Tired of that ugly OEM hood prop blocking your view of that beautiful FA20 boxer engine? Always wanted to open your feather-light hood with just a couple fingers? Annoyed that the hood prop is always in your way while you’re working in your engine bay? GrimmSpeed to the rescue. A close collaboration between FT86Club.com members and GrimmSpeed, this kit delivers in a big way. We hate to use the "P" word, but designing this kit to be perfectly balanced was a requirement. Lift the hood halfway and you'll find a generous neutral zone. Leave your hood here for a sleek look at that local car show. Alternatively, a flick of the wrist is all that's required to coax your hood into its fully opened position. To close, simply hold the hood below its neutral zone and let go. No need to risk scratches or deformation by pushing your hood closed.

Design
This kit was designed using our in-house FARO arm and an accompanying suite of CAD software. We began by mapping the BRZ/FR-S hood and engine bay in 3D CAD (see one of our engineers in action below). From there, a lifting linkage was designed, analyzed, prototyped and tested. After months of testing and revisions, the brackets went into production using the latest in laser cutting and CNC bending equipment. What that means for you is a system that will fit and operate correctly, every single time, for years to come. What about the struts, you ask? They're beefy. Custom built to our exacting specifications, these struts feature a large diameter body that provides excellent opening force without sacrificing smoothness and control. Rounding it all out is a heavy duty textured black DuPont powdercoat and black zinc hardware.

Materials
With the use and exposure that a hood strut kit will see on a regular basis, material selection and finishing options are critically important. All brackets are produced from a mild steel alloy that maintains its integrity after laser cutting and bending. After thorough cleaning, the parts are all powdercoated a durable DuPont texture black. The next key component is the struts themselves. More specifically, these are referred to as gas springs. Manufactured in the USA, these are of the highest quality and are used by OEMs around the world. These custom valved units (to perfectly match the weight of the BRZ/FR-S hood) are paired with black zinc hardware and a quick-release ball and socket. Last, but certainly not least, is the included hardware. All hardware is grade 8.8 or higher and black zinc coated for longevity.