Over Center
If you imagine a straight line from the gas strut end mounted on the fender, down to the hood's hinge at the front of the car, I believe the point of attachment of the other end of the gas strut to the mounting on the underside of the hood lies below that straight line. Therefore the gas strut tries to push the hood further shut. When the hood is being closed, the gas strut first compresses then, over the last inch or so of closing, begins to extend again, probably only a matter of millimeters and the closing force comes into play.
Once you begin to open the hood, the line of action of the strut moves above the hinge - over centre - and assists opening.
Might be worthwhile making a small extension to the hood support mount to take the attachment lower by say an inch.
If you imagine a straight line from the gas strut end mounted on the fender, down to the hood's hinge at the front of the car, I believe the point of attachment of the other end of the gas strut to the mounting on the underside of the hood lies below that straight line. Therefore the gas strut tries to push the hood further shut. When the hood is being closed, the gas strut first compresses then, over the last inch or so of closing, begins to extend again, probably only a matter of millimeters and the closing force comes into play.
Once you begin to open the hood, the line of action of the strut moves above the hinge - over centre - and assists opening.
Might be worthwhile making a small extension to the hood support mount to take the attachment lower by say an inch.
