early->late C4 hood prop upgrade

[rrubel]

Guess this counts as a mod question...

Anyway, I'm tired of the scissors hood support on my 86 always coming loose so I bought a used later-model pneumatic one from Taber Corvettes. It's the one with the red button on the side, so I think it's from an LT1-engined car. I'm trying to figure out where on the body it gets attached. The hood attachment point is obvious, but not the body one. I was warned I'd probably have to do some minor cutting of something, but I can't even determine how far away from the hood the rod must be. I looked at an 87's, but it's yet again a completely different style and not a help.

Can someone with a later C4 post a picture or something showing where the lower attachment points are? Or if someone else has done this conversion and wants to offer assistance or insults, please feel free to chime in...
Thanks.
[RICHR]

 

[silver 80]

I just bought the kit, haven't had time to install yet but hope to get to it next weekend. All of the parts are form GM.

 

[unleadedbrew]

See if this helps Rich


http://www.corvettemagazine.com/1999/dec99/hood/hoodp1.asp

 

[rrubel]

Well... not quite. It does tell me, though, that Mad Mic probably doesn't have the original hood support in his Vette... he's got that odd looking L-bracket which I had never seen before (and now see again in this article) and the article also mentions that 87's had the scissors support as well. Now, however, I can see if Zip just sells that L-bracket, which would probably make my job easier - provided the prop rod is the right length (and I'm not sure it is). Confused yet?
Thanks anyway.
[RICHR]

 

[Ken]

'87s did not have the scissors type; it was an inferior version of the later ('88 I think and beyond) tube-style. I changed mine to the later version years ago.

 

[rrubel]

Ah - then you've got the info I need, I think. If Mic's 87 has the original prop with the flat curved lower bracket, and you switched to the later style (which has projections; that's the only way I can think to describe it), then please... tell me where you mounted that lower bracket!

I'll trade you a DVD-rom full of fan-made Star Wars films!

Thanks.
[RICHR]

 

[Ken]

I'll see what I can do Rich. If I don't have any pictures already, I'll go down later and snap a few for ya.

 

[Ken]

I hope these help you Rich. After looking at mine again, I see that I went through a similar puzzle when I changed over - the ball stud doesn't appear to be a match for the bracket. I can't remember the circumstances.

 

[rrubel]

Dang. Ken, you've got the L-bracket as well. Same as Mic's 87. What I've got is apparently from an LT1 car and the lower bracket is completely different.
Thanks anyway.
[RICHR]

 

[JonM]

Let me throw this one into the mix...http://home.nc.rr.com/crossfireproject/hoodprop.html

 

[Moonunit 451]

Anyone got an extra lower mounting bracket laying around? I think I got shortchanged on that one, but I'll definately be going after it. Just looking for a backup source. If not, if anyone can provide a PN and price for the bracket, that would be helpful. Thanks for the pics Ken Let's see a pic of your bracket Rich

 

[oldace84]

I would update/replace mine on my '84, if I didn't buy all chrome pieces.

Oh well.

 

[Moonunit 451]

Dang. Ken, you've got the L-bracket as well. Same as Mic's 87. What I've got is apparently from an LT1 car and the lower bracket is completely different.
Thanks anyway.
[RICHR]

Well Rich, looks like you and I are in the same boat Is this the prop you got too?

I finally got mine and went to install it today. I've read the threads posted by Jon and unleadedbrew, neither of those is realy any help unfortunately. Jon's mounts on the pass side and the Zip prices well represent the CorvetteTax :dance (and that don't mean dance my friends), which does have the bracket that Ken pictured. http://www.corvettemagazine.com/1999/dec99/hood/zretro.html

I'm gonna see what I can figure out. Have you solved the problem? Looks like I might have to move in to my least favorite mode --- fabrication. Damn, I hate that

 

[Moonunit 451]

Well, this is gonna work. It'll be prettier when the paint dries. I used a sawsall but I suppose jigsaw or other methods would work too. Took about two minutes to cut and about an hour to measure and remeasure and make sure things line up. It's very close but it will work. Now, too bad the shock doesn't seem as strong as it should be. It doesn't pop the hood the way I've seen others do.

 

[rrubel]

That looks, from what I recall, like the bottom bracket for my hood prop. What *I* wound up doing was cutting the brace that bolts across the wheel well (this brace is what's different on the LT1 cars). It's a complex bend where it sits on the frame, and I cut out what is probably equivalent to what you did on the bracket using a Dremel tool and abrasive cutting disk. I preferred not to weaken the bracket that had the hood's weight on it. Had some minor issues working around the hard lines that were bolted to the frame, but I think I took care of that. Also the prop didn't initially want to lay atop all the cables along the fender, but I convinced it to. Mine also doesn't really "pop" the hood, but it makes it a HECK of a lot easier to raise, and it stays up nicely.

One wonders why the General saw fit to put hood prop mounting holes on both sides of the hood...

[RICHR]

 

[Moonunit 451]

I think I might know what you mean. This sits far forward from where youre talking about. Just finished it up and it look stock, nothing obviously hacked up Plenty strong too.

 

[rrubel]

Yup yup yup. Except for your white lights vice my red, that could easily be my car (SuperRam GOOOOOD ). The metal brace that you took the bolts out of when you put the hood brace in (sits right in front of the wheel well) - that's the piece that I cut. It easily comes out, and what I hacked off is covered by wires, hoses, and the prop bracket. But there's surely nothing wrong with what you did either. Some way or another, SOMETHING had to be weakened unless we wanted to buy the LT-1 crosspiece.

[RICHR]

 

[SoLow]

Ya'll be careful....I am fixing what could go wrong when this brace is replaced ...Rich...ya still going to carlisle?

 

[rrubel]

Oh, COME ON! Don't leave us hanging like that!

I *plan* to be at Carlisle, but plans may be changing.
[RICHR]

 

[SoLow]

The knuckle head that owned mine before me put a kit on and the wires to the fan that he wired direct to the battery got pinched and started a fire........:L Then when he jerked the hood release....it of course broke

You should see the "patch" that was in the hood.....I tried to add a pic but its too large or something.......