Hood Struts - $40!

[Charles 236]

No prop rod in the way to get tangled up on, and the struts help us old folks by opening those cast iron Mojave hoods for us.

I have struts on my hood as well, I hate, no, hate is not a strong enough word, maybe HATE, prop rods. I have a scar in the center of my forehead where a prop rod slipped out of place on a Dodge Durango hood and allowed it to drop, hitting my head and resulting in a bloody mess on the shop floor, and a trip to the emergency room to get patched up. The prop was in the correct location on the hood, but a slight bump caused it to slip out of position. That was years ago, and I still zip tie prop rods in place when I have to use them. At least the current Jeep prop rods have an end that is secure when in place.

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[ShadowsPapa]

I have struts on my hood as well, I hate, no, hate is not a strong enough word, maybe HATE, prop rods. I have a scar in the center of my forehead where a prop rod slipped out of place on a Dodge Durango hood and allowed it to drop, hitting my head and resulting in a bloody mess on the shop floor, and a trip to the emergency room to get patched up. The prop was in the correct location on the hood, but a slight bump caused it to slip out of position. That was years ago, and I still zip tie prop rods in place when I have to use them. At least the current Jeep prop rods have an end that is secure when in place.

Yeah, these can't easily pop out in the wind or if the hood is raised a bit. They have a groove around the bottom that helps lock it in place. I've seen hoods on other vehicles get bumped and the rod pops out of place. They still are too often in the way, imo

 

[ShadowsPapa]

I've ordered these and will wait and see how they work.

Keep us posted. It will be interesting for sure. The Chinese versions haven't been out long enough for anything to come to the surface yet as far as failures, durability and so on, so only time will tell.
Likely fine for many.


For comparison in case anyone wonders - these have been on 3 trucks now over a period of about 3.5 to 4 years, so one can compare appearances, wear, gauge of the steel used, durability over time with others ->

(I also like the 1 single tool for installation - 10mm (if I can find that darned 10mm socket)

 

[DanJT]

Keep us posted. It will be interesting for sure. The Chinese versions haven't been out long enough for anything to come to the surface yet as far as failures, durability and so on, so only time will tell.
Likely fine for many.


For comparison in case anyone wonders - these have been on 3 trucks now over a period of about 3.5 to 4 years, so one can compare appearances, wear, gauge of the steel used, durability over time with others ->

(I also like the 1 single tool for installation - 10mm (if I can find that darned 10mm socket)

I feel ya SP!

 

[Charles 236]

I feel ya SP!

My apprentice dropped a 10mm socket into the engine bay of a truck a couple of weeks ago. I told him to make a serious effort to find it, but he couldn't. Only $22 later, a new SnapOn 10mm 1/4" replaced the lost socket. I don't think he can afford to loose anymore tools, especially SnapOn tools.

 

[OldButStillJeeping]

My apprentice dropped a 10mm socket into the engine bay of a truck a couple of weeks ago. I told him to make a serious effort to find it, but he couldn't. Only $22 later, a new SnapOn 10mm 1/4" replaced the lost socket. I don't think he can afford to loose anymore tools, especially SnapOn tools.

Great story.
It'll come back on warranty for a mysterious rattle/vibration. LOL. If you and your trainee do the warranty work you might find it wedged in a motor mount crevasse or bouncing around on the intake. LOL.
Or, it fell in the drain pan. Hopefully the 'old oil 'screen is in place, and it didn't seize the 'old oil' pump!
I don't lose sockets too much anymore. But when I do its usually the 11mm for some strange reason. My son lost my 10, 11, and 12 on one of his projects a few years ago. He bought me a new set of 3/8" inch drive sockets. Good thing I use Craftsman and not Wera, SnapOn, Cornwell or MAC...

 

[imallcrawl]

I've ordered these and will wait and see how they work.

Mine comes in on Sunday. Will let you all know how it goes.

 

[GeneralMaximus]

My apprentice dropped a 10mm socket into the engine bay of a truck a couple of weeks ago. I told him to make a serious effort to find it, but he couldn't. Only $22 later, a new SnapOn 10mm 1/4" replaced the lost socket. I don't think he can afford to loose anymore tools, especially SnapOn tools.

