Gas strut hatch install

[Rdrdave]

Well, I didn't take any pictures(i'll snap some) but you can get the idea. I didn't have the hatch mechanisms on my blazer so the hatch weighed a ton on my neck whenever I needed to get something out of the back. I read on here about a suburban putting gas struts on the hatch so I figured it would work on the blazer. 1 problem, I had a big hole above the hatch attachment where the ball stud was to go. I used some bonding epoxy called Q-bond (powder and glue). MAN THAT THINGS BONDS! Well, I installed the ball studs, found the 10mm ball with 5/16" stud at the local RV-trailer store. $4+ for 2. Those bolted in the hatch and the lower mechanism bottom bolt location. I picked some 94 Volvo hatch gas struts from the local yard and snapped them in. IT WORKED! They rub slightly but I think that the spray-in liner in my top causes that. The only thing is that since those struts are long to open a large hatch they send the blazer hatch way the hell up there. I also have 35s with a 6" lift. My wife will never get that thing closed. I'll look for shorter struts but will probably make a strap to connect onto the the two large phillips on the hatch.