Hood support strut question

Both have pluses and minuses --

The push button released strut never goes flat, but if someone tries to force the hood closed (thinking it's a gas spring), the hood gets bent.

You can't damage the hood with the gas spring, but it has to be replaced fairly often when it goes flat.

 

It has always been my impression that all 308's originally had the locking ball. The gas piston upgrade came when they switched to the 328. Personally I like the gas pistons for the insurance against somebody trying to close the hood w/o releasing the ball and bending the metal

 

Does anybody have a part number for a suitable gas strut for an early 308 (1977 in my case). I like the idea of replacing my ball affair because I half expect somebody to bend the hood one of these days.

 

Hmmm. My 328 has the push button. Did the cars with gas struts have one on each side? -Steve

I just looked in my SPC, and part number 60118007 is what they have for my 328. Someone hand wrote in "mechanical strut" next to the number. Below on the same page, is hand written " #62380500 Gas Hood Strut". Can anybody confirm these numbers?

 

The '84-'85 US 308QV OM shows the push button type mechanical strut -- maybe someone replace it with a generic gas spring with much too high a force? I should have said "You can't damage the hood with a properly designed gas spring"

 

Gas strut started in mid 1988 328 production. Before that it was the silly one with the ball bearing detent. I replaced with the gas strut on both my 1978 308GTS and later on my 1987 328GTS. I had seen too many bent 308/328 hoods to want that to happen to my car! (made me cringe)

I have NEVER heard of a hood being bent from using the gas strut, and many, many people has switched. My mechanic Carlo, at Alfa of Tacoma highly recommended the change. I know Brian Crall (Rifledriver) switches them out to the gas strut at his shop as well. I saw him post once that he got sick of seeing so many bent hoods come into his shop, so he always recommended changing to the gas strut.

If one is still concerned with the gas pressure I would recommend you check and ensure you have the correct 328 Stabilus/Sachs strut part number, and you could just make sure you press on the hood near where the strut meets the hood, rather than up at the top/back, so you do not put undo pressure that may cause a bend.

The correct part number is SACHS Part # SG437002 And available from www.rockauto.com You can either search by the part number, or use their look up, for a 1989 328 GTS/GTB. Just remember you want the "front engine hood/lid" as that is how they list it.

 

I'm sure that someone here has the answer. The gas strut on the 1988 328's and beyond are on the passenger side while the earlier push button strut is on the driver's side. I'm not sure that you can take a gas strut and put it in place of a pushbutton strut. The lengths and attachments may be different.

 

They work just fine in spite of the different location. Again, I had one installed on my 78 308GTS and on my 1987 328GTS.

 

I have the gas on my 328 but I'm pretty sure if I had the one with the ball I'd rig it so the ball did not lock in place and just buy an adjustable prop rod to hold the hood open when I needed it. Almost every 308 hood I've ever seen has been bent from that stupid ball, or should I say the stupid people that tried to close the hood without pushing the ball in.

 

It's on my 328 too, but occurred w.the PO. Here's my fix for it, though it's since been painted flat black to blend in. This thing is solid!
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I have a Ferrari logo gas struct I'd consider swaping for the original ball socket type.

PM me if you would like to maybe do a swap.

Bob R.

 

I guess I'm the only one that likes the ball type, to me it will last forever, I get tired of replacing the gas struts.
I wish the ball type was used on the engine cover as well. (in cold climates the gas struts don't last long)
What happened to the old spring type hood hinges? they lasted forever, gas struts are garbage, very poor design (designed to fail) but all cars use them now.

 

Can anyone confirm for me the correct part number for the ball strut type front bonnet stay on my '83 QV? I think I'll track one down for purchase if they are available.

Thanks.

 

You're not alone. There's a much higher risk of contracting hoodis-bendius with it but I know I won't do it and as for some unwitting well-intentioned soul, well, I just manage the environment so that opportunity isn't present. I.E. I do all the opening and closing, etc.

 

Exactly right, no one opens or closes them but me , so I don't worry about it either.

 

I labeled mine with some big graphics...an arrow points to the strut and 1" letters say "WARNING: PRESS BALL TO CLOSE".....LOL!

But on one goes in there but me anyway, as some have said.

 

Here is a post from Brian Crall (Rifledriver) on the same subject over on another site:

(quote)

I have made a small fortune repairing 308 hoods from that strut. Ferrari got rid of it for a very good reason.
They do wear out too. The ball gets a flat spot from wear and the hood falls on your head. Also they get rust inside and the ball siezes. I was fixing these cars when those were still being produced. Ferrari quit using them for good reason, they were a law suit waiting to happen.

The gas strut at the time was seen as a big improvement and only now do some consider the old one better. It is primarily because people forget, or don't know how much trouble they were. The gas struts were a good replacement for them. It is just that in a few cases (TR front, 355 +348 rear lids) the struts were underengineered from the very beginning. I have no doubt that the designers got out the Stabilus catalog and designed the car around an off the shelf strut that would do the job and in the cases I noted the strut chosen was marginal.

Just last week we did about $1000 worth of repairs to a front lid of a one owner 85 308. Second repair, same car. Left the car at a smog shop. Someone there opened it and did not know how to close it. Come to think of it it was the second this month and we dont work on 308's. (quote)

 

I have the ball-strut (and the dent in the hood that comes with it, caused by the PO - oh well....). Anywho, what is the correct mounting hardware for the strut to the hood? My OEM hardware once fell off, into the car, under the tub, and was lost forever during a drive. I replaced it with a 6mm bolt and nylon lock-nut, but even the lock-nuts work off the bolt - I ended up scratching my quarter panel attempting to fish-out the hood strut hardware from around the fan-duct when it fell off the gas strut again. SO....I'd like to fix this once and for all....ideas?

 

Ricambi has the replacement parts. Part No 62380500 for the gas strut (expensive!) and 40161903 for the screws. Where the lower end of the strut attaches, there should be a permanent nut attached, while the upper attachment needs a lock nut. The screws have a small shoulder that fits in the holes of the strut to allow the upper screw to rotate without the locknut loosening.

 

After trying the new strut, it would not work on an 87 328. The shoulders of the strut are not long enough and the lower shoulder hits the bracket attached to the car.

 

i do not let anyone touch my car that way it works fine.

I have a friend that watched customs bend his hood as the car was brought into the US....