I tried the CPC first but found out the brackets were warped and not laying flat with hood.

 

I installed a pair of Redline Plus struts today. I'm very pleased with their quality, power and cost ($89.99 with free shipping from CJ Pony Parts). Wind doesn't phase them.

 

Installed Redline struts... install was breeze and color instruction pages are so helpful.







i would recommend doing this as one of the first mod... great visually and functionally.

 

OK, i know you DON'T want the redlines. and i don't work for them or anything...

but i was in the same boat as you. To me in all of the pictures online they definitely look like they stuck out to far. i didn't want the redlines, looked at multiple different kits, searched and searched. multiple forums. and while some of the other kits were nice the overall consensus was "redline". i sucked it up and bought them anyway. installed them and loved them. took the stickers off for a nice and clean look. sounds crazy but everything seems just right and they look great in person. just thought i'd share my story. good luck with whatever you get.

 

I took the label stickers off my Redlines too. Much better appearance. The Redlines are everything I hoped they be. Strong, evenly pressured and look good, in comparison to the fugly prop rod. I'm completely satisfied with my purchase of the Redline Plus hood struts.

 

What do you guys do with the old metal hood prop?

 

Removed it and stored it. Will come handy don't know when.

 

Left it on the car since the weight saving is negligible- that way if I ever need it I'll know where it is.

 

One thing to consider with kits that use a bracket is that as soon as you remove the factory bolts connecting the hood, your alignment will never be the same as factory spec. There are tolerances that even at 1mm can make your hood to fender gap noticeably off. Even if you do them one at a time.

Just another reason I like the redlines. You never touch where the hood connects on. They are essentially no different than what the hood prop does but hydraulic. Almost as if you manually lifted the hood and held it in place with the shocks instead of the prop. So your hoods alignment is never messed with.

Just something else to consider with the way redlines install that I haven't heard a lot of people mention.

 

^ great info. didnt know that...

 

That is exactly why we bought the redlines. Didn't want to screw up our hood alignment!

 

I love my Redlines - got them for my birthday from my daughter but, everyone has different reasons for liking things. I loved the Redline OEM fit and simplicity. I know they are not the smallest profile but, that is not important to me. For the originator of this thread, it is important. Good for him - it is a free country and just happy we can choose the products we all like best We are very lucky to all own "The Most Modified Car in History!" The choices are fabulous unlike our muscle car brothers, Camero and Challenger and the modification I have made so far make "My Stang" truly unique and a true joy to drive

 

Just got redlines on. Took about 20 mins. Would have been quicker but the sound tube bracket held me up. Seem to work really well. Look OEM.

 

No hood adjustment was ever disturbed mounting any non red line style on any cars I have had.

I removed my original support rod....once I saw a Ford tech trying to figure out how to get it in place when the hood was open and staying up by itself. Dang near dropped the rod across the fender.

 

This made me laugh. I had a mechanic try to unscrew the faux gas cap.

 

When I installed my Redlines (removed the label from the struts, and they look really stock, IMO), I removed the prop rod and stored it in the same location as the sound tube (i.e., in the trash).

Considering it would have probably cost Ford less than $5 per car to equip Mustangs with hood struts, its a bit silly that we even have to discuss this. There may be another $40k+ car on the market with a prop rod, but I doubt it.