WOW, finally fixed it and the hood struts are AWESOME
So I bought the proper 5/16 4 flute walton tap extractor online. It's arrives and on the first attempt the fingers shear off.
So I go back to Cleveland form Chicago with a black eye from the experience and a broken tap in my hood. I find a local tool supply warehouse and find out they carry the replacement fingers. I buy 2 sets remembering my prior experience.
The first of the new fingers shear off as well. I replace them with my last set and success. It felt like I won the super bowl.
It's official using a tap extractor is the most nerve wrecking tool to use in this world.
So after weeks it's all done and I love it! If it werent for the broken tap the total price is about 14$ for the struts, ball stud, and brackets and tap.
