photos by Keith Billanti 99 Millenium Metallico Roadster

photos by Keith Billanti 99 Millenium Metallico Roadster

photos by Keith Billanti 99 Millenium Metallico Roadster

photos by Keith Billanti 99 Millenium Metallico Roadster

Craig Nadeau

Here is some followup information for those interested in using the factory style hinge on the Roadster engine lid. The Fiberglass lid is far heavier than the OEM part!

I bought the OEM shocks $56 each. They did not hold the lid up. The StrongArm part that I originally tried is exactly the same pressure and close to the same dimensions. It was a StrongArm universal part closed 8" and open 11" pressure of 110# . This is a better part than the OEM shocks. If you know anyone who wants the shocks, I'll sell them cheap! They do look really cool. I had to move the upper pivot point an inch to make the shocks work either way.

Endre (Andy) Bujtas

This picture shows the engine decklid in the raised position. In viewing many Diablo photos, I found that the location for the gas spring is about at the 22% length of the total length of the lid. To support the shock at the body end, I made a bracket from 2 x 3 inch rectangular tubing, which I cut on edge off and formed a triangular structure. This is pretty sturdy and will easily support the weight of the lid.

I also stiffened my decklid by connecting the square steel tubes with a 1 inch steel strip, which is also bonded to the lid. The striker bolt bracket is welded to the square tube in the back. I also had to cut-out some additional space in front to allow the decklid to clear the Weber velocity stacks. The yellow outline illustrates the location of a grill I plan to make to fill-up the rear area.

As for decklid shocks (or gas springs), I suggest:

1. Get a wooden dowel to test compression lengths
2. The placement of the Engine decklid ball stud is about 22% of the total lid length closest to the hinge. That is, if the lid is 48 inches long, the distance from the hinge side edge of the decklid to the ball stud is about10-12 inches.
3. The placement of the engine decklid ball stud on the body side is situated such that the engine decklid is as high as you possibly can open it with the gas spring fully extended. This measurement is based upon having the decklid ball stud mount located first.

I don't have the spring measurements with me at this moment, but if you need them just give me a buzz. However, the front decklid spring (if any) will depend on the hinge setup. No one I know is using gas springs for the front trunk lid except me. The door spring came with the IFG kit. I got the rear and engine lid springs (mfg: Suspa) from Ray at IFG. But I'll probably be replacing the rear decklid springs with Normonts since they have a smaller diameter tube. My current spring almost rubs on the inside surface of the decklid, so I'll need a thinner one so that I can cover the inside surface with a felt-like material and not have the spring rub against it.

One suggestion I have is that you don't mount the gas spring ball stud support directly to the fiberglass lid. The lid should have a steel backbone or something that will keep it rigid - so it doesn't flex. This also distributes the force throughout the backbone instead of concentrating it on a single spot.

There is a detailed "manual" that Dale has created for you to view (in regards to this section). This instruction manual is on how he built his IFG Phantom Roadster. (click on his logo to visit his web site)

Click here to visit Dale's section on: Chapter 10 - Deck Lid

Dale Van Blokland

I got gas shocks from IFG to raise the motor deck lid. I fabricated two brackets to hold the shock balls. I used a 2 x 3 tube to mount to the body and a bracket was then bondoed and glassed to the deck lid. I will need to ad some additional bracing to keep the deck straight under pressure from the shocks.

Monty Robinson

Rear deck lid - I finished installing gas shocks on my Deck lid. I purchase my engine lid shocks from Auto Zone the cost $19 a shock and came with ball ends. They name of the shocks are: Mighty lifts and the parts number is C 95264. I also had to glass in some 3/16 steel in my engine lid for the ball ends.

Links:

Tokico Gas Shocks