Hood weight?

I'm getting tired of the hood dropping on my head when it falls off the support rod and am going to install hood shocks.

For the purposes of deciding what spring rate to get, can anyone let me know how much the hood weighs? Or what units they ordered from McMaster and where they were mounted, if you've already BTDT.

Thanks in advance.

Brian

Install a gas shock similar to the ones on hatch backs.

I was actually trying to inject a little more precision. McMaster sells all kinds of gas filled shocks of different barrel lengths, thows, and range in power-required-to-compress from 15lbs to more than 100lbs. The amount of force you need to close the hood will depend on where the mounting points are--the leverage action decreases the closer you get to the pivot point.

So if I know how much the hood weighs, it becomes easy to determine how much force is needed at the center of the hood, or at 1/4 the distance, etc. Once that's determined, then I can start thinking about how long I need the unit to be.

Even with gas shocks, you need to be careful of the hood/lid closing. A strong wind will cause it to close, and if your fingers are in the wrong place, it can be painful.

I would suggest gas shocks with a hood prop.

Weight is like 35# -- I was going to ship extra one I have BUT the packing and oversized dimensions are the killer.

Brian, my IM has a Tokico Y2508 installed.

I like Robert's suggestion. More then once it would have saved me from getting wacked on the head.

If the wind is causing your hood to close, your shock may be worn out, or it's not stiff enough.

Nope.

This was an almost new car, and the shock was stiff enough. The wind was stiffer. My fingers were even more stiff for a few days after.

Robert, check out McMaster-Carr - http://www.mcmaster.com/ - search for gas shocks - they offer units that will support from 15lbs to 250lbs. Unless you're dealing with hurricane force winds, you should be able to find a shock that will keep the hood open with out a hood prop.

If you install a gas shock, be sure to spread out the mounting load over as wide an area as possible. Fiberglass don't like high localized loads. May want to consider glassing in a small aluminum or wood pad, hood fiberglass is pretty thin. A nice piece of polished aluminum angle can look nice also.