ConcoursMustang Forums
1st Generation 1964 1/2 - 1973 - Questions & general discussions that apply to a specific year => 1968 Mustang => Topic started by: 68Metuchen390GT on January 03, 2020, 04:38:47 PM
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I’ve searched on here about C9 hinges and I’ve read Marcus Anghel’s article in the library on the hinges and the various differences. I have a fairly original Metuchen 390 GT with original paint that was bucked June 11, 1968 and built June 19,1968.
Marcus says in his article “ Second generation of hood hinges, the 1967/1968 version was used until 1968. Change over date from the C7 version to the C9 version started around March of 1968.”
My hinges are definitely the later C9 hinges with the x rivets and date codes Jan 10 and Jun 11. Since my car was built after the start of the changeover would these be original to the car with such wide date codes between them and the last date being the same as the bucked date?
I’ve attached some pictures of before pictures and some after they were cleaned. I sprayed with rust prevention for storage until I’m ready to restore them and put them on the car after I get the body work done.
Thanks Richard
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I’ve searched on here about C9 hinges and I’ve read Marcus Anghel’s article in the library on the hinges and the various differences. I have a fairly original Metuchen 390 GT with original paint that was bucked June 11, 1968 and built June 19,1968.
Marcus says in his article “ Second generation of hood hinges, the 1967/1968 version was used until 1968. Change over date from the C7 version to the C9 version started around March of 1968.”
My hinges are definitely the later C9 hinges with the x rivets and date codes Jan 10 and Jun 11. Since my car was built after the start of the changeover would these be original to the car with such wide date codes between them and the last date being the same as the bucked date?
I’ve attached some pictures of before pictures and some after they were cleaned. I sprayed with rust prevention for storage until I’m ready to restore them and put them on the car after I get the body work done.
Thanks Richard
Hi Richard we have very similar cars built around the same time. My car didn't receive a buck tag but was finished June 5, 1968 and is also Raven Black, but was built in San Jose. I also read Marcus's article which is great. Here are my springs. Perhaps we can co spare notes on our cars since the are so similar.
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That’s great thanks, would love to do some comparisons, I’ve read some of your posts. So one of yours is dated April and the other Jan? Both original to car? Only one stamped OB?
I think I read you were looking for a trunk lid or was that someone else?
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That’s great thanks, would love to do some comparisons, I’ve read some of your posts. So one of yours is dated April and the other Jan? Both original to car? Only one stamped OB?
I think I read you were looking for a trunk lid or was that someone else?
Hi Richard Yes I am still looking for a trunk lid. Do you have one? I have the one that came on my car that was not original as it had some small rust issues on the rear lip. I also have new reproduction, but I always prefer to use original parts when I can.
This set is dated all April
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That’s great thanks, would love to do some comparisons, I’ve read some of your posts. So one of yours is dated April and the other Jan? Both original to car? Only one stamped OB?
I think I read you were looking for a trunk lid or was that someone else?
This is the January dated set
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So did either one come on the car originally? Your January set is 68 and the April is 69?
I’m hoping someone can weigh in on the date ranges of mine.
I’ll PM you w the decklid info
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So did either one come on the car originally? Your January set is 68 and the April is 69?
I’m hoping someone can weigh in on the date ranges of mine.
I’ll PM you w the decklid info
Both sets are 68. Don't know if April set came on my car new or left the factory that way. The January set is another set I just picked up with the early design. Not sure which set I will use on my car yet. Wanted to use the set that makes the most sense based on the date. SO far it looks like the later design dated april would more correct t for my car. Are you sure your springs are the factory installed springs?
It seems odd to me that the hinges would be dated so far apart and also I would assume that the January hinge is a 69 as they didn't start the latter design springs until March of 68 according to the article by Marcus. I am sure one of the experts will chime in soon
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Maybe we need to start a Running Changes thread for 68's also.
Will look through my picture collection and see what I can offer for the discussions. Pete D would likely have some data from unrestored Shelby's also considering the plant your focusing on
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Thanks I appreciate it.
