Read my post (16) above. I had and resolved the same issue.

 

Based on these pictures i can assure you they are on incorrectly. I guarantee it!!! The longer portion of the fender bracket goes down.NOT up as you have it. So i suggest removing them and being frustrated at yourself as you said..





Richard

 

Richard,
Just looked closer at the pics...you're right. They're definitely upside down!

 

+1 They are upside down. Just went out to the garage and compared them to mine.

 

Yup, they're upside down. Here's what mine look like:

 

Nick... be sure to post after you invert your fender brackets... we'll all be interested to know if you hood is now back down and in alignment.

 

 

Don't sweat it man, we all have those days! Glad you got it straightened out. I'm going to order mine tonight when I get home. Another question for you guys though; What tricks etc. did you use to keep your hood aligned? i.e., did you make any index marks, use any thing to hold it in place etc.? Thanks

 

To add insult to injury, the solution (of the bracket orientation) was right there in my PhotoBucket album link in my sig I posted back last October.

 

I think the worst part about all this mess is the fact I had no less than 3 people look at it in-person and they had no idea (including a dealer that installs MRT/CDC hood struts on some of their lot Mustangs. They thought the struts themselves were too long.) Switched sides today and things fit much better. Still a *tiny* gap on the driver's side, but I learned two reasons why I messed up the install:

I need good pictures when I'm doing unfamilar things. I learn by seeing. The pictures provided with the MRT struts were gawd awful (way too dark to see anything), and I didn't have internet access to double-check how things went at the time. Therefore, just had to go with what seemed right. Second, the brackets didn't sit flush with the fender until AFTER bolted down, whereas in the original position I had them, they did. I thought this must be wrong, so therefore, I had 'em in wrong.

Richard, thanks for putting me in my place.

Man, sometimes being a visual learner sucks.

 

Same boat here. Looked at them over and over again. I thought it was my steeda hood is why it bowed when closed. I am getting tired of removing and installing the hood struts at shows!

I cant believe it. I cant wait to go home and flip them over and see how it is.

Thank you whoever bumped this thread!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Kinda glad to see I'm not the only one who did this. Even if you're lying, you just made me feel better.

 

Nope, lol. Sure wouldnt lie about that. And Im sure others have done the same thing but wont admit to it, lol.

Off to my kids baseball game then flip/switch the bracket time!

 

Just saw this thread today. I'm glad someone was able to get you pics of the right installation. I would've run out and snapped a couple myself, but I rode the bike today.

I was going to comment on your statement about getting the CDC kit instead, but doesn't look like you're going to go that way. Which is good, you would've had the same problem. The CDC kit (and the Steeda kit) are MRT kits. The Redline kit is the odd-man-out in the popular kits.

Glad you got it figured out.

 

Just glad i could help you get it straightened out.

As for a tip on the install. Here is what i did when i did mine. I wrapped a towel around my hand and then kind of wedge it under the hood in between the edge of the hood and the top of the plastic area so that when i loosened the bolts the hood did not move. Then I let my wife install the brackets and then snug up the hood while I held it in place.

Richard

 

Ok, after flipping/swapping its about 30-50% better.(less bulge from fender)
But its still there. The Steeda fiberglass hood is just to flexable.
We shall see if I can deal with it like that or not.

 

I am still seeing a gap... I am unhappy. SIGH...

 

MRT does sell different struts for lighter hoods. Im guessing this is what I would need. enough money spent, not going to go there. Ill stick to removing them after car shows and cruise nights

 

I wonder if having them on wrong has warped the hood to some degree under the added stress.

RIchard

 

Not me. I never had them on with the hood closed more than a few minutes. I only installed them for cruise nights and car shows with the hood open. Took them off to close the hood. No struts, hood sits perfect.