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Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 190
CEG\'er
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OP
CEG\'er
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 190 |
The other day I was thinking about a hood strut kit. Decided $50 was too much. I knw my taurus has hood struts and there is a million of em in the junk yard. So i set out to make them work.
I Purchased them along with two out of four ball ends i needed. Found some perfect size screws to work as the other ball ends. I also purchased a 8x1.25mm tap and 17/64 drill bit. Removed the upper screws that held in the hood and taped the holes larger.
I then removed the appropreate bolt on the fender, replaced with my new "ball end" (really just a proper sized screw) and that was it.
The kit fits perfect, looks factory, has motorcraft part numbers on them and lifts the hood about 2" more than normal.
Heres the final product. I do eventually plan to find proper ball ends to replace the lower screws. The tap set cost me $11 and the struts were $3-4.
Picture 1
Picture 2
98' Red E0 Contour SVT - Project SVT Tour'
Pioneer Touch Screen Navigation / DVD, Infinity Speakers
Borla Stainless Cat-Back, AEM True CAI, High Flow Y-Pipe
3L Hybrid w/ 3L Valves, Window Automation, Torsen LSD
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Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 367
CEG\'er
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CEG\'er
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 367 |
Good option. I like cheaper but does everything close up nice and tight? You purchased the struts from a slavage yard but only two of the four ball ends? Does the taurus only come with two? Do they sell the ball ends at parts stores?
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Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 1,356
Hard-core CEG\'er
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Hard-core CEG\'er
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 1,356 |
Those are hot Brad! Yea, im thinking I kinda want a set now...  Next time we run to the junkyard i'll grab a set. I started cleaning up those headlights. I picked up a kit from Advance that has these presaturated pads that you spray water on to activate the compound, they did pretty well and cleaned up the yellowing very nicely, but they weren't quite as clear as I wanted them to be so I picked up a heatsink lapping kit from frozencpu and started to wetsand them... 
1999 Mystique LS V6
Alpine CDA-9807, Rear deck sub, Opt. TB, K&N RU-3530/MAF adaptor, custom heatshield, FSVT 17's, SCT 4-program chip, Eibach's/ST200's, Hella Fogs...
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Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 2,489
Hard-core CEG\'er
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Hard-core CEG\'er
Joined: Dec 2002
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1998 T-Red CSVT 3.0L
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Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 190
CEG\'er
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OP
CEG\'er
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 190 |
It closes up perfect. It looks and feels factory.
-The taurus has diffrent size ball ends for each end. The two larger ones are the ones i pulled.
-The smaller ends are welded to the car. This is the reason i only pulled 2 ball ends.
Once you lift the hood up 6" it holds itself. At about 8" it pushes itself up the rest of the way.
-Brad
98' Red E0 Contour SVT - Project SVT Tour'
Pioneer Touch Screen Navigation / DVD, Infinity Speakers
Borla Stainless Cat-Back, AEM True CAI, High Flow Y-Pipe
3L Hybrid w/ 3L Valves, Window Automation, Torsen LSD
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Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 4,292
Hard-core CEG\'er
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Hard-core CEG\'er
Joined: Mar 2003
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brad... a "how-to" would be nice..
"Youth ages, immaturity is outgrown, ignorance can be educated, and drunkenness sobered, but STUPID lasts forever."-Aristophanes.
--93 pgt,headers,intake,borla=14.9 1/4mile
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Joined: May 2000
Posts: 2,838
Hard-core CEG\'er
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Hard-core CEG\'er
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 2,838 |
Man , those muthas are huge  ! Looks like they work just hunky-dorey though , so ... GOOD JOB  !!
~~~~~~~ Phil
Black & Tan 2000 SVT Contour #2137 of 2150
35,000 miles & counting !
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Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 3,570
Hard-core CEG\'er
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Hard-core CEG\'er
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Very resourceful man, good job
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Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 2,659
Hard-core CEG\'er
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Hard-core CEG\'er
Joined: Aug 2004
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Originally posted by Nate S:
great idea man
x2!
Same great look and function!
Big props!
"Do what you like, Because you have to drive it!"-Me
99 Contour LX
95 Mustang GT Convertible
97 Z24 Cavalier
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Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 9,602
Hard-core CEG'er
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Hard-core CEG'er
Joined: Sep 2000
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I used ones for a (IIRC) Cadillac Catera. They were $12-15 each brand new and have a lifetime warranty. I did this a good 5 years ago.
I even did a nice write up that may still be in the archives NOBODY EVER SEARCHES. 
I would never use used struts personally!
2000 SVT #674
13.47 @ 102 - All Motor!
It was not broke; Yet I fixed it anyway.
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