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Changed the title of the thread slightly as identifying the "newer" version of the hinge as a 69 piece may be misleading once we collect all the facts (what I'm finding half way through the 68 NJ cars) Just trying to keep it simple at this point.
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Only picture I have of mine (in Mexico right now). Original owner Dearborn-built, build day of June 2, 1968.
Well, shoot, it's not letting me add an image. They are the C9 hinges with the x on the rivets. Can't see the date on the hinge in the photo. I'll check when I'm back home.
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Thanks Jeff and Laurie both, I agree with the title change, it’s really more of a 68 change than a 69 change.
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My dad worked in Ford management. I remember him saying years ago that there were about 117 running changes in the 68 model year.
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Wow now that would be a list to see
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I am going to suggest that there is a late 1968 or C8 version of the hood hinges. Has the cut down section for hood clearance, but still retains the straight cut at the back of the hood mounting section.
The common C9 version has arc'd cut at the rear.
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I am going to suggest that there is a late 1968 or C8 version of the hood hinges. Has the cut down section for hood clearance, but still retains the straight cut at the back of the hood mounting section.
The common C9 version has arc'd cut at the rear.
Nice work Scott
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I am going to suggest that there is a late 1968 or C8 version of the hood hinges. Has the cut down section for hood clearance, but still retains the straight cut at the back of the hood mounting section.
The common C9 version has arc'd cut at the rear.
The rusted one is the C9? Do any of these have date codes?
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I am going to suggest that there is a late 1968 or C8 version of the hood hinges. Has the cut down section for hood clearance, but still retains the straight cut at the back of the hood mounting section.
The common C9 version has arc'd cut at the rear.
Nice work Scott. Now I am going to have to check which versions I have as well. I was also only aware of the 2 versions
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The rusted one is the C9? Do any of these have date codes?
Yes, the dirty one is what we all know as the C9 hood hinge. Went through my core hinges, found one more. Dates are 4 30 D3, and 4 303.
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So here’s my pair out of an original paint 68 390 GT unrestored, the one on the left is dated Jun 11 D3 and the one on the right Jan 10 D3, the car was built on Jun 19 1968 in Metuchen.
This looks like your C9 version, what’s your opinion?
Were all of the hinges done at the same stamping plant?
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So here’s my pair out of an original paint 68 390 GT unrestored, the one on the left is dated Jun 11 D3 and the one on the right Jan 10 D3, the car was built on Jun 19 1968 in Metuchen.
This looks like your C9 version, what’s your opinion?
Were all of the hinges done at the same stamping plant?
Hard to tell without seeing a side profile .At least for me. ;D
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As far as a survey for the possible hood hinge change at Metuchen during 68 production I came up with somewhere between last week of January to end of February possibly first week of March 68. Have collected the other plant info just haven't graphed it yet. Will work on graphics for all and post
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Hard to tell without seeing a side profile .At least for me. ;D
These are the notched hood style, there’s more pics at the beginning of the thread
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These are the notched hood style, there’s more pics at the beginning of the thread
Good to know . That looks like the 68 notched style vs. the 69 notched style. FYI in your post without the side profile information it is hard to tell which one you are talking about given there are two notched styles and unless the profile picture is included in the same post as the other pictures when wanting a confirmation question about them answered.
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Good to know . That looks like the 68 notched style vs. the 69 notched style. FYI in your post without the side profile information it is hard to tell which one you are talking about given there are two notched styles and unless the profile picture is included in the same post as the other pictures when wanting a confirmation question about them answered.
Bob,
Sorry I didn’t think to repost it again from the (1) page to that thread,
I thought the rear of mine looked more like Scott’s C9 hinge am I missing something? Also is it possible to have my date code spread from Jan to Jun in these hinges, everything about their condition says they appear to have been installed at the same time.
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Bob,
Sorry I didn’t think to repost it again from the (1) page to that thread,
I thought the rear of mine looked more like Scott’s C9 hinge am I missing something? Also is it possible to have my date code spread from Jan to Jun in these hinges, everything about their condition says they appear to have been installed at the same time.
Admittedly hard to tell unless side by side. It looks to me to be the 68 version with the slightly shorter notch section.