HOW TO: Hood Struts for Gen 1 Lightnings with aftermarket hoods

EZ SPEED · 08-09-2005, 12:24 PM

A few months ago I installed a Cervinis Cowl Hood on my 93 Lightning. I love the hood, but I hate prop rods.
I was determined to make some hood struts work. I remembered installing the Redline Tuning hood struts on my 2004 Mach 1 and wondered if I could adapt one of their kits to work on a Gen 1 Lightning.
I was sucessful in finding a kit that will work.
I used the Ford Ranger kit, and by trial and error figured out the best placement for the brackets.

So for $59.99 + shipping you can have hood struts that work great and look even better.

Follow the instructions that come with the hood struts but substitute my pictures and measurements.

Here is the link to the hood strut kit I used.

Redline Tuning Ford Ranger QuickLIFT System - Lifts and holds your hood without prop rod.

Here is the link to the online installation instructions (Adobe PDF file)

http://www.redlinetuning.com/manuals...RANGER_103.pdf

The upper measurement is taken from the corner of the hood just like the instructions, but use my measurement of 24".

As you can see in my pictures, make sure to turn the bottom bracket around differently than the Ranger instructions, and slide it up against the factory "Bump" on the fender (if for some reason you don’t have a factory "bump" I show the measurement to be 1-1/2" from the fender bolt).

**VERY IMPORTANT**
You will need to make sure to remove the middle hood bumpers along the fender edge if you still have them. If they are not removed the hood or hood struts could be damaged the first time you try to shut the hood.

As a side note, I plan to change out the bolts that hold the lower bracket to the fender. The bolts stick down really far and look kind of odd. I want to replace them with some shorter bolts with nuts and lock washers for a cleaner look.

Let me know if anyone comes up with any improvements on my ideas.

Brian Baskin · 08-09-2005, 01:07 PM

YOU ROCK!

Ghost · 08-09-2005, 01:14 PM

Yes...Thank you very much.
I'll come back to this thread in the future when I get a hood.

FMOS Racing · 08-09-2005, 01:19 PM

Awesome!! This has been needed for a loooooong time.

I actually got rid of my Cervinis because I couldn't stand the way the springs made it curl (I had one that was setup to work with springs), and wasn't about to use a prop rod.

89 F-150 · 08-09-2005, 01:46 PM

That looks great!

ken woodward · 08-09-2005, 01:54 PM

Cool! Now I don't have to make any. KEN

EZ SPEED · 08-09-2005, 02:25 PM

Glad I could help you guys out !!!!

I would have posted this a couple of months ago if I knew that it would help so many fellow Gen 1 brothers out

Billssvt · 08-09-2005, 03:00 PM

Great job.this will be used by alot of us cervinni owners.just ordered mine.

run351 · 08-09-2005, 07:43 PM

LOL..Looks like my poor measuring tape.
thanks for the info

95BamaLightning · 08-09-2005, 07:48 PM

wow dude that looks really good. ill definitely use that when i get my hood. shouldnt be long now....

Brian Baskin · 08-09-2005, 08:22 PM

I'd suggest letting it hang out here for a week or so. I'm afraid that once it gets moved in there no one will see it

Red 93 L1 #3383 · 08-09-2005, 10:29 PM

Just ordered one, I'm ready to retire the prop rod.

NateLightning · 08-09-2005, 11:15 PM

Will that work on a stock hood?

StruckBy · 08-10-2005, 04:01 AM

very cool project. For the price of a Cervinis hood it should come with it.

ken woodward · 08-10-2005, 11:29 AM

Yes, There's actually not enough weight change to cause a problem, the the configuration is the same. Ken

08-09-2005, 12:24 PM	#1 (permalink)
EZ SPEED Boost Kills !!!!!!! Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Oxford, Alabama Posts: 2,640 View this user's gallery iTrader: 24 / 100%	HOW TO: Hood Struts for Gen 1 Lightnings with aftermarket hoods A few months ago I installed a Cervinis Cowl Hood on my 93 Lightning. I love the hood, but I hate prop rods. I was determined to make some hood struts work. I remembered installing the Redline Tuning hood struts on my 2004 Mach 1 and wondered if I could adapt one of their kits to work on a Gen 1 Lightning. I was sucessful in finding a kit that will work. I used the Ford Ranger kit, and by trial and error figured out the best placement for the brackets. So for $59.99 + shipping you can have hood struts that work great and look even better. Follow the instructions that come with the hood struts but substitute my pictures and measurements. Here is the link to the hood strut kit I used. Redline Tuning Ford Ranger QuickLIFT System - Lifts and holds your hood without prop rod. Here is the link to the online installation instructions (Adobe PDF file) http://www.redlinetuning.com/manuals...RANGER_103.pdf The upper measurement is taken from the corner of the hood just like the instructions, but use my measurement of 24". As you can see in my pictures, make sure to turn the bottom bracket around differently than the Ranger instructions, and slide it up against the factory "Bump" on the fender (if for some reason you don’t have a factory "bump" I show the measurement to be 1-1/2" from the fender bolt). VERY IMPORTANT You will need to make sure to remove the middle hood bumpers along the fender edge if you still have them. If they are not removed the hood or hood struts could be damaged the first time you try to shut the hood. As a side note, I plan to change out the bolts that hold the lower bracket to the fender. The bolts stick down really far and look kind of odd. I want to replace them with some shorter bolts with nuts and lock washers for a cleaner look. Let me know if anyone comes up with any improvements on my ideas. __________________ SOLD - 2003 Lightning # 1180 SOLD - 1993 Lightning # 5173 2005 Pontiac GTO 2004 Mustang Mach1 2004 Chevy 2500HD 4x4 CrewCab Diesel

