Went for a 30min-drive on my new 2014 GT, came home to take a look the engine. I almost burned myself touching the middle of the prop rod and so had to gingerly touch the tip and latch it to the hood. Is the heat rather normal?

 

Yup thats normal these cars run hot under the hood

 

Yup its normal. Get red-line hood struts and eliminate the prop rod

 

I was thinking about the hood struts, but am wondering how it latches. Do you still need to slam it down. If someone could post vid or send a link on how to close it, I would appreciate it. I know there a vids on installation and opening, but could find one where some actually closes it. I am concerned that I would need to slam it it down manual and make a dent in the front hood.

 

i had installed redline hood struts.. u need to slam it down, been doing it for last 3 months nothing noticeable has happened... interested to know if there is a way out of this practice though.

 

Check out how the Mustang Chief Engineer closes the hood on a Laguna Seca at the 5:35 mark in this video http://www.jaylenosgarage.com/cars/f...02/index.shtml

I've got the MRT hood struts and have been using this method since seeing this video.

 

I quickly installed Redline struts too. Getting rid of that fugly prop rod was a great mod. I never slam the hood. I let it rest and pre-latch, then with the palms of my hands, shove it down until it fully locks. Well, I DO take a rag and wipe off the oily palm prints afterward.

 

^^this. Also, Redline hood struts is one of the best mods you can do that doesn't cost a lot.

 

You know, when I was installing my Redlines, Mom asked me a question that required a lengthy answer. I had already installed the passenger side strut at that point. While talking to Mom, I brainlessly raised the hood and stowed the prop rod. When I realized what I had done, I thought, HOLY MOLY, one strut is holding the hood up! Those Redlines are powerful little suckers.

 

I do this method with a twist. I use the inside of my shirt against the hood and push down to lock.

 

engine hot

 

All you really need to be careful of when closing the hood is to not put pressure on the flat part of the sheet metal, push it down on the leading edge so it doesn't bend.

It's really not an issue with struts or not as the hood overcomes the strut pressure when it is down that far.

I have the Redline struts on mine too, best money I've spent on the car.

 

Haha....yep!

 

As fat as I am, I have no shirt tail left.

 

This is exactly how a hood should be closed. Especially a fiberglass hood like I have on a couple of Mustangs but its just good practice to do it on all the hoods.

 

Problem solved!

 

Muwahahahahaha.

Ya got me there. I guess you can carry around a microfiber towel to close it just as well.

 

i always burn my fingers when checking oil while filling up.

 

No harder to close the hood after the Redline install than before. By far the best $90 mod out there.

 

Even better at $80 on sale!