4Runner4Leon
Senior Member
Oddly, USPS delivers faster across the country than across the state - so yours was a two-day delivery.
Great tips on both counts, very clever and much appreciated!
Spiker Engineering ULTIMATE Lift Hood Struts
- Thread starter 4Runner4Leon
- Start date
Oddly, USPS delivers faster across the country than across the state - so yours was a two-day delivery.
Great tips on both counts, very clever and much appreciated!
heat
Member
Another detail I forgot. Instructions say to measure, drill, and rivet one side
at a time. I measured each side first- not moving the prop pipe- then drilled.
I missed the extended lengths exactly matching by less than the hatch struts
(they're about a quarter inch off).
4Runner4Leon
Senior Member
Maybe I'm not quite understanding your post - the instructions do not say to measure anything for locating the hood brackets. They specifically say NOT to measure the passenger side, or to go by the measurement of the driver side, precisely due to the difference between the driver and passenger side locations of the ball stud inserts.
You're supposed to locate the locations for the brackets by raising the struts into position, then marking the hole locations; not by measuring.
Is that what you meant?
heat
Member
Yes I misspoke. Try this :"Instructions say to mark, drill, and rivet one side
at a time. I marked each side first..."
4Runner4Leon
Senior Member
Got it now. :thumb:
4Runner4Leon
Senior Member
That's a good height
- you'll definitely appreciate the extra hood opening of this kit, and not having to sneak your head under the stock height hood! PM sent back to you.Ok the kit came in after customs scratched their heads at what was this thing and dinged me for duty just because they can.
Install was very straight forward though one thing I did to simplify things was remove the clips on one strut and used it for marking on each side. I found it easier to rivet the plates without the strut.
One thing that might be an issue for regular folks or the wee people as I call them is the effort to close the hood. I have mine at full height and I can reach the top of the hood and push it down but there is a fair amount of resistance. I can see a short person having trouble reaching the hood and then pulling it down. Maybe it's easier to pull than push?
Last thing is there a reason all the installs are strut body to hood? I would think aesthetically it might look better with the rods up and the body in the engine bay.
Great modification and I can highly recommend the kit.
Install was very straight forward though one thing I did to simplify things was remove the clips on one strut and used it for marking on each side. I found it easier to rivet the plates without the strut.
One thing that might be an issue for regular folks or the wee people as I call them is the effort to close the hood. I have mine at full height and I can reach the top of the hood and push it down but there is a fair amount of resistance. I can see a short person having trouble reaching the hood and then pulling it down. Maybe it's easier to pull than push?
Last thing is there a reason all the installs are strut body to hood? I would think aesthetically it might look better with the rods up and the body in the engine bay.
Great modification and I can highly recommend the kit.
4Runner4Leon
Senior Member
Harry, sorry about the customs ding, that stinks.
The struts will "work" with either the tube or the rod end pointing up, but the tube end "up" is preferred for the damping to function properly. With the rod end up, there's a higher chance of air bubbles, and thus slightly harsher stopping at end of travel.
I understand what you mean about the force required to close the hood - the whole thing is a design box where you don't want struts to be too weak so that cold weather or a gust of wind can send the hood down on your head, but you also don't want them to be so strong as to be your alternative to the gym. In the case of my kits, it's further complicated by the fact the kit allows you to choose the open height from stock to the high-lift - the force required to close the hood will vary depending on which configuration you choose, and the high-lift naturally requires the most force.
The struts typically settle a little after a few weeks - but if you're not happy, please let me know and I will send you a pair of slightly weaker struts.
The struts will "work" with either the tube or the rod end pointing up, but the tube end "up" is preferred for the damping to function properly. With the rod end up, there's a higher chance of air bubbles, and thus slightly harsher stopping at end of travel.
