anyone installed a hydraulic lift gate kit?

[parb]

i just saw this kit on motorcity K5's website:
https://www.motorcityk5.com/i-13109-...72-blazer.html

Has anyone installed this kit? Good stuff? I know its not stock, but does it look good? Does it work well? I guess i am looking for a review.

My original hinge style struts have a lot of play in them and aren't working perfectly. I can't find replacements for them, so i am considering if i will live with them as is or change over to these hydraulic struts.

Thoughts anyone?

[richard2717]

here is an older thread talking about them

https://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/...rut+conversion

[parb]

great thread you find. it seemed a bit inconclusive, no one on that thread seemed to have actually had real first hand experience with the kit. the constant pressure question raised in that thread is really interesting.

i'm considering diving in and getting a kit!

[SeventyOne]

I'll be watching if you do get one!

[parb]

I'm probably going end up buying it... Just talked to the guy at motorcityk5, he has them in stock...

[parb]

I guess i'm a new owner of the hydraulic lift kit. As i was typing the email above someone emailed me and told me how much they liked the kit -it removes all the rattles from the gate. So i am putting in an order...

[Blazer690]

I have one and the only thing I saw is the hatch doesn't open quite as far. I have a lowered 2wd. I also made shims to space the hatch bracket for the stock rivet heads and ground a radius on one corners.

[parb]

Would you mind taking pictures so i get an better understanding of how many shims you put in, and how much it opens up at full open?

[3757chevy]

I didn't use a kit . I did mine the same as Brothers does it for the Suburban before I ever saw them do it. I tried three different lifts before I got one just right.The first two were either too heavy to close or too light to lift. This is the only picture I have. I wish that it did lift it higher. Maybe the kit does that. And after reading that other thread I should check to make sure it is not trying to tear out.

[parb]

Your lift looks very similar in lift height as the motorcity K5's lift. I'm basing this off the pictures they have of that kit mounted.

[3757chevy]

Looking at their kit it looks like the plate with the ball attached puts the ball about a 1/2" higher than the top bolt hole I'm using on the lift gate and spreads the load over the two bolt holes.

[parb]

I emailed with the guy at motor City k5 and he told me that their intent to design a system that spread the forces against the fiber glass over a wider area to reduce stress.

[3757chevy]

Another view ,same day. Their kit looks like it lifts it just a bit more .

[parb]

yeah, i think you're right. Their kit looks like it lifts just a little bit more. I'll take pictures once i get it on.

[3757chevy]

Sounds good . Thanks.

[Blazer690]

The hatch opens flat out.

[lks dcvn]

Can we get some measurements of stock vs. motorcityk5 kit vs. 3757chevy's opening height?

3757chevy - what lift did you end up landing with?

I have to assume that there is a cheaper option than $150 to do this mod.

[simicrintz]

I bought some replacement struts for my SnugLid a while back-$34 for two of them shipped as I recall. Seems the guy had mounting stuff as well (this isn't rocket science and can't be that difficult ). I'll see if I can dig up the info; I think it may be worth a call to him.

[tmontg01]

I bought their kit and it is currently on my hatch. I'm happy with the product

[lks dcvn]

have any install pix tmontg01? Are they the same models as you see earlier in this post or is there a new/updated design?

[3757chevy]

Originally Posted by lks dcvn

Can we get some measurements of stock vs. motorcityk5 kit vs. 3757chevy's opening height?

3757chevy - what lift did you end up landing with?

I have to assume that there is a cheaper option than $150 to do this mod.

I used NAPA#819-5564 10.25" collapsed 17" extended. and bought studs from amazon. Later I realized the ball studs for mounting an accelerator pedal would work also.

[tmontg01]

Originally Posted by lks dcvn

have any install pix tmontg01? Are they the same models as you see earlier in this post or is there a new/updated design?

I installed the kit around October, I had to make some little cuts on the bracket to get two to fit correctly. I posted a comment about it on facebook to someone's post asking about it and K5 motor city contacted me said they fixed that issue and sent me their new brackets and a shirt for free. I haven't been home to put them on and won't be for another month but I can let you know when home. These are the only pics I have with them installed on the top/hatch after I restored it.

[SeventyOne]

looks good and like it opens fully.

[tmontg01]

Very sturdy/strong struts, forgot to include that.

[parb]

I'm glad I ordered the kit. Thanks for posting the information!