Trick or Cheesy? Linear Actuator Operated Hood
 

I was browsing through Street Rod Builder magazine and thought it might be neat to substitute an electric power linear actuator for the hood support. Basically, you could do away with the stock hood release and brackets, along with the stock hood support, and substitute it with this electronic linear actuator to open and close the hood. The street rodders do it all the time, but I've never seen it done on a Vette.

http://www.montygwilliams.com/linear-actuator.jpg

This company is just a couple of miles from my house...
http://www.electric-life.com/preview/la.html


[Modified by Monty, 1:43 PM 4/6/2003]

Re: Trick or Cheesy? Linear Actuator Operated Hood (Monty)
 

I have been thinking of doing the same thing. I've been watching monster garage too much and it just seems so cool. If not that, then how about just manual hydraulic.

Re: Trick or Cheesy? Linear Actuator Operated Hood (WashingtonRacer)
 

Hydraulic is another option, but it seems much more complex since you need a hydraulic pump, reservoir, lines, etc.

I'm glad to hear that I'm not the only one who thinks this way. BTW, I like Monster Garage, even my wife likes it, but Jesse's ego hurts the team all to often...

Re: Trick or Cheesy? Linear Actuator Operated Hood (Monty)
 

Yeah, His attitude does bother me too much now. He was great in the first couple shows, you know " Back when he actually helped build the cars" now he kinda shows up and pokes around. but on the other hand, he gives the other people the spotlight, so who knows. By the way, I was just thinking of the hydraulic shocks, like the ones on truck covers and what not.

Re: Trick or Cheesy? Linear Actuator Operated Hood (WashingtonRacer)
 

I'd do it on a tilt front end, but not just the hood...

Re: Trick or Cheesy? Linear Actuator Operated Hood (Monty)
 

Its more weight! You need a titanium .001 tube to hold the hood up :jester

I vote cheesy :cheers:

Re: Trick or Cheesy? Linear Actuator Operated Hood (Monty)
 

I have seen this at car shows on truck bed liners before and thought it would be cool for a show on a C3 hood, but you had better have that C3 WELL detailed under the hood if you're going with a presentation like that. If you pull into a car show and before you get out your hood starts to open on it's own it'll draw a crowd. What I'm trying to say is that it would be perfect for your car Monty. :cool:

-Justin

Re: Trick or Cheesy? Linear Actuator Operated Hood (Dalannex)
 

I agree, cool on a show vette, but cheesey for a driver.

Re: Trick or Cheesy? Linear Actuator Operated Hood (Desertdawg)
 

So with the matter of it being street or show, Would you think it would be "cool" to just have manual hyd shock ones bolted up, the weight would be alot less than the linear electric ones, Plus they would be simple install. cosmetic, well they wouln't look out of place to the untrained eye. But for those of us who know vetts, it would be a classy touch, expecially since you could raise, lower and locate the hood at any open angle.

Re: Trick or Cheesy? Linear Actuator Operated Hood (Monty)
 

I wonder if I could rig up a couple of those actuators for my headlights & wiper door, & do away with all of the vac stuff. Hmm.

Trick or Cheesy? Is your car form or function? It has it's place in the rod world, but I'd hate to have an engine fire & not be able to get the hood open because of an electrical failure.

Re: Trick or Cheesy? Linear Actuator Operated Hood (Monty)
 

I really like the idea. My only concern is when it opens, it will put a lot of stress on the hood at the point it is bolted to the hood. If it had a longer stroke and could be mounted near the top of the hood, that would not concern me. A heavy L88 hood with air box might crack if that mouch force was appllied at the point of the hood support.. I could be wrong, but that is my only concern.

Re: Trick or Cheesy? Linear Actuator Operated Hood (Monty)
 

If you were building a rad custom maybe. Otherwise :nono:

Re: Trick or Cheesy? Linear Actuator Operated Hood (Monty)
 

I like the idea :yesnod:

But more importantly does your car have enough HP to compensate for the additional weight :lol:

Re: Trick or Cheesy? Linear Actuator Operated Hood (Tominator)
 

I like the idea....I also would like to go back to pop-up lights, but only if I could get them to rise like this also without the vac lines. :cool:

Re: Trick or Cheesy? Linear Actuator Operated Hood (ylose)
 

I know it's more of a street rod thing, and I certainly don't want any "Corvette Summer" stuff on my car. I was thinking it might be an improvement over the stock support or the support I made.

I needed a little additional clearance for the drivers side turbo, so I made the support rod and brackets from chromoly tubing, tube end adapters, a stainless clevis, ARP 12pt fasteners, and had it all powdercoated. It's simple, lightweight and functional, but it's kinda boring and "an easy way out". I might pickup a self-contained hydraulic support as used on OEM applications and try to see if I can get that to work.

http://www.montygwilliams.com/hood_support.jpg
http://www.montygwilliams.com/hood_support_up.jpg