Well I've been meaning to get around to replacing my crude prop rod with a gas strut. I found a specification sheet on Monroe's website for their struts and after measuring the opened and closed lengths went looking though the list for something that would work.
I chose to use the upper bolt on the deck lid hinge and the deck lid vent support as the two mounting points for the strut. My measurements were approx. 12.5" open and 8.5" closed. This led me to the Monroe #901322, Mighty-Lift #95051, and Strong-Arm #4417. This strut has eyes on both ends for a bolt to pass through.
I tried to find a piece of 2" square tubbing to use as a bracket, but couldn't find any in the garage so my first attempt at a bracket was a piece of steel bent into a J (actually a U that was latter cut down to a J) that used the existing deck lid vent support screws. This bracket alone showed too much flex when operating the deck lid.
I then added a right angle piece of steel using one of the main strut bolts for support. The combination of the two brackets shows virtually no flex now.
I used two grade 8.8 M8x1.25x45 bolts. For the upper mount I had the bolt, a washer, some grease, the strut, some more grease, a washer, a nut, a fender washer, then screwed into the deck lid. The lower mount is very similar except instead of the deck lid there is another fender washer and two nuts.
When I first lift the deck lid up it's as if there is no strut because the strut is pushing horizontially. About half way open the strut can hold the lid up on it's own and from there on it finishes raising the lid. When the strut hits it's limit the lid bounces a little so for now I'm just holding the hood as it goes up to keep it from bouncing. I don't think this would be a problem if my hinges had less play in them.
