Trunk support conversion to gas struts

[v6spider]

so I have been considering removing the prop rod that is normally used to hold up the trunk lid and create supports using gas charged struts like what used on hatchbacks or rear windows on SUVS. Has anyone here done that or considered the conversion? One thing I will have to take into consideration is finding a strut that is the right length and strength to hold up the lid without pushing the lid up so hard that the trunk won't close.
anyway just curious if anyone has done that.

cheers!
Rob

[So Cal Mark]

it has been done. Someone posted some pics last year of a conversion they did and it looked really clean

[greaseguncutts]

One thing you need to consider is whether you are doing both sides or just one. If you use to strong of a strut your trunk lid will begin to fatigue. it will do that with either 1 or two struts. the difference is that with 1 strut it will also begin to twist the lid if you do not watch how you close it. If using only the one strut always pull down on the side that you install the strut.
These trunck lids are light and do not take much to hold them up. Just a little information to help you out.

[v6spider]

Mark: thanks for the info! Do you know the username of the person who posted this?

greaseguncutts: Thanks for the advice! Makes sense for sure... you only want the struts to support the trunk lid at various positions... not lift it to the top... so to speak...

I would sure love to see some pics of this...

Rob

[Zippy]

Try http://www.liftsupportsdepot.com

They don't have Fiat in their list but you might be able to get some ideas from their website.

[v6spider]

Try http://www.liftsupportsdepot.com

They don't have Fiat in their list but you might be able to get some ideas from their website.

Sweet! this is a great resource for struts. Thanks Zippy.

Still would love to see what someone has done with this though...just don't want to invent the wheel if I don't have to.
Rob

[adrians]

Gas Struts - Piece of cake

http://www.fiatspider.com/f08/viewtopic ... ilit=+boot

[v6spider]

adrians: Do you know the model and brand of strut used? I took a look at the install photo... exactly what i am gonna do. i just nee to know the particulars about the strut... IE extended length, retracted length, and force pounds....
or the model number and make of the the strut they used on your install....

Thanks!
Rob

[adrians]

Ill check the actual structs in the next day or so for a model number

[v6spider]

Thanks I appreciate adrians!

[seabeelt]

Rob, How about using the springs from later year spiders? I have that same trunk prop, for lack of a better term, and have had to fix it multiple times.

[v6spider]

I like the idea of the struts - simple and clean install. Plus I am removing the trunk lock and installing a remote selenoid.

Thanks!
Rob

[gcorsar]

This looks like an old thread, but I wonder if anyone had information about the struts used and the installation method. I saw the one picture where someone installed struts from the trunk lid to the trunk floor; a pretty good idea. I'd be willing to consider other ideas too.

Thanks!

[adrians]

Two Gas Struts still working prefectly after 5 years, the local 'travelling' struct man mounted two ball joints on the floorl and drilled two holes in the brackets of the boot lid and screwed in another two ball joints, then selected an appropriate length struct/s from his stock.

I'll try and measure the compressed and extended lengths of the structs on the weekend.

[v6spider]

Adrians you rock! If you have a model number for the struts that would be awesome! Thank you for responding...thus is something I really wanted to do!

Thanks again!
Rob