Curiously, a search led to no hits on the question whether anyone install a bona-fide gas strut for hood support? This rod has gots to go!

It seems to me that there are already attachment points in the fender and hood that would be good to use.

Thanks in advance.

Glenn

 

Hi all,

Just bought my Charger about a month ago and this was the second mod I did (the first was a K&N CAI). I had noticed that the hinges on my friend's 2005 Magnum were the same as on my Charger and I already had the hole for the fender stud. I ordered the struts and studs from the Dodge dealer and the install was literally a snap.

The struts are left and right hand. The strut with the red label goes on the left (driver's) side and the green label goes on the right. The locking socket goes on the bottom with the sliding lock up (away from the fender).

Supposedly the struts were discontinued on the 2006 models due to liability reasons. The struts would fail and the hood would fall on your head. Obviously, whoever made that decision had never had a gust of wind take the hood off the prop rod and drop it on their noggin! [:@]

Engine compartment access is much better and it looks a whole lot cleaner without the rod in the way.

Redbeard

 

Where did you buy the struts? Can I have the web site please.

 

I grabbed a kit off ebay.

 

Did '05 Chargers have the struts? I had an 05' Magnum and it had the prop rod. AFAIK struts were never issued on any year Magnum or Charger from the factory.

-G-

 

to the best of the knowledge, 06 was the first year for the chargers.

 

How are they working out? Are they sturdy?

 

Installed last week. Takes about 15 minutes. Purchased from www.moparsupercenter.com. $60 shipped to your door in a week. Nothing like an unobstucted view of the Hemi.
Later,
Jim

 

Yea they work great. Much better than that cheezy import looking prop. That is one corner they shouldn't have cut.

 

I ordered the hood struts from the dealer and also came with the fender anchor points.
#05065278AD (Green label; passenger)
#05065279AD (Red label; driver)


Questions before I make the installation:
(1) did you need to tap the existing hole in the fender to receive the anchor? If Yes, then what size tap did you use?

(2) The hood struts came packaged in tight shrink-wrap like brown paper. The piston is exposed about 4-inches and is impossible to move in or out by hand. Is this normal?

(3) What were the easiest steps to install the hood struts? Was it: (a) place the anchor in the locking socket; (b)snap-attach the top of the hood strut to the hood-pin; and (c) screw the anchor-pin into the fender?

Thanks in advance---I'm too lazy to go and figure this out for myself!

Glenn