Here is a picture of the Redline Tuning Hood Lift Kit I installed on my 1970 FJ40. I think the kit was $70, great instructions, piece of cake installation and I can tell you that no one else in Cuenca, Ecuador has one and my mechanic gets a big smile on his face every time he opens it. It really is a nice kit. My Cruiser came with only one support on the rear lift but I will "guess" that going with the cylinder noted above at the 52 lb rating will be sufficient if the fellow thought he could do a pull up with the 80 lb unit.
As you can see, my stock strut is fugly. It is gutless and once opened and hand tightened I have to reach inside for a pair of channel locks to tighten it so it won't come down on me. So I was very interested in the gas strut articles here on Mud, especially the ones where they used the stock strut or made new brackets. Since my strut was so ugly, new brackets was the way to go. Note: The stock lift gate pivot location is very good for CG. The "issue" is that the body pivot can't go much lower because of the latch catch. So you can see that I went forward and down. I used the stock lift gate pivot and where the clevis pin goes I just tapped to 5/16-18 to match the ball studs I bought from McMaster-Carr along with gas cylinder. I don't know what all the specifications are for the various struts called out in these articles on Mud but the body length of the cylinder is a major consideration. In my case I needed 14" between the pivots when closed in order for my cylinder and fittings to fit. While the gate now opens and closes smoothly and it is a little higher than the most I could get with the stock setup it is hard work to get that cylinder compressed to attach to the body pivot. I have a better appreciation for having your hand nailed to a cross after doing this a few times today as I made two different brackets for the body location.
This thread inspired me to do the same mod and upgrade my old factory spring lifts with modern gas springs. Im going to sell my old ones and put it towards an SOR upholstery kit. I went a different way on the brackets and springs so Ill list my part numbers.
For the shocks I used two 50lbs www.mcmater.com springs part number 9416K19.
The springs had a vendor part number on them when I got them: 1620 www.suspaparts.com
I added on McMaster part number 9416K74. I did not go with the quick disconnect because I think these give a cleaner look and the clip is easy to pop off. I cant say what shipping was because I ordered it with other items but it wasnt more that $8 for everything.
For the brackets I used steel brackets from a company called JR Products. These are RV brackets and when I contacted the manufacturer they said 50lbs would be no problem and they are often used with 150lbs springs. I bought them off amazon because of free shipping and free returns with Prime.
JR Products BR-12553 10mm Angled Gas Spring Mounting Bracket - $8.17 for the pair
JR Products BR-1020 10mm Flat Gas Spring Mounting Bracket- $7.70 for the pair
The upper brackets required I drill a new hole and open up the existing one I was going to use.
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