User Unknown

I posted the ingredients here regarding my rendition of the hood strut install (the most recent post at the bottom). I ended up buying a pack of four struts as it was the same cost as buying two; made in USA struts if that matters to you.

https://www.cherokeeforum.com/f67/di...l-45-a-259488/

Either way you go, it’ll be a very nice upgrade.

Old Man Minimalist

I'm okay with using the prop rod. Heck my wife's Ford Fusion uses a prop rod as does my company car: Rav4.

Hat's off to you folks exercising your "engineering" but not something for me to invest time and money in.

UKXJ

I might be inclined to bite the bullet & splash the cash if the prop had ever failed me. I can remember the '50's & '60's British cars I grew up with having long, spindly props which didn't locate that well in the hood (which, of course, was smaller/lighter) & a slight breeze would lift the hood just enough for the prop to fall down - & the hood come down across your shoulders (if you ducked in time)

User Unknown

Installed the Remy starter today. Took like five minutes (old one was pulled yesterday). Undo the negative battery terminal, Unplug the trigger wire, unbolt the battery wire, undo the two bolts holding it in. No Jack needed; just rolled under it with my creeper. I love these XJ’s!

AudioFreq

Used the OEM prop rod yesterday in 30-40 mph winds with gusts near 60. Zero issues.
No need for help lifting such a light hood.

Ralph77

I researched this for awhile and might do it someday.
But what I really want to do with that is use these:


And they do make a locking version too.
Figure just get rid of the hood release cable, rods, and whatnot completely.
Will I ever?
Who knows.
LOL.

vroomvroom

Try opening the hood when it's 100 degrees outside and you just cut your Jeep off. I'd love to pull a chair up and see what words come out of your mouth. I'm guessing a "colorful" vocabulary. LOL!

I believe our hood (assembled) weighs 50 pounds. I'm no body builder nor am I a skinny runt, but that thing has some heft to it.

AudioFreq

hee!!
The hood is never fully shut if it gets that hot.
Normally here at high altitude: 75-80°F. A tad cooler yet at 10-12k'
I have a hinge spacer kit but we just trail with the hood unlatched.
I also really like being able to open it varying amounts with the prop rod.

UKXJ

Which is pretty much my point - except it never occurred to me they were to help lift the hood - just to support it, without the need to fiddle about with the prop.

AudioFreq

Right? I have never had to replace a prop rod or worry about their performance in low/high temps.

vroomvroom

I took my hood spacer off. It definitely helped keep temps down though. I could open the hood without issue. I took the spacer off and the hood is stock configuration again. Now, when it rains, I see steam coming off of the hood lol. Might as well try making breakfast on it eventually.

UKXJ

Not sure I'm following this, if the underside of the leading edge was as hot as you suggest, you wouldn't be able to release the secondary catch, so what method you have to hold the hood up is irrelevant.

vroomvroom

It's the difference between a 1st degree burn and a 3rd degree burn lol. It'll hurt either way, but one does more serious damage.

With hood struts, you grasp the hood for a second or two. With a hood prop, you have to grasp for much longer.

UKXJ

That hadn't occurred to me, never having noticed there was a measurable difference but my point was, you're never going to reach that stage because the secondary catch will be too hot to use -but, even as I was typing this I realised the answer is - gloves (but not nitrile ones!)

AudioFreq

We just moved to where that is not such an issue. Another part of our retirement syllabus.
He does not mention having to hold it longer to shut it with hydraulics. I can just drop mine so some of it sounds like semantics.