Rear Hatch Gas Shock Conversion?? - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

DeBattista · 08-02-2018, 01:08 AM

Has anyone done it by piecing together the parts like the suburban guys do? I know the shocks for the suburban will be considerably longer, however the parts breakdown given in the thread in the suburban forum is no more than $50-$60. So I can't see paying 3X that for the Motor City K5 Kit being it looks like a couple of plates with ball studs and a couple of gas shocks. Just curious if anyone had done it themselves (by sourcing their own parts) with any success and obviously if you could provide some pointers or PN to shocks that would be needed. Thanks.

mister.freeze · 08-03-2018, 08:40 AM

Subscribed

**tmontg01** · 08-03-2018, 09:31 AM

There is a company that makes a kit, I bought one but haven't had the time to put it on.

http://www.motorcityk5.com/i-13109-l...72-blazer.html

DeBattista · 08-03-2018, 10:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tmontg01

There is a company that makes a kit, I bought one but haven't had the time to put it on.

http://www.motorcityk5.com/i-13109-l...72-blazer.html

Right I have since ordered a set. Once I get it I'm going to try to figure it out. Because it is literally like $60 in parts that you pay $170 (shipping), there kit is nice because they powder coat and CNC the brackets which is probably what a large part of the price is. It's a nice kit but can very much be done on a DIY budget.

DeBattista · 08-03-2018, 10:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tmontg01

There is a company that makes a kit, I bought one but haven't had the time to put it on.

http://www.motorcityk5.com/i-13109-l...72-blazer.html

I think the install will literally take 20 minutes btw....free up a half hour and get r done haha

chevyguy_72 · 08-03-2018, 12:25 PM

i question if the fragile hatch can hold up to the constant pressure of those?

DeBattista · 08-03-2018, 06:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chevyguy_72

i question if the fragile hatch can hold up to the constant pressure of those?

Well I believe that's why the kit is designed with brackets to spread the load using both bolts as opposed to the suburban guys who just thread a studded ball right into the hatch/truck. The brackets distribute the pressure. Also I would think the pressure that is "constant" is only when it is down. I wouldn't try putting it all through one stud for sure. I was always planning on making a plate that bolted using both holes.

jondancer · 08-05-2018, 10:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tmontg01

There is a company that makes a kit, I bought one but haven't had the time to put it on.

http://www.motorcityk5.com/i-13109-l...72-blazer.html

That kit is awesome, I hate my hatch struts

chevyguy_72 · 08-06-2018, 11:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DeBattista

Well I believe that's why the kit is designed with brackets to spread the load using both bolts as opposed to the suburban guys who just thread a studded ball right into the hatch/truck. The brackets distribute the pressure. Also I would think the pressure that is "constant" is only when it is down. I wouldn't try putting it all through one stud for sure. I was always planning on making a plate that bolted using both holes.

That could be... just looking at some modern hatch assemblies some shoot up as soon as you release the catch... thus they are prob under pressure all the time... where others take a little help to get started... and those most likely are not under constant pressure...

Just need to figure out which this is

jeffg1010 · 08-08-2018, 08:25 PM

Subscribed. I did the thread for the Suburban gas strut conversion, but now I have a Blazer. This could save me the research.

The LMC truck rep noticed my conversion at a show and asked me the details. They now sell the kit using my specs. I don't get a penny commission. haha.

Killer Bee · 08-08-2018, 11:12 PM

eta: these are for subs.. sorry about that

just found this recently, video floating around that shows install..

$100 at brothers

https://www.brotherstrucks.com/67-72...tinfo/SLGK772/

good luck!

glove · 08-23-2018, 08:06 AM

Debattista,. I did a conversion on mine
. I had to make steel plates that screwed into the holes that we're part of the top anchor for the struts. It works smooth and quiet. Just about done with my 72 Highlander plaid restoration. If I can figure out how to put pics on I will post some and the brackets. Glove

DeBattista · 08-23-2018, 11:42 AM

I noticed the kit Motor City K5 sells that's what they did also. I was going to make them but figured by the time I made it I would have thought I wasted more than $150 dollars of my time hahaha and I would have still had to buy the struts themselves.

Duraburb · 03-06-2020, 11:48 AM

Old thread, but has anyone ever came up with a good diy for this setup? thanks!

**argonaut** · 03-09-2020, 03:28 AM

I measured and did the math but determined that given the geometry available and the gas struts available, the hatch won't open as high as it does with the factory struts.

mister.freeze · 03-10-2020, 09:07 AM

how high is that? Given the lift on mine, maybe it's enough

**lks dcvn** · 08-05-2020, 10:59 AM

old post alert

Has anybody found a DIY approach for this? Also - for those who have purchased the kit from MotorCityK5 - were there part numbers on the struts or can you share dimensions on them collapsed vs. extended?

bhemingson · 08-05-2020, 12:06 PM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tRWF1jhWct0

Brother's installation video

08-02-2018, 01:08 AM	#1
DeBattista Registered User Join Date: Jul 2018 Location: South San Francisco, CA Posts: 29	Rear Hatch Gas Shock Conversion?? Has anyone done it by piecing together the parts like the suburban guys do? I know the shocks for the suburban will be considerably longer, however the parts breakdown given in the thread in the suburban forum is no more than $50-$60. So I can't see paying 3X that for the Motor City K5 Kit being it looks like a couple of plates with ball studs and a couple of gas shocks. Just curious if anyone had done it themselves (by sourcing their own parts) with any success and obviously if you could provide some pointers or PN to shocks that would be needed. Thanks.

08-03-2018, 08:40 AM	#2
mister.freeze Registered User Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 733	Re: Rear Hatch Gas Shock Conversion?? Subscribed __________________ '72 K5, known as 'the Fox.'