I understand what you mean about the force required to close the hood - the whole thing is a design box where you don't want struts to be too weak so that cold weather or a gust of wind can send the hood down on your head, but you also don't want them to be so strong as to be your alternative to the gym. In the case of my kits, it's further complicated by the fact the kit allows you to choose the open height from stock to the high-lift - the force required to close the hood will vary depending on which configuration you choose, and the high-lift naturally requires the most force.
The struts typically settle a little after a few weeks - but if you're not happy, please let me know and I will send you a pair of slightly weaker struts.
4Runner4Leon
Senior Member
That's great to hear, thanks for the feedback. I spent more hours than I care to admit detailing and optimizing the instructions, so it's very rewarding to see folks appreciate the effort! :thumb:
Last Man Standing
New member
I'm now offering discounts for multiple kits shipped to same address, for referrals of other customers who purchase the kit, and for group buys - please PM or email me for details.
[MENTION=28464]eimkeith[/MENTION], [MENTION=120071]mtbtim[/MENTION], you both qualify for the discounts, so I PayPal-ed some money back to you - Late Merry Christmas
If I forgot anyone who qualifies for the above criteria, please let me know!
Looks interesting and as Tim say's " A Sick Mod " !!!!!
I noticed a sale too so a good time for us 3rd.Gens to move forward with this!
Is there any coupons to apply to the sale price?
Regards,
LMS
4Runner4Leon
Senior Member
It's an awesome mod, even if I do say so myself
.I have a good inventory of these kits right now, so I can ship out at a moment's notice.
As for coupons etc, I can offer discounts to a group buy, something that was asked about before. So we can do free shipping for 10 orders, 10% off for 20 orders, and 20% off for 30 orders and above.
If someone wants to arrange for a group buy like this, I have enough kits on hand to cover.
Last Man Standing
New member
It's an awesome mod, even if I do say so myself
I have a good inventory of these kits right now, so I can ship out at a moment's notice.
As for coupons etc, I can offer discounts to a group buy, something that was asked about before. So we can do free shipping for 10 orders, 10% off for 20 orders, and 20% off for 30 orders and above.
If someone wants to arrange for a group buy like this, I have enough kits on hand to cover.
4Runner4Leon,
Thanks for the reply and info!
I live in the north country so time is limited to do this mod, but appreciate the offer and hope someone will take advantage of the group buy and put it together.
Best Regards,
LMS
Brian.
Member
Math's for lazy people (3rd gen only, the others are ~$5 more)
Today's undiscounted price is $85 shipped (9/14/19)
10 orders for free shipping is $79 to your door
20 orders is $71.10 (I'm assuming with free shipping?)
30+ orders is $63.20
Last Man Standing
New member
4Runner4Leon,
Order has been placed and have plenty of time to fit into the repair / upgrade schedule on the 3rd. Gen before the cold weather settles in! Looking forward to not needing that steak to hold up the hood......:thumb3:
LMS
4Runner4Leon
Senior Member
LMS,
Sounds great, your kit has been shipped, and should get to you by this weekend. Hopefully before it gets too cold
.Last Man Standing
New member
LMS,
Sounds great, your kit has been shipped, and should get to you by this weekend. Hopefully before it gets too cold
4Runner4Leon,
Did the install this afternoon in less than an hour!
Instructions were spot on, product was excellent and the action when
opening the hood was superb. One suggestion on the install is when using
the pop rivet gun, those rivet's are so hard to break off the nail part it is best
to not put the tip of the rivet gun snug against the rivet after the first squeeze of
the gun. I did not have the strength to snap those rivets apart so if you leave 1/8"
space on the nail the handles will be a bit closer together and makes for a smaller grip
of the hand and you get more strength to break the rivet nails off.
Hat Tip to you sir, well done and quick shipping too..........:hatsoff:
LMS
4Runner4Leon
Senior Member
Glad that you made quick work of it, and are enjoying not having to use the prop rod anymore!
Also thanks for the tips, I'll update the instructions to reflect your idea. Thank you :thumb:
