HI.. Have seen a few VL's around that have had gas struts fitted near the hinges to hold the bonnet up..Is this a kit, or is there a particular type you use off another car how hard are they to fit? Thanks

i'm doing this to my car actually .. I read somewhere (here actually, i think) that you can do it 1 of 2 ways .. You can get VR/VS struts (either from a wreckers, or new from autobarn or anywhere else) and attach them .. but this needs drilling holes in the metal at one end to mount them .. Alternativly, apparntly (this is the route im going, but I havnt measured yet) the struts from the VL Wagon tailgate match up with bolt holes in the bonnet .. so instead of drilling holes, you can just replace a bolt with the bolt thru for the strut. I'll post pics when i've eventualy got mine done ..

pics would be nice when you get it finished

Did they come out on any VL's, cause I've got two mates with series two Calais' and they've both got struts in the bonnet, but my series one hasn't. I've checked them out and the round headed bolt that the struts clips onto is mounted in the factory upper bonnet hinge hole. Looks pretty factory but I don't think they are. Could be off a VP or VR or something???

I went to the local parts shop and bought a pair of VP struts. They cost around $35 each. You need two ball ends which they also sell and these replace the bolts in the bonnet hinge closest to the front of the car. From Holden, you can buy the right angle strut mounts and nuts and they cost around $7 each. To install them, replace the top bonnet hinge (highest one when the bonnet is up, ie the front one) with the strut ball ends that you bought and fit the strut to that end. With the bonnet stand still attached, use the end of the strut to mark out the location of where the bottom right angle strut mount goes (will be about an inch back frm the the third bolt up from the front on the guard) and drill accordingly. Mount the right angle strust mounts, click the strust on and you're away. Takes about 15 minutes. Here's a photo of My VL's struts.

Do you have the part numbers Injection?

I did this without drilling any holes. I used struts and mounts from a VR, removed the hinge screws closest to the car body, replaced with "ball" mounts, and then removed the closest body screws, and replaced with the right angle brackets. Had to compress the struts a little to get them on, works well.

Awesome...Thanks Guys. Nice looking VL BTW Some original photos have not been recovered yet.

not the olny parts youve used from a VR/VS by the looks?? Nice job 8)

Injection, Just curious, The bottom end of the strur, goes into the side wally bit of the engine bay? Ie, the upper partt of it? or did you mount it downwards into the bottom bit? Hard to tell from the pic ..

Anothing thing is, is it possible to remove the original Bonnet Stand? If so, how is it done? :roll:

yes it is possible just keep turning it to the left and pull it out "thats what i did to mine " you might have to take out the black thing it sits in becuse i resprayed my engine bay when it came out mat

Yous dont have to get these parts from car shops or wreckers and pay a fortune you know. Gas struts can be brought brand new for next to nothing from suppliers and are a peice of piss to fit. Struts are universal as long as you have room to play with.

$45 each i paid for mine (STILL havnt installed yet .. sigh ..) from autobarn .. VL wagon tailgate struts .. just gotta get some balljoints and i'll have em in Some original photos have not been recovered yet.

45 each is too much.... im sure stabilus or some ther strut wholesaler/supplier could have gotten you a good deal. VL Wagon struts work well tough, thats what i got installed. You have to mount them upside down (shiny stuff side moutned to the guard).

45 each is too much.... im sure stabilus or some ther strut wholesaler/supplier could have gotten you a good deal. Thats what i thought Why do you have to fit upside down?

Nice calais Injection,

yea i have also installed gas struts on my bonnet...... got em off an 84 ford laser hatch. :mrgreen: the fit perfectly in there without having to drill any holes, just take out the top bolt on the bonnet hinge and one of the bolts that holds the front guard on. u have the bally thing screwed into the bonnet hinge and the broacket bolted into the hole where the bolt was for the front guard. perfect, $11 each from the wreckers and fits prfectly with no modifications.

I refuse to put any FORD part ner my car in fear of rust 8O

Thanks for the compliments on the Calais fellas. Struts are not necissarily universal as they are different lengths in the different models of car. You can put them straight in without drilling anything, but you lose a bit of height with the bonnet open when they are mounted using the third bolt hole for the guard, depending of course on the length of the struts you are using. That's why it's best to fit the strut to the bonnet hinge first and with the bonnet stand holding the bonnet up, you can measure where the bracket needs to be mounted for the strut, so you keep the same height. As mentioned I paid $35 each for mine. You can also just use the ball ends in the gaurds as well, but you need to put a decent size washer under it (but still on top of the bolt hole) otherwise the struts pushing on the ball will actually bend the guard under it from the force, so you use a washer to spread the load. I used the VS style right angle bracket as the have the larger base area already built in and looks neater than a ball mount with a washer under it. If you do drill a hole, it goes on the same surface as the other bolts holding the guard on. Couldn't not give you a part number as did it a while ago now, but just go to your local parts shop to where the struts are sold and there will be a catalogue, just look up the ones you want and go from there. While second hand ones are certainly cheaper, they will not last as long (sorry, no offence Goldenboy), but when they cost 1/3 the price, you can have 3 sets of struts for the same price Some original photos have not been recovered yet.