5th Gen Hood Lift Strut Conversion Kit

Hood Lift Strut Conversion Kit:

5th Gen EL Camino/Caballero/A & G-Body
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Replace the Coil Spring & Scissor Hood Supports on your 5th Gen El Camino or Caballero with Lift Support Struts similar to those found on Regal Grand Nationals, Rear Glass Hatches, Trunk Lids, etc.

This is a relatively simple DIY-Modification* that significantly cleans up your Engine Compartment. The kit contains the Lift Support Struts and Mounting Hardware to complete the modification.

Two of the Ball Studs attach to the Modified Angled Scissor Mounting Brackets using the Flange Nuts. The remaining Two Ball Studs replace the forward Fasteners on the Lower Half of the Hood Hinges that secure them to the Fenders. The Lift Support Struts then simply snap onto the Ball Studs.

One benefit with these Struts related to use with Fiberglass Hoods**, is that they have somewhat of an “over-center” function to them. When they get to the halfway-point of their travel, they “pull” instead of “push”, so there isn’t that constant pressure upwards on the Hood when it’s closed, reducing the chance of cracking the Hood. As long as you have the proper Rubber Bumpers in place along the Fenders for support, the downward (which is actually mostly rearward) shouldn’t adversely affect the Hood.

Three Strut Force Strengths Available (See Important Notes below!):

Standard Hood Struts – suitable for stock hoods with or without the Hood Insulation blanket, as well as most Steel Cowl-Induction-style aftermarket hoods and fiberglass Cowl-Induction-style aftermarket hoods with a finished underside and/or support structure (similar in weight to a stock hood).

Lightweight Hood Struts – suitable for most fiberglass aftermarket hoods without a finished underside and minimal support structure (usually a lighter than stock hood).

Heavyweight Hood Struts – suitable for most steel or fiberglass combination customized hoods where weight has been added by molding or bolting on an aftermarket scoop (making a heavier than a stock hood). These Heavyweight struts are also recommended for Choo Choo Customs hoods with the bolt-on hood scoops.

Contact Us for your application needs and we’ll do our best to figure it out! (Please be prepared to provide the weight of your current hood when you contact us.)

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*** IMPORTANT NOTES ***:

Kit Contents:

• (2) Lift Support Struts (Standard Kit)
• (4) Metric 10mm Ball Studs (Black or Silver Zinc Plated – Finish may vary but all four will be the same finish)
• (2) Metric Flange Nuts (Gold or Silver Zinc Plated – Finish may vary but both will be the same finish)
• (2) Metric Stainless Steel Standard Washers
• (4) Metric Stainless Steel Socket Button Head Screws (plain/non-polished)
• (4) Metric Stainless Steel Fender Washers
• Detailed Instructions (also available to download here)
• This kit DOES NOT include replacement Hood Hinges or the angled Brackets from the original Supports that attach the struts to the hood (see below), and ONLY contains the items listed immediately above.
• OPTIONAL: Add Carbon Fiber-look wraps (see product images) to the struts for added cost, made of automotive vinyl wrap material. Other colors available by special request.

• This kit is ONLY verified to fit the ’78-87 El Camino (& Malibu/Malibu Wagon ’78-’83) and has not been verified to fit other G-Bodies! Some say it will fit the Monte Carlo SS but we didn’t test it ourselves!
• * This upgrade requires modifying the original Hood Supports by separating the upper Mounting “Angle” Bracket that attaches to the Hood, from the Scissor-portion of the original Support. This is accomplished by grinding off the staked portion of the Pivot point, which is kind of like a big Rivet. The small Angle Brackets are then re-purposed as the Upper Mounts for the Struts. (There are additional procedures to take in order to return them to stock functionality in the instructions, should the need arise. You can preview the installation instructions here).
• ** Successfully tested on a Factory Steel Hood with a molded-on Cowl Hood Scoop (Additional Weight from Scoop & Body Filler).

For Lightweight Fiberglass Hood use, it is better suited to use lighter-force Struts. Aftermarket Hoods should have the Front Coil Lift Spring attached to lift the front of the Hood when it is released, otherwise it may be difficult to open due to the Struts applying downward pressure. However, the closing force is effectively less than the opening force due to the mounting configuration.

• • The correct Lifting Force for the Fiberglass Hoods and Steel Cowl Hoods are dependent on the weight of the Hood.
  • CONTACT US with your specific application information such as vehicle, hood brand, and estimated hood weight if possible, for kit use verification BEFORE ordering to be sure.
  • “Available on Backorder”: The Lightweight and Heavyweight Strut Kits are NOT STOCKED. Parts are sourced and a kit is assembled once your order is placed, so expect an approximate one week delay.

IMPORTANT: Verify that your Hood Hinge Mounting Hardware is METRIC before ordering…it SHOULD be…but double-check it first!

• Carbon Fiber Strut Wraps shown NOT included, but is optional at an additional cost.
• IMPORTANT Notice: The installation of these Lift Supports in this manner is not considered to be a “Standard Installation”, is considered to be a “Custom Application”, and therefore the longevity of the Lift Struts and related components cannot be guaranteed. Being this is a “Custom Application Installation”, use of this “kit” in this manner, is at your own risk and responsibility.

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$49.95 – $55.95

Shipped USPS Priority Flat Rate Padded Envelope.