MKIV NAPA Trunk Struts & Balls Correction

[LewPoberezny]

Anyone using NAPA BK 8195564 struts may find them to weak when latch and license plate is installed, I have found options

BK8195564 = 40 LBS
BK8195665 = 50 LBS
BK8195589 = 60 LBS
BK8195590 = 90 LBS

Right now I have the 60 installed as the 90 seemed a little to much..
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[jlfernan]

Hey Lew, I had thought of the struts for the trunk lid on my car but was worried that the point of highest stress would be where the hinges attach to the lid. There are only two rivnuts per side and was afraid they would act as a fulcrum and would eventually tear out. Has anyone had these on there for a while to insure the durability of the set up?

http://img193.imageshack.us/img193/2561/jorgec.jpg (http://thefactoryfiveforum.com/private.php?do=newpm&u=111)

[3kcarbon]

Hey Lew, I had thought of the struts for the trunk lid on my car but was worried that the point of highest stress would be where the hinges attach to the lid. There are only two rivnuts per side and was afraid they would act as a fulcrum and would eventually tear out. Has anyone had these on there for a while to insure the durability of the set up?

http://img193.imageshack.us/img193/2561/jorgec.jpg (http://thefactoryfiveforum.com/private.php?do=newpm&u=111)

The lifts bolt to the hinge and not the lid. The lid does not see any stess from it. I bought mine from McMaster Car. They were 40 Lb units and hold the trunk at any point. If you want the trunk to fly up when released you will need 50 or 60 lb units. The McMaster car parts are only about $14.00 each with the ball mount. My local NAPA store wanted $20.00 each for the lifts and $5.00 each for the ball mounts. That makes the McMaster units less than half the NAPA price and very well may come from the same original source. I live within .5 mile of a large NAPA distribution center and they have almost anything when I need it but always at a higher price. Sometimes I pay extra for the convienience but often I need to save some money......

[jlfernan]

The lifts bolt to the hinge and not the lid. The lid does not see any stess from it. I bought mine from McMaster Car. They were 40 Lb units and hold the trunk at any point. If you want the trunk to fly up when released you will need 50 or 60 lb units. The McMaster car parts are only about $14.00 each with the ball mount. My local NAPA store wanted $20.00 each for the lifts and $5.00 each for the ball mounts. That makes the McMaster units less than half the NAPA price and very well may come from the same original source. I live within .5 mile of a large NAPA distribution center and they have almost anything when I need it but always at a higher price. Sometimes I pay extra for the convienience but often I need to save some money......

I was concerned 'cause at one point, I thought about making a simple arm that would rotate up and wedge itself under one of the trunk hinges to hold it up. I put a piece of wood under a hinge to see more or less if it would work. It did, but, it just felt to me that the weight of the lid itself, with hinge being held up, would be enough to pull those rivnuts out. I'll wait a bit to see once people get their cars done what happens. I'm just curious.

http://img193.imageshack.us/img193/2561/jorgec.jpg (http://thefactoryfiveforum.com/private.php?do=newpm&u=111)

[Chris Young]

Hey 3Kcarbon:

Do you happen to have McMaster Part numbers and maybe a picture of how you rigged yours up?
Thanks,
Chris

[3kcarbon]

Sure do just got to dig it out of my mass of information that I have in a state of confusion.


Hey 3Kcarbon:

Do you happen to have McMaster Part numbers and maybe a picture of how you rigged yours up?
Thanks,
Chris

[3kcarbon]

2452
Here are some photos. I'll have to dig up the part numbers. Its the best mod I did on the entire build for cost and ease.

[3kcarbon]

McMaster Carr #4138T575 Turns out my note says 50 lb, I thought they were 40 so.. 19.72 ext and 7.87 stroke. $14.25 each with the ball mounts.