08-09-2005, 03:00 PM	#8 (permalink)
Billssvt Finally Satisfied Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Baltimore,md,Baltimore Posts: 1,082 View this user's gallery iTrader: 0 / 0%	Great job.this will be used by alot of us cervinni owners.just ordered mine. __________________ NOVI 2000,power stroke intercooler,AFR heads,match ported engine and intake,70mm throttlebody,hogan custom intake,42# injectors,Walbro inline fp,Kirban fpr,1.6 roller rockers,cam motion roller cam,roller lifters,30 over fordged slugs,high volume oil pump,JMS custom chip,Monster box trans,msd6a btm,bassani headers and X pipe,stainless flow masters,goodyear 295-45-18,Boss Motorsport wheels,Cervinni ram air hood,fastback low pro bed cover

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08-09-2005, 01:07 PM	#2 (permalink)
Brian Baskin Rikutsu-poi Paid Member Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Harford County, MD Posts: 8,008 NLOC member #: 658 View this user's gallery iTrader: 4 / 100%	YOU ROCK!

08-09-2005, 01:14 PM	#3 (permalink)
Ghost Jason Welch Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Pasadena, Texas Posts: 1,070 View this user's gallery iTrader: 2 / 100%	Yes...Thank you very much. I'll come back to this thread in the future when I get a hood.

08-09-2005, 01:19 PM	#4 (permalink)
FMOS Racing Vrrooooooooooom Join Date: Jan 2000 Location: Indianapolis, IN Posts: 12,367 View this user's gallery iTrader: 3 / 100%	Awesome!! This has been needed for a loooooong time. I actually got rid of my Cervinis because I couldn't stand the way the springs made it curl (I had one that was setup to work with springs), and wasn't about to use a prop rod.

08-09-2005, 01:46 PM	#5 (permalink)
89 F-150 Registered User Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Minot, ND Posts: 329 View this user's gallery iTrader: 3 / 100%	That looks great!

08-09-2005, 01:54 PM	#6 (permalink)
ken woodward Registered User Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Roy, Utah Posts: 696 View this user's gallery iTrader: 1 / 100%	Cool! Now I don't have to make any. KEN

08-09-2005, 02:25 PM	#7 (permalink)
EZ SPEED Boost Kills !!!!!!! Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Oxford, Alabama Posts: 2,640 View this user's gallery iTrader: 24 / 100%	Glad I could help you guys out !!!! I would have posted this a couple of months ago if I knew that it would help so many fellow Gen 1 brothers out

08-09-2005, 07:43 PM	#9 (permalink)
run351 Looking for low 13's NA Paid Member Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Southeastern CT, USA Posts: 1,062 NLOC member #: 52 View this user's gallery iTrader: 0 / 0%	LOL..Looks like my poor measuring tape. thanks for the info

08-09-2005, 07:48 PM	#10 (permalink)
95BamaLightning Deo Vindice Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: New Market, Alabama Posts: 257 View this user's gallery iTrader: 0 / 0%	wow dude that looks really good. ill definitely use that when i get my hood. shouldnt be long now....

08-09-2005, 08:22 PM	#11 (permalink)
Brian Baskin Rikutsu-poi Paid Member Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Harford County, MD Posts: 8,008 NLOC member #: 658 View this user's gallery iTrader: 4 / 100%	I'd suggest letting it hang out here for a week or so. I'm afraid that once it gets moved in there no one will see it

08-09-2005, 10:29 PM	#12 (permalink)
Red 93 L1 #3383 In need of new front end Paid Member Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: Burlington, ND Posts: 2,578 NLOC member #: 1265 View this user's gallery iTrader: 0 / 0%	Just ordered one, I'm ready to retire the prop rod.

08-09-2005, 11:15 PM	#13 (permalink)
NateLightning Registered User Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Tiffin OH Posts: 1,252 View this user's gallery iTrader: 0 / 0%	Will that work on a stock hood?

08-10-2005, 04:01 AM	#14 (permalink)
StruckBy Electric Edward Join Date: May 2000 Location: Orlando,FL. Posts: 5,571 View this user's gallery iTrader: 36 / 100%	very cool project. For the price of a Cervinis hood it should come with it.

08-10-2005, 11:29 AM	#15 (permalink)
ken woodward Registered User Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Roy, Utah Posts: 696 View this user's gallery iTrader: 1 / 100%	Yes, There's actually not enough weight change to cause a problem, the the configuration is the same. Ken