Hood strut lower clip removal?

[Greg Corcoran]

My 31 year old hood struts are finally giving up. I got replacements, but I can't get the lower clips off. All the Helms says is "Remove the lock clip at the cowl top extension." but not how to do so. It looks like you should pry open the bottom of the clip a bit with a screwdriver and push down, but that's not working. The forum search is only showing up a post from 2002 that the clip is a bear to remove and better replaced with a nut and bolt if you lose the clip...

 

[Greg Corcoran]

OK then.... Persistence pays. Turns out you pry the clip open to clear the edge of the pin but then pull UP. Both struts had ford part numbers beginning with F2DB and '95 date codes 089/95 and 102/95. And - only one of the struts was bad, 089, But that was enough when it's cold out to have the hood whack me in the back of the head after a minute or so.