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QuickLIFT System common questions and answers
Gas-spring installation direction?
What is the difference between the QuickLIFT, QuickLIFT PLUS and QuickLIFT ELITE?
Why are Redline Tuning QuickLIFT systems better than the competition?
Aftermarket hoods - Will the QuickLIFT kits work with my aftermarket hood?
Aftermarket hoods and the problems with them.
My gas springs squeel or chatter when opening the hood, what do I do?
Will my hood close like normal after I install the QuickLIFT?
If you don't have a QuickLIFT for my vehicle, can I try one out on mine?
Riveting 101 - Procedure and tips to proper riveting
Riveting to fiberglass and composite hoods?
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Gas spring installation direction - IMPORTANT:
Install the gas springs as each manual directs you to... In almost all cases we recommend the large gas spring housing to be attached to the hood bracket and the extending rod attached to the fender. If the gas springs are not installed in this fashion, the strut will not allow for the built-in slow release over the final inch of travel... if you are noticing that your hood is raising to fast or does not slow down on its own as it reaches the end of stroke, then reverse the gas springs as shown.
What is the difference between the QuickLIFT and QuickLIFT ELITE kits?
For a detailed answer to this question, read over our QuickLIFT & QuickLIFT ELITE comparison chart. But basically, the base QuickLIFT system includes silver zinc-plated hardwared and black e-coated gas springs... the PLUS system includes upgraded hardware that is black powder-coated, and the ELITE systems includes the same black powder-coated hardware but they get the best available gas springs (316L Stainless steel).
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Why are Redline Tuning systems better than the competition?
This is the most important question you should ask and one we will gladly answer.
QuickLIFT Systems offer:
- No compromise system - We design our systems from start to finish - we mount the gas springs where they need to be for proper function... we utilize stock bolt locations when available, but we never compromise functionality of the system for the sake of it being 'bolt-in'.
- Simple one-handed operation, simply start to lift the hood and it will raise to the stock height unassisted in a smooth and controlled motion.
- Progressive gas springs. Our springs are not off the shelf parts, they are designed by us and manufactured to our specifications for each vehicle application. Our exclusive end-of-force dampening slows the rate of extension over the final inches of travel eliminating stress to the hood.
- QuickLIFT systems work with any hood (steel, fiberglass, SMC, carbon fiber etc.) - we design our systems using the stock hood so the main market is covered, however, our systems are made to work with 99% of aftermarket hoods. No extra parts are required. Read our FAQ for more information...
- Quick and simple installation - we design the systems and write all of our own documentation. FULL COLOR manuals will arrive that will walk ANYONE through this simple installation - our customer comes first. Every vehicle uses different hardware and mounting locations, all made easy. You do NOT need to be a mechanic or car nut like us - we are so confident in our product that we post every installation manual on our website for you to review prior to ordering.
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| All hood lifts are not created equal... |
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A Competitor's hood lift system (shown above) does NOT lift and hold hood. This Mustang located at the 2008 SEMA show required a separate brace to hold up the hood! This is a very strong gas spring mounted way too close to the hinge point - the result will be hood bowing and the inability to lift and hold the hood open safely...
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Redline Tuning designs our systems to work properly - please download and review these videos showing another competitor's poor gas spring mounting location - notice how the hood does NOT lift unassisted, it requires force to lift all the way to the top. Only a breeze is required to blow the hood down... One finger can lower the hood from the open-position - not safe.
(Videos have large file size, be patient)
Poor hood lift design 1
Poor hood lift design 2
Poor hood lift design 3
Poor hood lift design 4
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| These are just a couple examples of poor strut placement and designing for aesthetics, not function. We have plenty of bolt-in designs, but for some vehicles there is no good solution that uses existing locations and we do NOT compromise our design... Search the internet for us and compare for yourself, you will find we lead in this field and our designs are meant to work properly and last. |
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Aftermarket Hoods - Will the QuickLIFT kits work with my aftermarket hood?
We get a lot of questions about whether aftermarket hoods of all types (fiberglass, carbon fiber etc.) will work with our QuickLIFTs. With most high-quality hoods, the answer is YES, however, you must understand the following to find out for sure if yours will work.
First, we design our QuickLIFTs to fit the stock hood and fender, unless specified in the kit. That means that we have carefully calculated what gas-spring length, force and size is required to lift and hold the hood up, along with the correct bracket geometry and mounting locations so that the QuickLIFT fits without interference.
