body and interior Gas Cartridges Instead of Hood/Trunk Supports

[Captain Manly]

Has anyone tried to substitute the existing hood/trunk supports with gas cartridges supports like you see in modern (as well as touring '02s) rides?

 

Advantages: simplicity, weight savings 

 

Just curious, thanks!

Justin 

[Ian]

I've thought about adapting the cartridges from an e30.  The hood opens in the same direction, and the fittings would be pretty easy to fab up.

[AceAndrew]

It has been covered a number of times if you search.  However, I've yet to see/come-up-with a clean (no fab) solution at this time.

Edited June 2, 2016 by AceAndrew

[Emyers]

Hard to beat the simplicity of the current system.......

 

[gastephens]

3 minutes ago, Emyers said:

Hard to beat the simplicity of the current system.......

 

And how do you get much lighter than 4 thin strips of steel? Now if you could make the hood open the other way...

[AceAndrew]

Howabout that large ungainly cross bar stretching across the underside, it's got to weigh at least 10-15 pounds?  There is plenty to be gained from a decent hood shock.

[jimk]

In today's world there are any number of bright ideas, but I don't see implementation.  Do it if you know how and sell the hardware.

[Emyers]

23 minutes ago, AceAndrew said:

Howabout that large ungainly cross bar stretching across the underside, it's got to weigh at least 10-15 pounds?  There is plenty to be gained from a decent hood shock.

The bar is hollow, weighs maybe half of that.

 

[AceAndrew]

3 minutes ago, Emyers said:

The bar is hollow, weighs maybe half of that.

 

 

I just happen to have one off of the car.  Will confirm or deny this evening.

[kbmb02]

Go simple race style with lightweight 3/8" diameter aluminum hood prop (the location/angle allows access from either side). -KB

 

 

 

 

[gastephens]

If you eliminate the latch bar then you have to install hood pins or some other latching system.

[AceAndrew]

But you wouldn't HAVE to eliminate the latch bar at all.  The latch bar and hood hinge are functionally independent. 

 

I know Harv did something similar a while back.

 

[jimk]

Don't forget the center latch that prevents the hood from slicing your head off in the event of a frontal collision.

[TobyB]

Jim, you take all the fun out of things.  And the decapitation....

 

This has been discussed at least twice.  And the short version is that

it wouldn't be any lighter, really.  The rear springs weigh about 8 ounces,

and the hood system, not that much more.

The locking bar is hollow...  

 

And bonus, the 45 year old springs are working a lot better than the

12 year old gas struts on the E46, and waaayyyy better than the 

20 year old ones on the E36's....

 

But if you want the cool factor, by all means, go for it.

That's why we do this sort of stuff anyway.

The E30 front hood

setup's probably directly adaptable to the 2002.

The trunk will be harder.

 

I wanna see a fully shaved, frenched, tubbed and tucked 2002 here,

one of these days.

 

With lead, not bondo.

 

t