Applicable to: '90 - '97 '99 + 1.6 liter 1.8 liter
Team Miata Hood Lift
Very well engineered kit and at the right price! The lift gives just enough push to allow you to move the hood to almost any position and it will stay there without threat of slamming shut.
It was very easy to install but I chose to paint the two shiny aluminum brackets with matte black paint to give the kit more of a factory look. All in all I am very satisfied with the product and Team Miata's service.
Under 5 minutes to remove
Applicable to: '90 - '97 1.8 liter
Hydraulic lift to replace hood prop
This product was very easy to install. Two holes need to be drilled in the underside hood strengthening rib. Very clear diagram to show where to drill. Took about ten minutes from start to finish, with no help needed. Works as advertised. The hood opens a little wider than stock and there's just the right amount of support. Hood closes nicely with no bulge. An excellent product.
Strongly recommend this product. It's so much better than the cheezy standard hood prop.
Under 30 minutes to remove completely
Applicable to: '90 - '97
Team Miata Hood Lift - A gas-charged strut to replace the ubiquitous "hood prop" that we generally hate. The kit came complete with the strut, two brackets, nuts, bolts, screws, and quite thorough instructions, including a paper template to locate the holes to be drilled in the hood.
Instructions were generally clear. Three small items for anybody else installing this kit. 1.) If you have ABS brakes the windshield washer hose passes through the hole used for the bottom bracket. The instructions tell you to reroute the hose through another hole in the firewall, except that the hose isn't long enough to reach - I just spent 40 cents on a piece of hose and connector. 2.) Do not be afraid to drill the two holes - it makes for a very tidy installation with a simple bracket. If you choose to pop rivet the bracket, as I did, the recommended 3/16" hole is just right (with a 3/16" pop rivet, of course), however if you use the enclosed screws, make those holes 1/8" or the screws will have nothing to grip. This is the only notable error in the instructions. 3.) With either attachment method - drill only one hole, attach the bracket, then drill the other hole using the bracket to guide your bit. I drilled both holes with the paper template and was slightly off.
This is an outstanding product. It allows you to easily raise the hood, and it holds it open without the hood prop to get in the way. The pressure in the strut is EXACTLY right - it actually holds the hood open at any height you choose. Closing the hood is also easy, with a gentle drop. The installed appearance is very tidy and neat. I did not have the problem some have noted with initial stiffness - it was smooth from the first use. Great product, at a very reasonable price of $45.
Under 30 minutes to remove completely
Applicable to '99 +
Hood lift kit that allows removal of the stock 'hood rod.' Minor drilling required. Product claims to fit cars with or without cruise control and ABS. Kit consists of a bracket with a ball for the strut already on it, which mounts to the firewall into a pre-existing hole with supplied bolt and washers, a bracket for the hood itself, 2 screws for the hood bracket, and a hydraulic strut.
The instructions were on the lousy side- the template is fine, but it uses the oblong holes in the inner hood support to line up, but several possible locations exist. The cruise control mounts on rubber grommets and isn't movable as the instructions imply. It IS however, possible to bend the mounting brackets on the cruise control enough so that it's mostly out of the way. No photos are included in the instructions. It does get easier when you're working on the car itself however. The kit quality itself is very good, and doesn't produce any 'hood bulge' that some people have mentioned with other kits, and was installed in approximately 15 minutes. I would recommend using a 1/8" drill bit instead of the suggested 3/16" though, as the hood support sheet metal is pretty thin, so a bit more bite using the supplied screws would be nice.
I'm fairly happy with the end results- I think the strut is STILL hitting my cruise control slightly, but not enough to cock the hood. No bump in the hood which people have mentioned with other kits. The lift does seem to be the right amount, although when closing the hood there is a catch with about an inch or less at the front, so the hood needs to be pressed down into the latch. Not sure at this point if it's due to the strut binding, the latch being just strong enough to stop it from closing, or what, but it isn't a big deal. Using their template where I did the hood opens up approximately to the same location as it did with the '99 hood lift rod. Would be nice if it opened further, and perhaps it's meant to, but the instructions were on the poor side..
Would I do it again? Yes, although I'd probably relocate the hood bracket a bit lower to get more lift from the hood in the opened position.
Under 5 minutes to remove
Applicable to '99 + 1.8 liter
Pnumatic tube hood lift kit with all hardware and instructions. Installation time 30 minutes max. Price $45 + shipping.
