ConcoursMustang Forums
Restoring - General discussions that span across many different groups of years and models => Drivetrain => Topic started by: Anghelrestorations on March 08, 2021, 12:21:13 PM
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Im working on an article now on detailing a Toploader - focusing on the 70-73 versions with the Hurst shifters and linkage. May expand this into other years as time permits.
If anyone has photos of the original paint and inspection markings or details let me know...especially unrestored cars. I have several photos but may want to add some more.......
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At the moment I don't know how many for the 70-73 variety I have but in total have somewhere around 1,000-2,000 examples of manual transmission markings. As you know have been making and providing the stamps for many of the top loaders that I've provided to the Boss and 428 CJ Registries for their forum members. Don't have allot of 71-3 examples for some reasons must just be due to the limited number of those cars owned and restored compared to others.
Think communicating the somewhat randomness of some of the bottom and passenger side markings will be a challenge and have not see allot of marks or variations of markings on the Hurst shifters.
Was looking into (on the list) of doing something similar except not specifically on the years you mentioned as I work to add to the other paint marking articles already published. Lets see what I may be able to help out with
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I have an NOS service part Toploader wrapped up in plastic on the shelf for a 428CJ RUG-AE2. It was stored unboxed in a garage for 25 years before I got it. It has some rust staining as should be expected from the northeast weather here but it has never been used. I did replace the front bearing retainer because the previous owner took the one off of this transmission for his Torino when he was in a pinch. I did acquire an NOS one after years of searching but it is a service part which is painted. Willing to take the plastic off and take some pictures if you need. Again it is a service part with no drain plug so it was most likely assembled in 1970 or later.
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K-Hess - Yes, would be good to see what you have as I have some theories as to the markings you will see. We dont get to see an NOS piece like that every day....that sort of information would interest alot of people Im sure. Let us know what you can do.
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I took advantage of the great weather were having here in the northeast and I got the transmission out in the sunlight for the first time in nearly 20 years.
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More pics
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I gave it a good soaking with WD40 and took some more shots
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Also got a couple of paint marks on the inside too
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Thanks - look pretty close to many others I've got pictures of. Other NOS examples are all in crates so impossible to see details on those.
Any indication on the crate when the item was boxed or shipped?
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No information on what year it was originally purchased. I purchased it from the original buyer in the 90's.
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Great set of photos here. That is pretty much what I expected. As much as there is variations in the markings from one to the next there is also some things that are generally the same. The ink stamping of the case (GAE) and the numbered inspection stamp by the levers. The graffiti on the bottom of the case varies quite a bit from the examples I have.
Thanks for posting the photos.
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Are you going to attempt to make sense of the RUG AE2 019507 sequence number ? Brian
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Are you going to attempt to make sense of the RUG AE2 019507 sequence number ? Brian
That is just the "serial" or identification number. Everything I've seen and read suggest there is no coding going on there. Start at a low number - and work up from there
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Yep...I agree with Jeff here. Just like the VIN numbers the transmissions numbers are the same. The first few letters/number are good for identification but the rest are just a sequence.
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428SCJ / 4-speed. Build date: Oct 6th, 1969
Transmission;
- Rivet Tag: RUG AZ 010632
- Case Date: F3-9 (June 3rd, 1969)
- Case PN: C8AR 7006-D W 2
- Tail Date: F3-9 (June 3rd, 1969)
- Tail PN: D0ZR-7A040-A W 2
- VIN stamp is present on top lip at bellhousing mount
Paint marks include: "G14" written on pass side (possibly July 14 assembly date?), "Hxx" in pink on bottom (possibly Aug xx assembly date?), "10" written on pass side, "GAZ" written on top cover, "2" stamp on drv side, "GAZ" stamp on bottom.
Here is my transmission pics album on Imgur. Let me know if you have problems viewing it.
https://imgur.com/a/Btadx/all/
Here are a few sample images;
(https://i.imgur.com/4Al8xE8l.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/to1Nt7ol.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/kbKPfJKl.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/M7CJfz6l.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/3Xb0Rowl.jpg)
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Thanks Mike added the pictures to my collection and the data to my article as well as spreadsheet
Top cover markings appears to be a possible car plant or a specific worker thing since many don't have those so far in my pictures
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Mike...thanks for the photos and posting them here. Sending you a separate message on this.
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Im looking now at the drain plugs on the bottom of the toploader transmissions. I think as a general rule we can say that the drain plugs were eliminated at some point into 1969 production and 1970 Mustangs would not have a drain plug in the bottom. If anyone has seen something different let me know.
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Adding a photo here for a visual.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51122036661_7ef8f48377_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2kTtNrc)2021-04-16_23-25-30 (https://flic.kr/p/2kTtNrc) by Marcus Anghel (https://www.flickr.com/photos/154714213@N02/), on Flickr
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I have a Toploader transmission from a 1969 Mustang 390 with tag code RUG-M3 that is original and unrestored. It does not have a drain plug. The date code on the front case is D119 and the best I can tell the tailhousing has a date code of C20. Unfortunately the transmission has one of those poor stampings from Metuchen with only part of the vin 9T0 being legible so no way to track the original car to verify the actual install date. If we assume the tag on the side started with a production number of 10001 as some have suggested and counted up from there it would seem odd that this transmission would have such a low production number of 4272 and not have a drain plug but on the other hand the later date on the case of April 1969 would presumably be a reasonable casting date for a transmission to have been used in the transition. I check inside the case and it does have a magnet glued in place so it's not something that got missed during production. One other note-I also have a Toploader out of a 1969 Torino/Fairlane RUG-AJ without a drain plug and the front case has a date code of B69. The tin tag has a production number of 018709. The vin number stamped in the top right ear is 9A249770. Both transmissions have the C8AR-7006-D W1 case.
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Thanks for posting
I have a Toploader transmission from a 1969 Mustang 390 with tag code RUG-M3 that is original and unrestored. ................... If we assume the tag on the side started with a production number of 10001 as some have suggested and counted up from there it would seem odd that this transmission would have such a low production number of 4272 ...................
Believe you meant to type 014272
Believe that the serial number might have placed it about mid year or a little later looking at other examples produced in 69. Possibly Feb production.
Does that match the cars real build date?
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Actually what I am most interested in is the casting date of the toploader case as that gives us an exact period of when it was made as related to the drain plugs or no drain plugs. The D119 that is cast into the case translates into April 11 1969.
As another example, I have a case here cast with an A120 which make it a Jan 12 1970 date. Its stamped with the VIN and matches the car which was built middle of June 1970. Big gap between cast date and assembly of the car but as I am expecting no drain plug.
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Jeff I don't know anything about the original car I just have the transmission and with the poor vin stamping there is no way to find the original car.
The RUG-AJ Toploader I have has a B69 date which is the earliest date that I've seen so far without the drain plug. I also have an E189 dated case without a drain plug but this one could possibly be a very early 1970 production part having a mid May date. It does not have a tag or a vin number stamping.
Marcus I'm curious the case that you have with the A120 date was it a close or wide ratio and which plant was the car built at?
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Jeff I don't know anything about the original car I just have the transmission and with the poor vin stamping there is no way to find the original car.
Looks like we have pictures from two different cars/transmissions
The one Vin is clear but for the other as you say its not clear. Both AJ's at least?
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Jeff the second one has no tag and no vin number. There is no paint stamping either so it's unknown