Trunk Prop

[Doc76]

Have a janky prop on my trunk lid that makes me cringe when I let the trunk rest on it. It’s off to one side and tweaks the lid. Only a matter of time before she rips out or worse ;(
I like the gas shock setup but appears that there are several methods to using gas shocks. I’d rather no have to replace my hinges to mount the shocks from the hinges, forward.

Any suggestion?

IMG_9607.jpg

[Mike.Bray]

I have the gas shock setup from Factory Five and no complaints. They hold the trunk lid up fine with easy one handed operation.

This isn't the best demonstration but it does show the cushion effect when closing.

[Doc76]

I have the gas shock setup from Factory Five and no complaints. They hold the trunk lid up fine with easy one handed operation.

This isn't the best demonstration but it does show the cushion effect when closing.

Where are your shocks?
Are they mounted to the hinge and forward to the roll bar area?

[Mike.Bray]

Where are your shocks?
Are they mounted to the hinge and forward to the roll bar area?

Yes.

https://www.factoryfiveparts.com/168...gas-strut-kit/

[Doc76]

K thx Mike

[Jeff Kleiner]

Yes.

https://www.factoryfiveparts.com/168...gas-strut-kit/

This has to be used in conjunction with the later "bayonet" style hinge arms. If you have the early style arms you'll have to retrofit the later ones.

Jeff

[Doc76]

Not so sure I can make that configuration work anyways. I plan to install the Breeze Cockpit Storage cubby there in the future and looks like that’d be in conflict.
I’ve see some online where the gas shocks mount further back inside the lid and go to brackets fit to the tube up underneath near the hinge mounts.
I’d be interested to hear from anyone that has that setup and their thoughts.
Perhaps a source for a kit if available.

[Mike.Bray]

I have the Breeze cubby, you have to cut slots in the rear wall for the struts to pass through. Not a huge deal.

[Jeff Kleiner]

I have the Breeze cubby, you have to cut slots in the rear wall for the struts to pass through. Not a huge deal.

I've done struts with cubby on several cars. As Mike says, easy peasy!



Jeff

cubby with struts.jpg

[Doc76]

I've done struts with cubby on several cars. As Mike says, easy peasy!



Jeff

cubby with struts.jpg

Nice thanks for sharing.
Where’d you source the handle on the passenger side of the dash from?
My wife asked for one the first time she climbed out of the car

[Jeff Kleiner]

Nice thanks for sharing.
Where’d you source the handle on the passenger side of the dash from?
My wife asked for one the first time she climbed out of the car

I don't know, the owner found it.

Jeff

[Sarcasticshrub]

Where’d you source the handle on the passenger side of the dash from?

Search for "Marine Handle" wherever your wallet points you. Ebay has em:

Marine Handle

[Doc76]

Search for "Marine Handle" wherever your wallet points you. Ebay has em:

Marine Handle

lol thanks

[JohnK]

I think it's this one. Edwardb used it on his roadster build, and several other builders (myself included) then shamelessly copied him.

[Doc76]

I think it's this one. Edwardb used it on his roadster build, and several other builders (myself included) then shamelessly copied him.

Nice and clean looking.
Thx guys

[JCB52]

This has to be used in conjunction with the later "bayonet" style hinge arms. If you have the early style arms you'll have to retrofit the later ones.

Jeff

Hey Jeff, have you ever installed these on a finished MKIV? No cubby, center mounded battery, not a lot of room for my old fat *** to gain access.

[Jeff Kleiner]

Hey Jeff, have you ever installed these on a finished MKIV? No cubby, center mounded battery, not a lot of room for my old fat *** to gain access.

I always do it with the body off. Not impossible with the body on but like you said not much working room to get at the front ball mounts!

Jeff

[Blitzboy54]

Nice thanks for sharing.
Where’d you source the handle on the passenger side of the dash from?
My wife asked for one the first time she climbed out of the car

I got one from amazon. Made some custom steal brackets. It's what I told passengers to hang onto in leu of the windshield. Will put another one in my next car as well. Super useful.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

[Doc76]

Hey Jeff, have you ever installed these on a finished MKIV? No cubby, center mounded battery, not a lot of room for my old fat *** to gain access.

I’ll be in the same boat doing it body-on eventually. It’s totally doable.

[Doc76]

I got one from amazon. Made some custom steal brackets. It's what I told passengers to hang onto in leu of the windshield. Will put another one in my next car as well. Super useful.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Thanks for sharing. The Amazon add is a little odd in description but I think that’s the 10” one correct?
Also, you made brackets? I was wondering if the dash alone could take it. Care to share a pic underneath the dash to show what you did?

[Mbufford]

But consider first, whether you want people putting/pulling their weight from your relative thin dash. I’m opting out, despite the fact that it looks amazing.

[OB6]

I installed one too, and the steel brackets are rock solid and isolate the dash from any stress.

20240825_160953.jpg

20240905_111218.jpg

[Doc76]

I installed one too, and the steel brackets are rock solid and isolate the dash from any stress.

20240825_160953.jpg

20240905_111218.jpg

Agreed
I had a peak under there last night. Not an issue to make it rock solid.
And gotta keep the wife happy
This’ll be a good “winter project”

[John Ibele]

Also, you made brackets? I was wondering if the dash alone could take it. Care to share a pic underneath the dash to show what you did?

Similar setup here, made from angle iron from the local Ace. I have an extra thickness of aluminum as a backer panel for my dash, so I wasn't worried about shear forces on the dash. In / out of plane is handled well by the angle iron behind the dash. Briefly stated: it ain't movin' . Like OB6 said - rock solid, and very reassuring.

