Hood Struts to replace springs??? Anyone done it yet?

[SteveG]

David,
Just found my note for my gas springs on my bulletin board here in Durango.
length 400mm (19.7") and 300mm (11.8")
WH kit 3613NX-180, 40# replaced with struts from SUSPA
SUSPA Old number 16-08316 for the 60# one. New number C16-08260, 267N= 60#

Bought the springs for the 72 from WH 500mm, 210mm 150N Very marginal force at 28#
Autozone sells struts try to m-fins a match for the SUSPA above.

I love this place... needed to order gas struts for the boss' new truck and here are the part numbers at my fingertips. Thanks, Paul!

[PaulW]

The darn things don't last long
Now days the gas springs are widely available off the web.

[SteveG]

The darn things don't last long
Now days the gas springs are widely available off the web.

We'll leave the custom, tig-welded tube for backup, but it sure is nice to be able to lift the hood and let it rise... while it lasts!

[VintageIronFab]

What I did was go and look at the JY for the struts on later model Fords and just use old factory stuff- sorry but old factory stuff is typically better than new chiwanese shiat!

[PaulW]

Good to use an $OEM struts$. Difficult to find OEM ones that have the correct specs. My new F150 hood goes up very fast and won't fit any of my rigs. The vendor supplied aftermarket struts are wimpy and short lived. My solution to the short life is more poop. (Just my theory.) On three of my rigs I went to struts from the web that were 3 times the force as the original ones. Nice when the hood goes up fast. So far none have needed replacement, but time is still too short to come to conclusions. BTW, German made struts are available off the web. With metric specs, so a little math is required.