Topic: Rear Tie Down Brackets

[Anghelrestorations]

Actually that is not true at all.  The only vehicles manufactured by Ford during this time frame that used rear brackets tie downs were the Mustangs and the Cougars.  Other vehicles like Thunderbirds, Lincolns, Broncos, Fairlanes, Falcons, Comets, vans and trucks used existing holes inside of the frame rails for the rear tie down hooks.  Because Mustangs and Cougars didnt have anything like this and for clearance purposes they added the brackets on the back.  Its actually unique to the cars that we are talking about here. 

[Richard P.]

Marcus thanks for clearing that up about Mustang and Cougar tie downs. I was getting a bit confused.

[jwc66k]

Many years back a local shop owner in San Jose (no longer in business) in a general conversation told me that Falcons had the brackets too. I assumed that all Fords had them. Did this difference require the car carriers to have two different rear hook up types? Or did the "T" type also work on the brackets the same way?
Jim

[Anghelrestorations]

I think there has been alot of confusion of the brackets over the years.  The Falcons did not have, or use a seperate tie down bracket.  They have a hole in the frame in the back by the bumper that was used.  The attaching hook is the same from the rail or car carriers, but there just wasnt a rear tie down bracket added for Falcons.  No need on those cars.  This is something unique to Mustang and Cougar only on the rear of the cars.

And the T type hook was used on on the front.  I will show pictures of everything I have put together to help explain.   

[J_Speegle]

And the T type hook was used on on the front.  I will show pictures of everything I have put together to help explain.   

The "T" hook was only used (according to the shipping handbooks I've seen) for securing the front in place. The reason those dolly holes are shaped differently from the others on the early Mustangs. The T hooks were used up into the 90's. As you can see in the illustration below, during the early 80's at least the t hooks were attached to a short length of chain that also had a standard hook also to reduce the number of tie downs they needed to carry for the job and the hook also allowed for quick shortening of the length of chain by hooking it back on itself

From the copy of the shipping guidelines. Only have a copy from 81 currently. T hook in the drawing is shaped slightly different from the ones I have purchased

[Anghelrestorations]

Yes ....the chain would typically have a T hook and a grab hook on the end and the cargo guys would use one or the other when they were securing the vehicles. 

[Paperback Writer]

I'll add another one to the database... 

This bracket was on my '67 Mustang that I purchased in 1982.  Shortly after I bought the car, I noticed a very loud screech in the back every time I would go over railroad tracks or any sizable bump in the road.  I quickly discovered that the tie-down bracket on the driver's side had been bent, and it was rubbing against the rear leaf spring (that's what caused the scuff marks that are visible between the 6" and 8" markings on the tape measure).

The bracket was definitely painted black - it looks to be the same type of thin black paint that was used on seat frames - and the car was a 390, dual-exhaust Fastback (7R02S193473) built in San Jose on March 28, 1967.  I left the passenger side bracket on the car, and it was still there when I sold the car in 1986...

[Anghelrestorations]

Thats good information on your 390.  Good photo as well.
Can you also take a quick picture of the attaching hardware?  I have found two basic different styles of hardware that was used.  Would like to see the head markings on those bolts to compare what I have seen here.

[specialed]

paperback I have seen that rubbing before on them long hooks & if you want to sell your odd 1 let me know as I have the other side odd

[Paperback Writer]

Can you also take a quick picture of the attaching hardware?  I have found two basic different styles of hardware that was used.  Would like to see the head markings on those bolts to compare what I have seen here.

Marcus, here's a shot of bolt heads - unfortunately, there is some corrosion on them and I couldn't make out any markings.  I threw these in some Evaporust right after I took the photo this morning, so hopefully we should get a better look at them in the next day or two...

paperback I have seen that rubbing before on them long hooks & if you want to sell your odd 1 let me know as I have the other side odd

Ed - Actually, I'm trying to find one for the passenger side.  I need them for my '67 San Jose 390 Convertible...

[specialed]

ok I will sell you the rh side but remember the Dearborn cars were bare steel so have some pitting unlike sj painted black  but after painting black the pits will be gone.

[jwc66k]

From the post "Mustang Hardware Spreadsheets" in the library section. I used "Shipping Tie Down - " in the description as I wanted a unique description. On many entries of these items I listed the source vehicle. I included any other applications as the tie downs brackets were not formally documented for 64-70 cars and I assumed the hardware that was used elsewhere was "borrowed" for tie down brackets. The exception is UNK35.
20430-S2 Bolt 64-66 This is the same 7/16-14 bolt used to attach bell housings and tail pieces to various MTs. No head marking or grade.
20546-S2 Bolt 64-67 This is the same 7/16-14 bolt used for attaching the V8 bell housing to the engine. No head marking or grade.
34446-S8 Nut 67 A common 7/16-14 Grade 5 cone locking nut.
34783-S7 Lock washer 64-66 A common 7-16 lock washer. Used with 20430-S2 (the vertical bolt).
34988-S2 Nut 69 A common 7/16-14 Grade 8 cone locking nut.
34978-S2 Nut 71-73 A common 7/16 nut. 
374358-S8 Nut 64-66 This is the same 7/16-14 nut used on 64-66 bumper bolts. It is not currently reproduced.
44730-S2 Flat washer 64-66 A common 7/6 flat washer.
55695-S2 Nut 67 A 7/16-14 nut used on the rear bumper.
55806-S2 Nut 67 A 7/16-14 nut used on the front bumper.
55826-S7 Nut 67 A 7/16-14 nut used on engine mounts.
57063-S2 Bolt 69 A grade 5.1 7/16X2 1/2 hex bolt with disc washer found on a San Jose car. Head marking unk. 
57063-S2 Bolt 71-73 A grade 5.1 7/16X2 1/2 hex bolt with disc washer not documented as used on other applications. Head marking unk. 
57481-S2 Bolt 71-73 A common grade 5.1 7/16-14 bolt used on fender braces and bumpers. Head marking unknown.
UNK35 Flat washer 64-67 This washer is not in the AMK Guide to Ford Fasteners, but is available from AMK as B-11754, a GM application.
Jim

[J_Speegle]

A few 68 examples

8R0T1601xx Hardware




8R0T1601xx




8R02C1304xx




8R02J1247xx

[Dudley]

Just to add one other picture that I did not include earlier, this showing the outboard side of the rear frame rail showing the nuts.

[J_Speegle]

Some hardware shots

67 San Jose tie down hardware





9R02H1315xx tie down hardware