DIY for gas trunk shocks.. Mex's style
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DIY for gas trunk shocks.. Mex's style That's right.. Grey can't be having a monopoly on all this stuff 
Many props to
Grey's DIY for inspiration. made it seem very easy, and it is, as long as you take your time with measuring.
Let me recap from Grey's thread,
Parts you'll need: (ordered from McMaster.com)
9512K73 - You'll need 2 of these. They're little ball studs.
9512K91 - You'll need 2 of these as well. They're mounting brackets with ball studs.
9416K74 - You'll need 4 of these. They're little ball sockets. One for each end of shock.
9416K16 - You'll need 2 of these. The gas shocks. Select 40 for the force*. This is in pounds.
90197A146 - Pack of a 100 zinc-plated self-piercing screws.
Total Cost: $39.71 shipped
* I actually have 50 force, but when i lift the trunk open it opens too fast. If you plan on mounting yours the same way I did mine, try 30-or 40lbs for the force, since the shocks have better leverage then you've seen in other DIYs.
The only tools I used were a socket set and a drill to cut out a tiny pilot hole for the mounting bracket screws. Now, before we begin, I mounted my shocks in a way that the trunk would not open on its own until i lift it up partially. If you want your trunk to open up all the way immediately when you pop it, you should follow Grey's DIY for mounting instructions/locations.
Lets get started.
-------------------------
1) Prop the trunk open the same way you want it to look when fully extended with the gas shocks. I just used my old trunk springs to hold it open, but that's not very stable. Grey's idea to use rope tied to something in the garage works well. You just wanna make sure the trunk doesn't shut on you as you're working.
You'll also want to remove the trunk lining at this time.
-------------------------
2) Look on the trunk arm for the hole that's just a little smaller than the screw on the end of the ball stud. with good force, you can push and screw it in using a socket wrench.
remember, you don't want to strip the hole of its threads, so don't keep turning once it's flush with the trunk arm.
-------------------------
3) Go ahead and screw the ball sockets onto each end of each shock and mount it as shown below. Then, with the trunk propped open at the height you want it to be at when fully extended, mark where you want the other end of the shock to mount on the mounting bracket. I used a piece of white tape to mark the area.
-------------------------
4) Now you need to make sure the trunk will shut completely with it mounted in that area where the white tape is. So, cut out a piece of cardboard giving the length of the shock when it's fully compressed.
Time for the fun part. Get inside your trunk, close it, and see if it will fit.
-------------------------
5) So, it fits. Now we drill out some pilot holes for these 'self peircing' screws that will mount the mounting bracket. Remember to use a drill bit smaller than the thickest part of the screw or it won't 'screw' in. If you don't have access to a drill, you could also use a thin nail to puncture the metal enough to create a pilot hole. Also, make sure the ball stud is perfectly over that piece of white tape.
Careful when you drill on the drivers side.. the gas tank is in that area!
-------------------------
6) Check to see if the shock will fit the way you mounted it, but don't lock it into place just yet! Now that we know the ball studs are mounted correctly, you want to cut a hole so the stud will go through the trunk lining.
-------------------------
7) With the lining back in place, mount the other end of the gas shocks.
Make sure you can close it and open it ok!
-------------------------
DONE! Congratulations on your newest mod!
Many props to
Grey's DIY for inspiration. made it seem very easy, and it is, as long as you take your time with measuring.Let me recap from Grey's thread,
Parts you'll need: (ordered from McMaster.com)
9512K73 - You'll need 2 of these. They're little ball studs.
9512K91 - You'll need 2 of these as well. They're mounting brackets with ball studs.
9416K74 - You'll need 4 of these. They're little ball sockets. One for each end of shock.
9416K16 - You'll need 2 of these. The gas shocks. Select 40 for the force*. This is in pounds.
90197A146 - Pack of a 100 zinc-plated self-piercing screws.
Total Cost: $39.71 shipped
* I actually have 50 force, but when i lift the trunk open it opens too fast. If you plan on mounting yours the same way I did mine, try 30-or 40lbs for the force, since the shocks have better leverage then you've seen in other DIYs.
The only tools I used were a socket set and a drill to cut out a tiny pilot hole for the mounting bracket screws. Now, before we begin, I mounted my shocks in a way that the trunk would not open on its own until i lift it up partially. If you want your trunk to open up all the way immediately when you pop it, you should follow Grey's DIY for mounting instructions/locations.
Lets get started.
-------------------------
1) Prop the trunk open the same way you want it to look when fully extended with the gas shocks. I just used my old trunk springs to hold it open, but that's not very stable. Grey's idea to use rope tied to something in the garage works well. You just wanna make sure the trunk doesn't shut on you as you're working.
You'll also want to remove the trunk lining at this time.
-------------------------
2) Look on the trunk arm for the hole that's just a little smaller than the screw on the end of the ball stud. with good force, you can push and screw it in using a socket wrench.
remember, you don't want to strip the hole of its threads, so don't keep turning once it's flush with the trunk arm.
-------------------------
3) Go ahead and screw the ball sockets onto each end of each shock and mount it as shown below. Then, with the trunk propped open at the height you want it to be at when fully extended, mark where you want the other end of the shock to mount on the mounting bracket. I used a piece of white tape to mark the area.
-------------------------
4) Now you need to make sure the trunk will shut completely with it mounted in that area where the white tape is. So, cut out a piece of cardboard giving the length of the shock when it's fully compressed.
Time for the fun part. Get inside your trunk, close it, and see if it will fit.
-------------------------
5) So, it fits. Now we drill out some pilot holes for these 'self peircing' screws that will mount the mounting bracket. Remember to use a drill bit smaller than the thickest part of the screw or it won't 'screw' in. If you don't have access to a drill, you could also use a thin nail to puncture the metal enough to create a pilot hole. Also, make sure the ball stud is perfectly over that piece of white tape.
Careful when you drill on the drivers side.. the gas tank is in that area!
-------------------------
6) Check to see if the shock will fit the way you mounted it, but don't lock it into place just yet! Now that we know the ball studs are mounted correctly, you want to cut a hole so the stud will go through the trunk lining.
-------------------------
7) With the lining back in place, mount the other end of the gas shocks.
Make sure you can close it and open it ok!
-------------------------
DONE! Congratulations on your newest mod!
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Rep Power: 319 Originally posted by khmaitiger
i have a q. did u jump in your trunk and close it when u where taking the pic of the gas strut closed?
i have a q. did u jump in your trunk and close it when u where taking the pic of the gas strut closed?
i've shut myself in there many times to scare kids lol 
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From: Pearl, Mississippi, US
Rep Power: 0 I was thinking since I have a Tsunami spoiler on my trunk, 50 lb shocks would probably work better for me but I notice you also have a spoiler. The 40 lb shocks are plenty?
Last edited by SQCivic; May 5, 2003 at 07:43 AM.
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Rep Power: 319 if you're mounting them the same way I did mine, 40 will work fine. with 50, it'll shoot up too fast once you open it about half way. so anytime a friend puts something in my trunk i risk them having it slam open after they lift it up part way. now, the good thing about the 50lb shocks, you don't have to be careful when slamming it shut. once you push it about 2/3 shut, the shocks won't hold the weight of the trunk and it'll shut and lock perfectly without too much of a slam. I think i'm going to keep the 50lb ones on my car.
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Rep Power: 420 K3wl, good DIY. I like the way mine are hidden though. The way I did it makes it look like something that would come stock. Hey, yours looks like Derek's (at least I remember him having something like that). Hehe...
The way I did it makes it look like something that would come stock. Hey, yours looks like Derek's (at least I remember him having something like that). Hehe... 
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