I did my conversion yesterday and works awesome, I used ford XH or similar struts as they are slighlty longer than the VL ones and ive found the VR/VS struts are a touch too short. Ive got plenty of room now and lifts the bonnet about an inch + higher than with the metal rod. The rod lengths for my struts are 59cm (Lift-O-Mat H3 is the brand and type I have) I shouldnt say that the guy at the wreckers gave me the lot for $0 I just had to unbolt everything! $25 for future kits if I want them There is a person on eBay selling kits with new struts ready to go for VB-VL, what he/she doesnt say is that you have to drill the guard (Im guessing the struts are too short) I asked and had the instruction sheet emailed. Id stick to the wreckers Some original photos have not been recovered yet.

naah vr-vs are to oshort yes exactly... What you need is (that i gound out, seeing ive finished mine) is to use any od commodore wagon from VB-VL and youll WONT have to drill andy holes.. SIMPLE!

Quote: Originally Posted by BADVLSL naah vr-vs are to oshort yes exactly... What you need is (that i gound out, seeing ive finished mine) is to use any od commodore wagon from VB-VL and youll WONT have to drill andy holes.. SIMPLE! Yep, i used the guard holes, no messing around with a drill and looks neater too. I was just saying the person on ebay sent me instructions as I was curious to see, and said to drill a hole, they obviously use the wrong size struts

Quote: Originally Posted by Sixes350 Yep, i used the guard holes, no messing around with a drill and looks neater too. I was just saying the person on ebay sent me instructions as I was curious to see, and said to drill a hole, they obviously use the wrong size struts Thank fu(k ya posted that, as I was going to bid on them. I'll get another set from the wreckers up here then. Thanks Sixes350

Quote: Originally Posted by VLT_RB30 Thank fu(k ya posted that, as I was going to bid on them. I'll get another set from the wreckers up here then. Thanks Sixes350 No probs mate, if you have any dramas getting them up there, I can get you the silver pins with the struts here. You still have the silver VL im guessing? PM me if you have any probs

Yes, still have her. This set is for the VK.

These are VR/VS ones i used on mine.. I had to drill new holes to fit them.. The positive of that was i could adjust it and get the bonnet to sit how i wanted, instead of having to use the pre-existing bolts. I cringed when i had to drill the holes. but it's the best mod i ever did.. And i had a bit of 2K asteroid silver left over (was doing my other VL) so i painted the struts... came up nice i think..... No one steal my idea (Sorry...best pics i have of them...) Some original photos have not been recovered yet.

Struts look good, Nice car too! I just went and swapped struts till I found ones the right length to get my bonnet up to almost your height you have yours at. Ford XH ones are longer than the others that were in the pile at the wreckers.

I honestly can t see why you would drill hole, when ya can get struts that fit with out drilling. Just makes no sense, but each to there own, I suppose. BTW SirGeo ya car looks awsome.

I put VR\VS Struts in mine, the bonnet down open as far, but i don't really care. It's got that showcar look. (You can look but down touch look) Some original photos have not been recovered yet.

Mines all good now, Discovered that my bonnet had shifted a bit due to me not tightening the bolts enough. Straightened bonnet, all good.

Quote: Originally Posted by Sixes350 I used ford XH or similar struts as they are slighlty longer than the VL ones and ive found the VR/VS struts are a touch too short. Hmmm... I've never heard of an XH Ford? And yeah the VR/VS struts are a bit short, if you drill a new hole between two of the other about smack in the middle the bonnet will sit pretty much as it would with the rod and would look neater cause they are shorter and don't take up as much room, although I was lucky to get some struts out of a VK wagon that were pretty much brand new for $5 each at the wreckers along with all the other parts required. As somebody said pretty much all the ball joints are the same I got both of mine out of an EA and an ED Falcon.

All you guys with the VS struts have been ripped off! I got a set of VL tailgate struts from supacheap auto for $39 each brand new. I used the parts listed in VL_Nicks original post and it worked a treat!

$39 for both? or is that each. i need some new ones, cos my 2nd hand ones dont hold the bonnet up on a cold day :P

Quote: Originally Posted by AVSTER All you guys with the VS struts have been ripped off! I got a set of VL tailgate struts from supacheap auto for $39 each brand new. I used the parts listed in VL_Nicks original post and it worked a treat! $39 each? I can't see how I've been ripped off at that price lol, both VR struts were cheaper than what you paid for one and came with fittings. Some original photos have not been recovered yet.

Sorry platinum, But cause they all say the VR ones are too short I figured this was a good deal for brand new ones. Were yours brand new? Um Psi Wagon they are $39 each. $78 for the pair, but brand new.

Nah not brand new but VR's aren't _that_ old and being under the bonnet I doubt they would have seen much use. As described you just whack in a couple of new holes and you can align your bonnet open to the perfect position. Some original photos have not been recovered yet.

Ok guys i have two questions 1st, me being me got genuine GMH vl tailgate struts, now the problem i have it these struts have a pin you push in to lock it in position, now on the bonnet end of it, since the hinges are on a slight angle the lock wont go all the way in, How did you get yours to go in 2nd, is there a right way and a wrond way to mount these, ive seen them put both ways on add on's like us and on new instalations?

To slide the clips in, lower the bonnet a little so it will slide in. As in push the bonnet down a bit so it isn't open as high and the pins should pop straight in. Up to you as to how you want to mount them. I have the skinny, steel end towards the top of the bonnet, looks better i reckon, alot of people have the black gas cartridge end at the top. I think all late model commodores have the gas cartridge at the top in their factory setup, but i like it reversed.

I have a feeling that the reason they mount them with cartridge to the top is that there is some oil inside it and if it sits in the bottom, it can stop the seal drying out and prevent it from leaking.