While working on my JT, I dropped a screw into the engine bay and looked high and low to no avail. Finally, just hopped in the jeep and briskly backed out of my driveway, slammed the brakes and then accelerated forward a few feet. Got out and found the damn screw, which dislodged and fell onto the driveway.

 

[Deleted member 52902]

Years ago I put a reputable suppliers strut kit on my former JK Sahara. They worked great. for about 2 or 3 years. The struts failed to keep the hood up. Took them off and reverted to the Prop rod. I thought about getting two new struts but never "invested" in alternatives that may or may not last longer.

It might be different if the Gladiator hood is lighter. But the prop rod is really quick, easy, simple. I would prefer a spring steel clip rather than the you-know-it-will-break sooner or later hard plastic clip.

Gene

 

[ShadowsPapa]

While working on my JT, I dropped a screw into the engine bay and looked high and low to no avail. Finally, just hopped in the jeep and briskly backed out of my driveway, slammed the brakes and then accelerated forward a few feet. Got out and found the damn screw, which dislodged and fell onto the driveway.

I had one of the carburetors off my Javelin to modify the throttle and transmission linkage. I had to take the rear carb nuts off the front carb. Dropped that @#$% nut into the intake and it went down into the intake port.
I was lucky- I attached part of a rare earth magnet to a thin wire and got it fished out. Had that nut landed wrong and that intake valve been full open, who knows - but I don't think this cam has enough lift to have allowed it. It was sure scary for a while, though.

 

[Charles 236]

While working on my JT, I dropped a screw into the engine bay and looked high and low to no avail. Finally, just hopped in the jeep and briskly backed out of my driveway, slammed the brakes and then accelerated forward a few feet. Got out and found the damn screw, which dislodged and fell onto the driveway.

Since you mentioned dropping something into the intake, here is something I tell my apprentices: Always cover the Intake manifold (or ports, if the Intake is off.) Last year, one of the new guys pulled an Intake to replace an oil cooler, and a piece of a "Christmas tree" fastener fell into the Intake port. He actually drove the minivan around a couple of miles before releasing it to the customer. The customer drove it a couple of days before it started skipping. I was asked to diagnose it. I could here that one cylinder had no compression, so I pulled the Intake and found the plastic "Christmas tree" piece holding the Intake valve open. I showed him, and he took it as a good lesson, now he tells guys to cover the Intake, and how he learned what could happen if it isn't covered.

Here is what could happen if something like a small screw does get in.

 

[JeepOfTheseus]

Redline struts were one of my first mods. They are 4 years old and as strong as ever. And I can assure you, my hood uptime is probably in the months.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Here is what could happen if something like a small screw does get in.

I've seen small screws poke a hole clean through a piston.

 

[ourjeeps]

I've always kept my eyes on the Redline hood struts, but man... for $100 bucks, they just stayed on my amazon wishlist. Well the knockoffs are popping up and I picked up a set for $40 and man are they worth it, installed and work great!

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BZKPV5FR

Thanks again for posting / price alert. Installed these in 3~4 minutes on the wife's JTRX. No drilling - uses OEM holes and fasteners on JT/JL. 10mm impact socket was only tool needed.

Unfortunately the SG229011 kit price is now back to $75.99 so the $40 discount price is off for the present...

Note to anyone new to gas struts - yes they are convenient but they do NOT last forever. They can last 3~20 years depending upon daily use and installation environment (negatives would be hot/acidic/corrosive), and be replaced with units with proper stroke length and gas pressure (weight capacity).

We've has gas struts last as long as 18-20 years on occasionally used RV storage doors, and on a 21 year old Excursion SUV's rear hatch struts. Most struts are rated for ~4,000 stroke cycles before gas pressure losses become evident - which would roughly equate to 3~5 years depending upon frequency of use, and quality of construction. Old/weak struts, won't hold like new, when in cold weather for example.

Replacement struts of proper stoke length (extended/compressed) and pressure (weight capacity) can generally be sourced for many sources when needed to restore like new function.

 

[GeneralMaximus]

Since you mentioned dropping something into the intake, here is something I tell my apprentices: Always cover the Intake manifold (or ports, if the Intake is off.)

Sage advice, indeed. Although, it was Shadow who had that intake mishap.

I always stuff any exposed engine parts with a rag. Heck, I even stuff a rag down my home’s drain pipes when I do plumbing work. I am a firm believer in Murphy’s Law.

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