s14unimog

First off this is hardly "fabrication" but I'm going to put it here anyways. I bought these hood struts from a guy on one of my Nissan forums for almost nothing and originally planned to use them to lift/hold the carbon hood on my 240sx. Once I got them in I realized it would take some creative ingenuity to install them in an orientation that wouldn't split my hood in half; they're just too strong and the localized pressure would be too hard on the hood.

So now what? Put them on the Jeep of course! I've often thought about stealing the XJ's hood prop for the 240, since its so short and could be positioned up by the firewall, but figured I would just grab one next time I'm at the JY; no need now! The install was fairly painless but I still need to add some backing plates. Bottom line is that they work, work well, and don't require a whole lot to install them. On with the pictures!!!

nukinfuts29

I would consider it fab, and a very smart / clean one at that. Nice job

hawkfn18

Good idea! Me likey!

JerseyJeeper

Looks good! I like the idea of using two struts. I actually did something similar a while back, but I used on lift gate strut off of a ZJ.

Just copied this over from my build to show how I did it.

M4RK

Very cool and clean at that. I likes it. I wants it.

s14unimog

would it hold the hood up? A single strut wouldn't hold my hood up but these are used and the angle of mine is slightly shallower.

thanks!

JerseyJeeper

Yup it actually shoots up pretty quick and it would open by itself if the catch wasn't there. I think mine may be a little bigger cylinder which could be why only one works.

s14unimog

Likely. I'm stoked with how mine opens up. It wouldn't pop up completely if the latch was absent and you just pulled the release but it's basically assisted until the half way point, then it rises on its own. I'm lovin it

ChileRedBateman

Time for me to go looking! VERY NICE really diggin it...
could you give measurements of where the bracket holes are? and did the brackets come with the struts? (how far down the side wall, how far back from Rad support, how far forward of firewall?)

s14unimog

Thanks! When you located a Q45, remove the brackets, studs, and hardware. Fortunately the studs will mount easily with an M10 (I believe) nut on the hinge its self. As for the dimensions, I'll have to get back with you on that. I raised the hood as hight as I could, bolted the stud end to the hood and just let the extended strut tell me where to put them. If you'll notice, I had to slightly modify the washer tank spout. It has a keying mechanism that you'll need to cut off so you can spin it upside down. As for the height down, I just made sure the strut body was under the level of the cushion the hood sits on when closed.

razor02097

when you fill the washer fluid tank do you just spin it around or are you planning on extending the filler spout?

s14unimog

Once the hood is open I can spin it around. they'll interfere if I leave it up while closing the hood.

ChileRedBateman

That makes perfect sense, I would have probably gotten to that myself if you never posted back, so no need for measurements, I'll do the same. thanks!

N20jeep

nice, i love the hood struts

i wonder how much i can find those for around here.

s14unimog

yeah, they seemed to only want to go in that way. I'm just glad they had enough push to hold the hood up without some higher bracket on the hood.

Find the car and see what they say at the JY. I guarantee they will not have been picked already.