Topic: Hood vent retaining clips - turn signal hood, 68 San Jose built

[Murf]

Have a couple of questions about the retaining clips for the vent in the hood.  First, what exactly do they look like?  I have some that are rectangular in shape and are of the "push on" style.  Anyone have an image of known originals?  Secondly, were they finished in a dark parkerized type coating, or were they painted along with the hood?  I am stuck with these questions and have so far been unable to find any hoods with the turn signals that have not been messed with.  The vehicle in question is a 68 GT/CS, scheduled build date of April 03, and of course at the SJ CA plant.  Thanks for any images of advice.   

[Murf]

Are these the  correct replacement for the vent retainers?     http://www.npdlink.com/store/products/mustang_nut_kit_stamped_sheet_8-101850-276.html   (  Link to NPD image of retainers, from AMK )

[ruppstang]

John I am not sure of the size in the picture but that is the correct style of retainer.
Marty

[Murf]

Were these push on retainers painted with the vent assembly or were the little grilles painted before being put in the vent casting and thus the little push on clips were left in their parkerized coating as delivered to the dealer and retail purchaser.  Any images of a turn signal hood that has survived unmolested?  I thought that one time someone had made note of the ford assembly turn signal hood assembly process but no luck searching so far. 

[J_Speegle]

Have a couple of questions about the retaining clips for the vent in the hood.  First, what exactly do they look like?  I have some that are rectangular in shape and are of the "push on" style.  Anyone have an image of known originals?  Secondly, were they finished in a dark parkerized type coating, or were they painted along with the hood? ..................

Thought we did this before in  another thread but guess it might have been for 67's

Hope these helps

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Looks IMHO that the clips may have been in place when the inserts were painted - from these pictures - but real hard to tell. Will look more

[Murf]

Yes, it looks as if those little clips were painted.  Thanks, Jeff.  And yes, I thought this was discussed somewhere before but so far have been unable to locate that discussion. 

[hopeto]

You probably couldn't find it because you were too busy helping a Texan lock up his trailer in Springfield  Thanks again for all your help at the show!! Your club did a GREAT job. Are you coming to Lincoln? I plan on bringing the 67 K. Hope all is well in your world!

[67gta289]

Painted in place.  Early 67 did not have the rubber "O" ring below the clip, but 68's certainly did.  Threaded studs were attached to the assembly and painted also.

[somethingspecial]

So are you saying the grille is put in place, then a small O ring is put on the stud, then the spring clip is installed over the O ring, making a cushin between the spring clip and the mounting bar of the turn signal insert panel?

[67gta289]

Exactly.  You can see them in the pictures that Jeff posted.

[Murf]

Thanks, everyone, for your images and comments.  After seeing the photos and reading your comments there seems to be no doubt that the clips and studs were painted body color when they were attached to the hood during assembly by Ford. 

[Angela]

I could have sworn I'd started a similar thread, yet perhaps I'm just remembering this one started by "Murf". :-) Rather than start another thread on the same topic, I'm adding a question here....

Below is a pic of my original turn sig housings, grille, rubber o-ring and clip. The housing and grille are original to my '67 SanJose car, but the o-rings were removed from a different housing. I don't recall whether or not my housings originally had these o-rings and that's my first question: did all SanJose cars include the o-rings?

Next, as shown from the photos, the studs on the grilles are not long enough to engage the clips when the o-rings are present. No amount of force will compress the o-ring enough to get the clip started. Even when I remove the o-rings, the clips *barely* engage, but not enough that I would feel comfortable they would stay put.  Has anyone else run into this issue? Can anyone offer any ideas as to what I could do to make the clips engage with the o-rings? All I can think of to do is to weld a length of steel rod onto the pins.... but what a tricky job that would be and since the grilles are pot metal, I suspect the attempt at welding to them would merely melt the pins.
Any ideas?

[J_Speegle]

Posted only 68 pictures above since that was the focus. Will have to review what I've got in order to comment if "all" 67 San Jose Mustangs with the option were suppose to be equipped with those little o rings.

May split the topic with your post to keep things straight

[67gta289]

Below is a pic of my original turn sig housings, grille, rubber o-ring and clip. The housing and grille are original to my '67 SanJose car, but the o-rings were removed from a different housing. I don't recall whether or not my housings originally had these o-rings and that's my first question: did all SanJose cars include the o-rings?

If you look at the June 14 post, I included TSB80 from November 67 (into the 68 MY) which dates the addition of the O-ring.  Based on that I would say no O-rings for 67 models regardless of assembly plant.

IIRC there were also subtle changes on the width of the two center supports, a likely attempt to solve the common cracking problem.  The 67 parts were much thinner in many regards.