D.I.Y. AW11 NA engine lid strut,..Cheap!!

[Alex]

I had some bits laying around from a mates written VTSS commondog, and noticed I could use the bonnet struts for some thing..my engine lid!

Since my lid prop was missing on my AW11 I needed something to hold my lid up and thought the strut kit availible was a bit expensive compared to doing it myself

Any strut can be used as long as it's not rated too high in pressure, here is how you can tell

The lower the number the lower the pressure or fast but it opens quite a bit slower in warmer weather for some reason, I still think mine is a little too high in pressure, but I would'nt suggest anything rated higher than mine as you'll have trouble closing the lid


The ends of the strut unsrew, i've used an end bracket off 2 struts so if you get a strut from the wreckers, you will have to get another end bracket off another strut


In this pic it shows clearly the end bracket you'll need, I've used 2 short self tapping type screws with 10mm heads on the engine lid, I hope this is possible on the SC, i've never seen the underside of an SC lid?

BE CAREFULL DRILLING THE LID!! use a broken or short drill bit if possible, you dont want to damage the top of you engine lid!



At the bottom part of the strut you have to be carefull with clearances as the fuse box can be an issue

The way I bolted the bottom part of the strut is a bit dodgy looking but I did'nt want drill into the rail so I bent up a piece of shelving bracket I found then screwed it to the battery tray with only 1 screw holding it, 1 screw is fine because the strut only wants to push downwards onto the screw anyway


In the 6 months or since fitting the strut I've had no probs at all and only cost me 20 mins of my time because I had 2 struts laying around

And the finished result!

[Talasas]

Nice work - now do the frunk to make it more usable

[Alex]

Dont tempt me, I will.. lol

[Talasas]

Why not? I always said I would if I had an AW11...

[MR22ZZ]

damn, that thing could take an eye out...

[Alex]

Why not? I always said I would if I had an AW11...

I would like to do something with the frunk, but it seems a bit more involved, i'll stick with the frunk stay/rod for now

[Grippy]

I did this same thing ages ago, got sick of that prop rod, just got a small gas strut for about 20 bucks and did a similar thing with the brackets, much better. I wanna do the front trunk but the brackets would be apain.