To determine whether our QuickLIFT will work on your aftermarket hood, just compare the mounting area on the aftermarket hood on your vehicle to the corresponding photos of our installation manual. The most important area to examine is the hood bracket mounting area. You will want to determine whether the hood bracket mounting area is the same as the stock hood because that is what we designed the kit to work on! Anything beyond this does not matter! For a more detailed explanation, read the next paragraph.
More details to determine fit... Since most aftermarket hood manufacturers generally mold from the stock hood frame and then design a new hood skin to mount to this 'copy' of the stock frame, most aftermarket hoods will work with our QuickLIFT kits. Carefully look at the mounting surface on the hood where the bracket should mount (shown in the installation manuals located here) looking for similar angles, flats or other key features to determine that they didn't modify the shape or size of the hood's frame. If aftermarket companies make modifications to the shape and size of the hood frame, it usually reduces the amount of room there is to mount a bracket or might require a different bracket than what is supplied. In general the hood type (carbon fiber, composite, fiberglass etc.) has no effect on whether our QuickLIFTs will work, it is solely the mounting area that is of concern.
Aftermarket hood bracket kits... Nearly every QuickLIFT kit we sell ALREADY INCLUDES the hardware needed to install the QuickLIFT on an aftermarket hood. You should only order the aftermarket hood/hardware kit if you already own a QuickLIFT and are installing a new hood - thus the need for two new hood brackets and hardware. The kit doesn't come with fender brackets so don't order thinking you are getting all of the hardware minus the gas springs.
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My gas springs squeel or chatter when opening the hood?
Simple solution - use them... Second and most important thing to check - are they installed up-side-down? The large end of the gas spring should be connected to the hood with the extending strut attached to the fender. The gas springs lubricate themselves when used. If the gas springs get limited use, the gas spring shafts dry out. Remove them one at a time and fully compress them as you were supposed to do when you originally purchased them.
Will my hood close normally once I install a QuickLIFT?
There is no difference in operation between hoods with or without our QuickLIFT installed when it comes to closing the hood. Once the hood is lowered beyond the mid-point, the force behind the gas-spring drops fast (the acting force becomes parallel to the hood and no longer 'lifts'). So, as you are closing your hood with our QuickLIFT installed, you will find that the hood can be dropped to close from 6-10" or whatever is normal to overcome the strength of your latch. The gas-spring force is parallel to the hood and does not hinder standard closing at all.
I have a vehicle that you have not yet created a QuickLIFT kit for, can I purchase a kit and make it fit my car?
Absolutely not. All of our QuickLIFT kits are designed to fit only the vehicles listed. We do not allow test fitting of our QuickLIFT kits to other vehicles. Please email us with the vehicle information, type and model year as we are constantly developing new systems for vehicles.
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Riveting - IMPORTANT
Be careful while riveting the brackets. First time riveters should practice on something other than their vehicle before installing the kit - if this is not possible, then follow these simple steps.
1. Hold the riveter with two hands if helps to stabilize it.
2. Be sure that the rivet is entirely through the hole and that you are putting pressure on the rivet through the riveter when squeezing.
3. Squeeze the rivet gun firmly while keeping the head perpendicular to the hood. In other words, you do not want to tip or angle the riveter during the squeezing of the rivet gun. Keeping the rivet gun head perpendicular to the mounting surface and bracket is desired and will help create a solid bracket mounting. We have found that having someone help hold the hood and bracket while riveting helps out a lot - otherwise, you are trying to rivet to a moving object and is difficult to apply adequate force.
4. When the rivet snaps off, the rivet gun will jerk and the rivet stem will be loose in the gun. Be careful to not slide the gun or jerk when snapping off the rivet, you don't want to scratch the paint with the loose rivet or gun. Having someone carefully hold the rivet gun head while you squeeze the gun will help to avoid this (especially when attaching the first rivet).
Riveting on Fiberglass or composite hoods
Customers with fiberglass hoods need to pay close attention to the riveting process. Our kits are designed to work great on your hood, however, the riveting process must be done correctly. You need to place the brackets exactly the way we intended them to be placed - drill holes correctly and rivet correctly - this is NOT brain surgery, but a little attention to detail will ensure a long lasting and incredible finished QuickLIFT installation.
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Safety Clips:
Though the supplied safety clips seem small and meaningless, they should be installed. These clips will lock the ball-studs in position and keep them from popping off. We have switched over to a new end-fitting design in late 2008 - these plastic end-fittings use clips that do not need to be removed, just snap the gas spring onto the ball-stud.
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