I have found gas struts which should have sufficient force to lift the hood
(especially with two of them), however the overall length and the working
length of the strut must be carefully calculated in order to prevent
unwanted stresses on the gas strut and mounting points. I may be guilty of
over engineering at times but having to repair and redesign a poorly
engineered solution to a problem can be a REAL LARGE pain in the "arss"!
:-)
Reid
'79 Spitfire (original owner)
-----Original Message-----
From: David A Templeton [mailto:davidt@opentext.com]
Sent: Friday, April 07, 2000 12:32 PM
To: Simmons, Reid W; spitfires@autox.team.net
Cc: Dave Chu
Subject: Re: Hood Prop
I think Dave Chu has the right location, at least from his picture. Is this
location available on the left side as well? I don't know right now, I will
have to check tonight.
Hey Dave, since you have dimensions what is the maximum length of the shock?
What is the compressed length? I am sure with 2 shocks it could lift the
bonnet. I know for a fact that my bonnet doesn't weight as much as my
Safari's hatch back and it only uses 2 shocks.
Regards
David A. Templeton
Open Text Corp.
Waterloo, ON
Canada
N2L-5Z5
- 74 Spitfire - "Spit-Six"
- 76 Spitfire 1500 - Parts
- 95 GMC 2500 Ext LB 4x4
- 66 Ford Mustang (the wife's)
----- Original Message -----
From: Simmons, Reid W <reid.w.simmons@intel.com>
To: <Jjcousins@ra.rockwell.com>; <spitfires@autox.team.net>
Sent: Friday, April 07, 2000 2:54 PM
Subject: RE: Hood Prop
>
> John;
>
> Yes, I have been doing a design to use dual gas struts to assist in
lifting
> and lowering the hood (bonnet). However, I have not gotten very far yet
do
> to many other higher priority tasks (too many projects, too little time).
> The mechanics of it are relatively simple but the precision with which it
is
> implemented will be the critical area. My hope is that this design
> modification will greatly ease the operation of opening and closing the
hood
> (bonnet) and result in less fatigue to certain components. Currently my
> target cost is set at well under $100 for the conversion.
>
> Anyone have a fairly accurate figure for the free weight of the hood
> (bonnet)? I REALLY don't want to remove my perfectly fitted one to
measure
> this.
>
> Reid
> '79 Spitfire (original owner)
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Jjcousins@ra.rockwell.com [mailto:Jjcousins@ra.rockwell.com]
> Sent: Friday, April 07, 2000 9:53 AM
> To: spitfires@autox.team.net
> Subject: Hood Prop
>
>
>
> Hello,
>
> My hood prop is shot. Look in Vic Brit catalog...$40 !!! I don't think
> so.
>
> I will look for a used one but...has anyone thought of using one of those
> pneumatic (sp) props they are putting in everything these days
(hatchbacks,
> mini-van hatches, trunk lifts, etc) on the Spitfire hood. (bonnet)?
>
> It seems like this could be a way to get around lifting-at-the-latches
> method that rips the fenders to he$^. No?
>
> Anyone?
>
> -John
>
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