08-03-2018, 09:31 AM	#3
tmontg01 Senior Member Join Date: May 2015 Location: Sierra Vista, Arizona Posts: 398	Re: Rear Hatch Gas Shock Conversion?? There is a company that makes a kit, I bought one but haven't had the time to put it on. http://www.motorcityk5.com/i-13109-l...72-blazer.html __________________ 1968 C10 SWB 400SBC with VN327 20's 1972 K5 Blazer 383SBC 2011 Cadillac CTSV

08-03-2018, 12:25 PM	#6
chevyguy_72 Vintage Evil Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Hastings, Nebraska Posts: 956	Re: Rear Hatch Gas Shock Conversion?? i question if the fragile hatch can hold up to the constant pressure of those? __________________ Current Rides: Vintage Evil - 72 Chevy C10 (Always a work in progress) Vintage Evil Build Thread EvilK5 - 71 K5 Blazer Evil Twin - 2006 Suzuki M109R EvilDmax- 2018 GMC 2500 Denali Duramax

08-08-2018, 08:25 PM	#10
jeffg1010 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Mooresville, NC Posts: 2,677	Re: Rear Hatch Gas Shock Conversion?? Subscribed. I did the thread for the Suburban gas strut conversion, but now I have a Blazer. This could save me the research. The LMC truck rep noticed my conversion at a show and asked me the details. They now sell the kit using my specs. I don't get a penny commission. haha. __________________ Jeff 1972 Blazer CST 2wd- My son Sam's Project "S" Project "S" 1970 Suburban - SOLD "One Bad Burb" Photobucket Album 1986 C30 Crewcab - 63K original miles, original paint Members I have met: mikey531, gcburdic, bashed, burbman69, TonyPieras, Blazester, GCncsuHD, custombuilt67-72, tsnow678, highrpm, PanelDeland, tanman722001, 47thriftmaster, babyblueoval, 68stepbed, JesseWebb, Andy4639, xs-style, TobyArnot, BigOrange, frednoah, brn_agn, k5hart, Graham57a, bhelton, AJohn6, SilverC10, 69CST, '71 Flame, RaceAGMC, Liz, Josh, MattPSU, 68corvair, Chevy350V8, mdeal, ccrorymc, mrhurt73, dmxxpert, Custom68, 84GMC, BionicABs1, BigBlockBurris, Ebfabman, ATP...

08-08-2018, 11:12 PM	#11
Killer Bee Registered User Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: Barber City, CA Posts: 4,813	Re: Rear Hatch Gas Shock Conversion?? eta: these are for subs.. sorry about that just found this recently, video floating around that shows install.. $100 at brothers https://www.brotherstrucks.com/67-72...tinfo/SLGK772/ good luck! __________________ *I started out with nothing - and I still have most of it* Last edited by Killer Bee; 08-08-2018 at 11:58 PM.

08-23-2018, 08:06 AM	#12
glove Registered User Join Date: Oct 2016 Location: Newaygo Posts: 9	Re: Rear Hatch Gas Shock Conversion?? Debattista,. I did a conversion on mine . I had to make steel plates that screwed into the holes that we're part of the top anchor for the struts. It works smooth and quiet. Just about done with my 72 Highlander plaid restoration. If I can figure out how to put pics on I will post some and the brackets. Glove

08-23-2018, 11:42 AM	#13
DeBattista Registered User Join Date: Jul 2018 Location: South San Francisco, CA Posts: 29	Re: Rear Hatch Gas Shock Conversion?? I noticed the kit Motor City K5 sells that's what they did also. I was going to make them but figured by the time I made it I would have thought I wasted more than $150 dollars of my time hahaha and I would have still had to buy the struts themselves.

03-06-2020, 11:48 AM	#14
Duraburb Registered User Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: Eureka CA Posts: 94	Re: Rear Hatch Gas Shock Conversion?? Old thread, but has anyone ever came up with a good diy for this setup? thanks! __________________ 1972 C20 Suburban, Bagged and c10 swapped Suspension (sold) 1969 Jimmy, 2wd swapped. bagged, body dropped

03-09-2020, 03:28 AM	#15
argonaut Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Long Beach, CA Posts: 1,813	Re: Rear Hatch Gas Shock Conversion?? I measured and did the math but determined that given the geometry available and the gas struts available, the hatch won't open as high as it does with the factory struts. __________________ Jason M. @argonaut62 1972 K5 Blazer CST, Turquoise 1966 K20 Short Fleet Pickup, Big Ugly 1964 C10 Short Fleet, Gertrude 2001 Porsche 911 Carrera 1996 Ford Bronco XLT 1980 Jeep Wagoneer 2008 Honda CBR1000RR 2005 Honda RC51 1981 Honda CB750C No dis-assemble Johnny Five! No dis-assemble!

03-10-2020, 09:07 AM	#16
mister.freeze Registered User Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 733	Re: Rear Hatch Gas Shock Conversion?? how high is that? Given the lift on mine, maybe it's enough __________________ '72 K5, known as 'the Fox.'

08-05-2020, 10:59 AM	#17
lks dcvn Registered User Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Columbus, Ohio Posts: 4,348	Re: Rear Hatch Gas Shock Conversion?? old post alert Has anybody found a DIY approach for this? Also - for those who have purchased the kit from MotorCityK5 - were there part numbers on the struts or can you share dimensions on them collapsed vs. extended?

08-05-2020, 12:06 PM	#18
bhemingson Registered User Join Date: Nov 2016 Location: Vancouver BC Posts: 162	Re: Rear Hatch Gas Shock Conversion?? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tRWF1jhWct0 Brother's installation video

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