Very easy to install. Instructions were complete and included a template for the hood. It uses an existing 1/2" hole at extreme end of the firewall on the drivers side for the bottom mount of the lift tube. The top bracket attaches by drilling two 3/16" holes (OOOOHHH NNNOOOO) in the hood edge brace. The template makes for easy and accurate hole placement. Just follow the instructions and take your time.
The bottom bracket must be tilted just slightly to the left in order for the fat part of the tube to clear the fender flange. By using the existing hole in the firewall, the tube clears the cruise control with out a problem. This was a major concern of mine as all the other units I have seen require relocating the cruise control on the '99. The instructions say to loosen the bolts and slide the module around for additional clearance if needed but this was not required on my car. The unit has enough up force so that the hood will not (can not) slam when lowered so keep a towel handy to wipe any finger marks off the hood. The only negative part was drilling the holes in the hood brace. A very well made and easy to install kit.
Difficult to remove without leaving damage
Applicable to: '90 - '97 1.6 liter
Hydraulic piston rod assembly designed to raise the hood.
The product comes with a template for drilling the holes for the hood bracket. It was very easy to install ~ 15 minutes. The first time I tried to close the hood the piston rod was so stiff I was afraid I would bend or break the support brackets. I ended up taking the rod off and priming it a couple times against the floor. That did the trick and the support now performs flawlessly.
The Team Miata product @ $45, appears to be the best value in hood supports.
Under 5 minutes to remove
The Team Miata hood lift kit is a piston that opens and supports the hood without the stock hood support rod.
I have had the Team Miata Hood support installed since March (4 months), and find that it is a really great addition. The hydraulic piston automatically lifts and supports (egad, sounds like a WonderBra for Miatas) the hood. More importantly, it lifts the hood up about 6-8 inches higher (now it's Viagra for Miatas) for easier access to the engine compartment. This is especially great for those of you who have the Jackson Cold Air Induction System. When you install the Jackson CAI, you must re orient the hood support rod such that the hood opens up just enough to blast you in the forehead whenever you try to work under the hood. The Team Miata hood support eliminates that problem. Additionally, Team Miata has done a considerable amount of research to find a piston that provides sufficient strength to lift and support the hood but also not too much force to bulge the hood (as some other hood lift kits are wont to do). I highly recommend this unit to everyone. After a few times under the hood, you will wonder how you ever managed without it.
I highly recommend the Team Miata group. They have shown to be creative and extremely responsive to Miata owners.
Under 30 minutes to remove completely
About a year ago I bought a Jackson Cold Air Induction system. It was easy to install but I hated the way the hood rod had to be relocated. Then a couple of months ago I discovered the Team Miata Hood Lift (http://www.teammiata.com). I couldn't get one fast enough.
It was easy to install with very complete instructions. It even included a template to tape on the hood that left no doubt at all as to where the two holes for the upper bracket were to be drilled. It took only a few minutes to install. The first time I lowered the hood, the strut was just a little stiff but that cleared up after the first time I lowered the hood. I had heard that lifts like this can make a hood bulge a bit, not there in no evidence of this with the Team Miata Hood Lift or with a couple of others I've seen on other Miata since. The lift and brackets are very sturdy and keeps the hood up even in strong, gusty, winds. Two added bonuses with it are that it keeps the hood opened wider than the hood prop and it is also guaranteed for as long as you own your Miata. And since I plan on keeping my Miata forever - that it VERY important to me. At a price of $45, I highly recommend it and it is a MUST HAVE for owners of CAI, turbo or supercharged systems.
The first time I lowered the hood, the strut was just a little stiff but that cleared up after the first time I lowered the hood. I had heard that lifts like this can make a hood bulge a bit, not there in no evidence of this with the Team Miata Hood Lift or with a couple of others I've seen on other Miata since. The lift and brackets are very sturdy and keeps the hood up even in strong, gusty, winds. Two added bonuses with it are that it keeps the hood opened wider than the hood prop and it is also guaranteed for as long as you own your Miata. And since I plan on keeping my Miata forever - that it VERY important to me. At a price of $45, I highly recommend it and it is a MUST HAVE for owners of CAI, turbo or supercharged systems.
Under 5 minutes to remove
| Back to Product Reviews | 15 May, 2002 |