The photo is taken before I had fabbed the second bracket, and before I had drilled and tapped into the top of the 2" square frame member for this one (hence the clamp). But it gives a pretty good idea of what you'll be facing.


by John Ibele, on Flickr

[Rebostar]

I could not find a handle I liked. Did not want stainless or chrome. Could not find a black one I liked, so I made one and painted it to match other minor accessories in the cockpit. If you install one. Weld in a stout bracket that will take the wieght of the largest person you think will be sitting in that seat!

DSC02857.JPGDSC02858.JPGDSC03178.JPG

[Doc76]

I could not find a handle I liked. Did not want stainless or chrome. Could not find a black one I liked, so I made one and painted it to match other minor accessories in the cockpit. If you install one. Weld in a stout bracket that will take the wieght of the largest person you think will be sitting in that seat!

DSC02857.JPGDSC02858.JPGDSC03178.JPG

Agreed
I’m still on the fence. I looked for a carbon fiber on but not much came up.

[danmas]

Agreed
I’m still on the fence. I looked for a carbon fiber on but not much came up.

Check theses out - Marine grab handle: https://www.koshigroup.com/product/c...l-grab-handle/

[Doc76]

Check theses out - Marine grab handle: https://www.koshigroup.com/product/c...l-grab-handle/

I’m sold. Those are exactly what I was thinking!

[danmas]

I just purchased one as well as the cup holders. Feels like they should be pretty good. Sorry for hijacking the thread.

[Mbufford]

Nice thanks for sharing.
Where’d you source the handle on the passenger side of the dash from?
My wife asked for one the first time she climbed out of the car

Check out the West Marine website. They have them in various lengths for decent prices.

[Mbufford]

I could not find a handle I liked. Did not want stainless or chrome. Could not find a black one I liked, so I made one and painted it to match other minor accessories in the cockpit. If you install one. Weld in a stout bracket that will take the wieght of the largest person you think will be sitting in that seat!

DSC02857.JPGDSC02858.JPGDSC03178.JPG

I considered getting one and powder coating it. But, really, I don’t want to encourage anyone to put their weight on my dash—they’re not made from very thick material.

[Doc76]

I got one from amazon. Made some custom steal brackets. It's what I told passengers to hang onto in leu of the windshield. Will put another one in my next car as well. Super useful.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Where’d you get the floor mats?
They looks like a decent fit

[Nigel Allen]

This has to be used in conjunction with the later "bayonet" style hinge arms. If you have the early style arms you'll have to retrofit the later ones.

Jeff

Freight was going to cost me a kidney and a lung to get new hinges shipped to Oz, so modified my existing hinges with some 1/4 inch ally plate and sourced struts to suit. Result: a satisfying arvo in the garage with hand tools, and a trunk (boot) lid that works like a charm. Still plenty of room for a cubby, or battery, or in my case, seat belt retractors.


gas strut.jpg

Notes:
- Drilled and tapped 6mm threads into hinges. Allowing ally plate to be bolted up to hinge.
- as this was retro fitted, I couldnt rivet the strut ball mount bracket to the chassis of the car. Just got cheap and nasty with some self drilling metal-threads. To be honest, they pull up tighter than a rivet.

Cheers,

Nige

[Nigel Allen]

Quote Originally Posted by JCB52
Hey Jeff, have you ever installed these on a finished MKIV? No cubby, center mounded battery, not a lot of room for my old fat *** to gain access.

I always do it with the body off. Not impossible with the body on but like you said not much working room to get at the front ball mounts!

Jeff

I did mine with the body on, no-one would call me skinny. Used self drilling screws instead of rivets for the ball mounts. It's a bit easier because the lid is off. Actually, the worst part was realigning the lid, whilst fighting against the gas struts.

Cheers,

Nige

[Doc76]

Anyone in the Fraser Valley BC area with a similar setup that I could see in motion?
Curious to know what kinda of torque is applied to the connection at the fiberglass.

[Doc76]

Quote Originally Posted by JCB52
Hey Jeff, have you ever installed these on a finished MKIV? No cubby, center mounded battery, not a lot of room for my old fat *** to gain access.



I did mine with the body on, no-one would call me skinny. Used self drilling screws instead of rivets for the ball mounts. It's a bit easier because the lid is off. Actually, the worst part was realigning the lid, whilst fighting against the gas struts.

Cheers,

Nige

Any chance you can send me a picture of the writing on the gas shocks?
Curious to know lbs of pressure and stroke or model number. I’ll fab this myself too and may already have sufficient gas shocks on the shelf in my shop.

[JohnK]

My kit came with 20 lb. gas shocks for the trunk and they weren't strong enough to hold the lid open, so I replaced them with these 28 lb. shocks:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

They're still not strong enough to open the lid by themselves but they'll hold the lid open.

[Jeff Kleiner]

Anyone in the Fraser Valley BC area with a similar setup that I could see in motion?
Curious to know what kinda of torque is applied to the connection at the fiberglass.

When using the FFR designed hinges and struts ZERO pressure is applied to the fiberglass. The struts act against the hinges.

Jeff

[Doc76]

K thx

[Blitzboy54]

Thanks for sharing. The Amazon add is a little odd in description but I think that’s the 10” one correct?
Also, you made brackets? I was wondering if the dash alone could take it. Care to share a pic underneath the dash to show what you did?

Yes, I found a picture. nothing fancy but I used a tap to thread the other end right into the square tube

10"