Click on image for the lowdown. 
====
| | | Forums66 Topics128,050 Posts1,055,673 Members48,426 | | Most Online14,466
Apr 26th, 2026 | | AD Chevy Trucks  Over 6,000 pictures Brad Allen has an awesome collection of Chevrolet factory pictures that he has set up from film strips. Check them out!
Lots of work on Brad's part ... pure enjoyment (and references) for you!
| | THANKS!
For helping keep this great
old truck web site
on the Internet for over 30 years! and not clogged down
with Ads!  Again, thanks!
| | | | Joined: Jun 2005 Posts: 1,756 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Jun 2005 Posts: 1,756 | I see some are going to the shock absorber looking tube to replace the springs on their hood. Any info on what to buy would be appreciated.
Are they called struts?
Last edited by gazim; 07/30/2009 1:53 PM.
| | | | | Joined: Jun 2009 Posts: 2,201 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Jun 2009 Posts: 2,201 | They are called Struts, where did you see them installed? I might be interested in trying that too. | | | | | Joined: Jun 2005 Posts: 1,756 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Jun 2005 Posts: 1,756 | You are a heck of a lot of help. Now we both are looking.
I really need to know the length needed
I'll post it if I find it elsehere.
Last edited by gazim; 07/31/2009 6:33 PM.
| | | | | Joined: Jan 2001 Posts: 1,422 ODSS President | | ODSS President Joined: Jan 2001 Posts: 1,422 | Ok, on my '49 the same springs have been working fine for 60 years. You want to replace them with something that wears out in a few years? I have replaced several on wife's and friends cars. I just don't see an advantage. Also is the hood itself rather heavy for these struts to last very long?
~ Cosmo
1949 Chevy Half Ton
Rocinante, like Don Quixote, he is awkward, past his prime, and engaged in a task beyond his capacities.
"...my good horse Rocinante, mine eternal and inseparable companion in all my journeys and courses." ...Don Quixote, Cervantes
"If you come to a fork in the road, take it."...Yogi Berra
"Rudeness is the weak man's imitation of strength." ...Eric Hoffer
| | | | | Joined: Oct 2001 Posts: 3,458 Extreme Gabster | | Extreme Gabster Joined: Oct 2001 Posts: 3,458 | Given that both the springs and the hinges affect how the back of the hood aligns on an AD truck, I wouldn't try to put struts on there unless you also replaced the hinges with something else.
Paint & Body Shop moderator
A lone amateur built the Ark. A large group of professionals built the Titanic. | | | | | Joined: Mar 2008 Posts: 3,750 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Mar 2008 Posts: 3,750 | Given that both the springs and the hinges affect how the back of the hood aligns on an AD truck, I wouldn't try to put struts on there unless you also replaced the hinges with something else. If they ain't broke...don't fix them!  I considered this swap, but had reservations about the hood alignment too. The only thing I don't like about the original set up is the noise they make! 
1950 Chevy Advance Design 3100 in ScotlandIn the Stovebolt GalleryMore pix on Flickr. I've definately got this truck thing in my blood ... my DNA sequence has torque settings"Of all the small nations of this earth,perhaps only the ancient Greeks surpass the Scots in their contribution to mankind" Winston Churchill.
| | | | | Joined: Jun 2005 Posts: 1,756 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Jun 2005 Posts: 1,756 | After much head scratching I have decided to scrap the idea. The hinge effects the hood alignment as some have noted. I could be done but would entail a lot of re-engineering. Sorry 53M, if you get it figured out let me know.
Last edited by gazim; 08/02/2009 12:56 PM.
| | | | | Joined: Mar 2007 Posts: 69 Wrench Fetcher | | Wrench Fetcher Joined: Mar 2007 Posts: 69 | good luck trying to align your hood with struts on. I took my springs out becuase I did not like what it did. Just use a prop | | | | | Joined: Jun 2005 Posts: 1,756 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Jun 2005 Posts: 1,756 | My luck I would be at a show with clumsy people and have a lawsuit on my hands when the prop was kicked.
Last edited by gazim; 08/02/2009 8:22 PM.
| | | | | Joined: Aug 2007 Posts: 1,859 Grumpy old guy playing with trucks, cars, and boats | | Grumpy old guy playing with trucks, cars, and boats Joined: Aug 2007 Posts: 1,859 | I think it was Tiny that used gas struts from a Ford Taurus for his. They are not hard to install.
The problems we face today can not be addressed at the same level of intelligence we were at when we created them - Albert Einstein Or with the same level of $ - Me
| | | | | Joined: Jun 2005 Posts: 1,756 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Jun 2005 Posts: 1,756 | Ya the struts will work but you have to have a different hood hinge. The stock hinge lifts and shifts forward when opened.
Any Ideas? I still would like to use them. | | | | | Joined: Mar 2006 Posts: 143 Wrench Fetcher | | Wrench Fetcher Joined: Mar 2006 Posts: 143 | Please be aware that struts do NOT work well when the tempature drops. If you drive when it is below 55 degrees or so, they will not hold up the hood. They are not safe in cool/cold weather. Ask me how I know--
Glenn | | | | | Joined: Jun 2005 Posts: 1,756 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Jun 2005 Posts: 1,756 | How do you know?  | | |
|
|
