Or you can keep a pair of vic-grips close by and clamp them right under the strut when the hood is open

 

I have not been above resorting to such tactics!

Just cover the jaws of the vise-grips with tape or rubber hose, so you don't nick the shiny rods, otherwise, they'll leak out whatever small amount of pressurized gas is still in the cylinders, making it even harder to lift the hood/trunk.

 

I just replaced my hood struts on my 94LS400. I used the ones recommended by another member and it worked great!

The part number is C95029 made by Mighty Lift. I ordered them online from AutoZone and the total including shipping was 40.09.

I initially tried the store by using the part number. That didn't work. The young kid behind the counter told me he couldn't order them by part number, I had to have the make and model of the car they fit! Thats why the internet order.

The original recommendation was to drill beside the mounting stud and remove the wire wring holding the ball end in. I chose to use a die grinder with a thin blade. I carefully cut the ball socket in half. Now the hood raises and holds great!

 

So you just replaced the insides? (ie. guts of the struts)

 

No, the whole strut assembly. All I used from the original struts were the mounting posts from each end of the old strut.