Hatch struts for heavy metal louvers?

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Nov 6, 2008 | 07:56 PM
  #1  
Just bought my third Zx, but it is my first one with metal louvers on the rear. The rear hatch struts are blown, and the seller said that regular struts wouldn't hold the extra weight. I tend to agree because this rear hatch is a lot heavier than I remember.

Let me show off for a minute.

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Nov 6, 2008 | 07:58 PM
  #2  
ooh la-la! It's sure clean!

Welcome to ZDriver! I have the MSA F40 wing on my hatch... Autozone struts just don't hold up. I carry a wood broom pole to prop it.
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Nov 6, 2008 | 08:37 PM
  #3  
i dont know if theres a way to fix heavier duty struts to accommodate the the weight.... my dads stock struts to fine with louvers though so i'd say replace them as normal.
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Nov 6, 2008 | 09:51 PM
  #4  
Yeah. Get rid of the louvers. This is not the 80's. I never thought they were cool. But... That's just my opinion.
I imagine you could find a way to rig a double bracket for one or both sides to mount them side by side. Who knows? I like the highly engineered stick idea too.
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Nov 6, 2008 | 10:12 PM
  #5  
I love the way Louvers stick out just a bit.



And as long as I'm at it,

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Nov 7, 2008 | 06:49 AM
  #6  
Check the following link for a possible solution:

http://www.z1auto.com/submodel.asp?m...z&cat=exterior
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Nov 7, 2008 | 07:00 AM
  #7  
yeah i got a whale tail on mine and it dont hold up. icice has a whale tail too, and his hold up, he said he put on 300zx struts, but they didnt seem to even come close to fitting when i tried. nice struts in the link, but we dont got a 350. i too carry a piece of pvc pipe for mine.
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Nov 7, 2008 | 08:44 AM
  #8  
i used the Z32 2+2 struts and put them on upside down..
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Nov 7, 2008 | 09:52 AM
  #9  
Hi,
Do the Z32 2+2struts fit straight on, or are there adjustments to be made?
Cheerz,
Jez.
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Nov 7, 2008 | 09:59 AM
  #10  
I don't think the 300ZX 2+2 struts will work on a 280ZX 2+2, they're too long. The 300ZX Coupe struts are too long for the 280ZX coupe, that's why Ice used the 2+2 struts, they're a little shorter. You mount them upside down. When my AutoZone struts go out, I plan to do the same thing on my 280ZX with the "Type 3" wing. The 300ZX hatch is so much heavier than the 280ZX hatch, they should last nearly the lifetime of the car when used on the 280ZX.
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Nov 7, 2008 | 11:32 AM
  #11  
did anyone else see that? icice posted! that was pretty epic. glad i lived long enough to see it. lol
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Nov 7, 2008 | 01:53 PM
  #12  
i tried but it didnt seem to work, they may have been the coupe struts, but they were too short in the travel area, hatch wouldnt even close. ive even see icice's in person and they work great!!
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Nov 7, 2008 | 03:47 PM
  #13  
Quote: hey did you take those pixs are sun valley mall?!? that place looks familiar?
The parking garage ones are, but the amber light one was taken on the side of the now closing Circuit City.

I picked up some good Sachs ones, but the connectors aren't right on one side, so if I can't make it work, I'll order the Z32 ones and send these back.
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Nov 7, 2008 | 11:19 PM
  #14  
i've been trying to figure out my hatch struts, one is mounted correctly and the other is upside down and if i try to flip one or the other arround it wont hold the hatch up.

very strange
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Nov 8, 2008 | 07:17 PM
  #15  
Nope, but I can be found in different parts of Concord, Pleasant Hill and the Lafayette/Moraga/Orinda area.
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Aug 1, 2009 | 09:29 AM
  #16  
i know this threads gone over a half of a year without action, but im looking for some clarification. I went in to Napa, carquest and action auto asking for the hatch lift supports for a 90's 2+2 and at all 3 places they were saying that there are 2 different part numbers. one for 90-93 and the second for 94-96. both of which needed to be special ordered, so i figured i'd get it right the first time. they weren't able to pull up specifications on full/compressed lenght on either of them.
another note: thezstore.com only sells the supports for the 94-96 2+2 and they are $122.97...
so which ones are they, or does it even matter?
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