975]

I love you man!!!

[XXDRIFTCRAZYXX]

[alkemyst]

Those hubcaps look really good actually. Nice score.

This is a great thread. I have been looking to do this since day one on my S14. I was in contact with a guy named Chris Stout / [email protected] from May to August 2004 and then gave up when he didn't deliver.

He had bought the kit when they were being sold from Marty of Importgarage.com...I believe these were more 'transparent'. There is a way on my VW to use the fender and hood bolt locatations for the ball studs. I believe Marty's kit did the same.

I'd rather avoid a bracket...but that triangular one on that parts site doesn't look bad.

Å

[oldschoolsilvia]

I think I am going to attempt this on my car

[racin-type]

i'm going to attempt this on my car as well(s14). Let me ask some question;

how did you come up with the 40psi? since i have an s14 i think the hood is a tad heavier.

so mines would basically be trial and error on where to put the ball stud locations on hood and fender. you want to put it where the hood is fully open thats a no brainer but should the lift be fully extend or almost fully extended, like an inch before??

Also when hood is closed, you want lifts fully compressed or almost fully compressed?

Thanks alot

I would never in my life buy something like this from a company like Tein, when you can just put some time and effort into it and have the satisfaction to know that you can actually create something nice and useful.

[srpowered240sx]

i used 40psi because i started with 30psi for testing, and it just didnt cut it. so i used 40psi in the same dimensions. heres a method i used for figuring out where to put the studs.

get your extended and compressed lengths. for sake of ease, were gonna use 17" and 12". first things first, set the extended strut in the channel, ( just to see if your hood will close). now, close hood and measure a spot about 8" from back of hood and put a piece of masking tape. then, measure 12" from that and put another piece of tape. now, open hood and put up your normal prop. from the front piece of tape, measure 17" at an angle to the hood(where the stud will go). mark that with more tape. theres roughly your spots to put studs.

you want to leave a little slack in the compressed support so your not bottom out before you actually latch your hood.

good luck and post up your finished product. i cant be the only one with these on a 240sx.

[rico05]

Well, my gf was bugging me about a decent priced car thing to get me for Xmas this year (Last year, she got me a Nismo rear strut tower bar...YAY!) so this is what i am getting this year. I will post pics...in January, lol.

[srpowered240sx]

sweet. wish my g/f got me cool car stuff.

[racin-type]

thanks srpowered

yea my g/f won't even consider car parts as available gift ideas

[ZenkiOwns]

How is it actually working on your car? Those shocks look pretty intrusive. Could you reverse them so that they didnt slant over half the fender? Just trying to get them out of the way as possible.

Thanks

[srpowered240sx]

they are unobtrusive as possible. i can still work on everything as well if not easier. the hood prop was in the way more than this by far. but play with it, see it you can come up with. its a diy for a reason, find a craftier way to mount them and let me know.

[ZenkiOwns]

I'll see what i can do. I should have this done sometime next month after i get my downtipe and test pipe made. And the fundage after a new boost gauge and turbo.

Damn Defi's........

[fayceoff]

I have an extra set of hatch struts sitting in my tool room... Think those would be strong/long enough to use for this?

[srpowered240sx]

i dont know the exact poundage of those, but i got a feeling they would be too strong. your hood is way lighter than a hatch. also, the ends for the hatch supports have different ends.

[Arashi]

Wow, very nice mod!

Looks slick and looks VERY handy!

I think I may try something VERY much like this. I should save thiss write up for later!

[94_240sx]

I couldn't find Gabriel struts in my area, so I called Gabriel. If you google Gabriel 4418, you won't get good results either.

In Autozone, it's re-labeled as Mighty Lift and part# is D95774. She said I can find a label on the actual strut that says '4418.' She also mention it's also sold under the brand 'Strong Arm' in some other parts stores. Hope this helps.

[Dittoz7]

Hawt!

For A Second I Thought; "DYI: Shocker Style...The Right Way!"

[srpowered240sx]

I couldn't find Gabriel struts in my area, so I called Gabriel. If you google Gabriel 4418, you won't get good results either.

In Autozone, it's re-labeled as Mighty Lift and part# is D95774. She said I can find a label on the actual strut that says '4418.' She also mention it's also sold under the brand 'Strong Arm' in some other parts stores. Hope this helps.

word, but the number can cross reference to any other brand. iirc, i thought i put the lengths and weights in there too. i dont go to autozone, so i dont know what they sell, but thanks for adding to the info, im sure it will help the folks that go to autozone.

Hawt!

For A Second I Thought; "DYI: Shocker Style...The Right Way!"

haha.

[94_240sx]

Okay, went to Autozone and picked up a pair. It's $13.99 each.

[silviaS13lover]

pretty beast...

[SkunX]

I spent my money on circuit sports ones..but at the time it was worth the money just to get the hood prop out of my way before i started any work under the hood... same concept...you can't tell to well but it looks like mine are longer so they sit lower...hmm..I'll get a picture tomorrow if it isn't raining again.. (yeah i know their on backwards..I was checking fitment)


Modified by SkunX at 12:13 AM 3/8/2008

[94_240sx]

I spent my money on circuit sports ones..but at the time it was worth the money just to get the hood prop out of my way before i started any work under the hood... same concept...you can't tell to well but it looks like mine are longer so they sit lower...hmm..I'll get a picture tomorrow if it isn't raining again.. (yeah i know their on backwards..I was checking fitment)

Can you take pictures after you close the hood? I'd like to see if the hood seats flush with the fender near hinge area.

[SkunX]

best picture i have right now...but yeah the back of the hood sits flush..looks normal