ConcoursMustang Forums

1st Generation 1964 1/2 - 1973 - Questions & general discussions that apply to a specific year => 1968 Shelby => Topic started by: DTruitt on April 04, 2025, 10:41:50 AM

Title: GT350 Throttle Return Spring and Bracket
Post by: DTruitt on April 04, 2025, 10:41:50 AM

When the GT350 received the aluminum intake manifold was the throttle return spring and bracket changed or were they transferred from the J-Code iron intake?

Pictures of the return spring and brackets for both the iron intake w/ Autolite 4300 and aluminum intake with either Holley or Autolite carb would be appreciated. Unrestored examples would be preferred.

Danny

Title: Re: GT350 THROTTLE RETURN SPRING AND BRACKET
Post by: Coralsnake on April 13, 2025, 10:54:30 AM

I will try to find you some pictures. The truth is there were not a lot of factory aluminum intake GT350s.

Finding them is not easy.

I believe the same spring and bracket was used on both intakes.

http://www.thecoralsnake.com/CobraIntakes.html

Title: Re: GT350 THROTTLE RETURN SPRING AND BRACKET
Post by: Coralsnake on April 13, 2025, 11:10:04 AM

Here is an unrestored picture. I believe the spring was green. I am not sure if the bracket was plated or phosphated

(https://www.saac.com/forum/gallery/8-130425100726.jpeg)

Title: Re: GT350 THROTTLE RETURN SPRING AND BRACKET
Post by: Coralsnake on April 13, 2025, 11:11:23 AM

Here is one I restored

(https://www.saac.com/forum/gallery/8-130425100750.jpeg)

Title: Re: GT350 THROTTLE RETURN SPRING AND BRACKET
Post by: DTruitt on April 14, 2025, 05:40:15 PM

Pete,
Those are what I've seen on Mustang and Cougar J-codes. What I have found leads me to believe the brackets were cadmium plated. I checked your web sight prior to posting, but did not see the spring and bracket mentioned. 

Thanks for checking and posting pictures!

Danny

Title: Re: GT350 THROTTLE RETURN SPRING AND BRACKET
Post by: Coralsnake on April 14, 2025, 07:18:06 PM

There is no reason to believe they are different from the Mustang. Not sure the green color is accurate either.

These seem to get tampered with a lot

Title: Re: GT350 THROTTLE RETURN SPRING AND BRACKET
Post by: Bob Gaines on April 14, 2025, 08:11:03 PM

Quote from: DTruitt on April 14, 2025, 05:40:15 PM

Pete,
Those are what I've seen on Mustang and Cougar J-codes. What I have found leads me to believe the brackets were cadmium plated. I checked your web sight prior to posting, but did not see the spring and bracket mentioned. 

Thanks for checking and posting pictures!

Danny

Zinc silver and not cadmium is what i have seen.  ;)

Title: Re: GT350 THROTTLE RETURN SPRING AND BRACKET
Post by: DTruitt on April 15, 2025, 10:38:30 AM

Quote from: Bob Gaines on April 14, 2025, 08:11:03 PM

Zinc silver and not cadmium is what i have seen.  ;)

Thanks, Bob!

Title: Re: GT350 Throttle Return Spring and Bracket
Post by: J_Speegle on April 15, 2025, 04:16:38 PM

Looking through my collection of pictures from unrestored cars I think we may have a situation where there may have been two suppliers and in turn possibly two different finishes.

Color of the springs as mentioned appear to vary between two different paint color - may relate to a running change . Did not take the time to look that possibility  up in the parts books. For the pictures I did include some cars built at other plants (with the cast iron intakes) since these brackets and springs would have been installed at the engine plant and not the car plant.

Found three with the aluminum intakes. Of course the brackets we sometimes moved or rotated by owners that wanted to increase throttle pressure. You might see some possible patterns to the installation and the variances in the bracket finish as already been discussed

8T021J115xxx Bracket does not appear to have been zinc or cad IMO since it held up poorly when compared to the plated finishes right next to it on the carb. Most of the ones I found do not look plated a silver like finish though we do find both used
(https://www.concoursmustang.com/forum/gallery/21/6-150425150513-21004852.jpeg)


8T03J180xxx
(https://www.concoursmustang.com/forum/gallery/21/6-150425150504-210002204.jpeg)


8T03J192xxx
(https://www.concoursmustang.com/forum/gallery/21/6-150425150509-210021168.jpeg)


8T03J194xxx
(https://www.concoursmustang.com/forum/gallery/21/6-150425150512-210032149.jpeg)


8T02J198xxx
(https://www.concoursmustang.com/forum/gallery/21/6-150425150504-210011487.jpeg)


Other two plants and out of sequence because of that

8R01C167xxx
(https://www.concoursmustang.com/forum/gallery/20/6-150425150459-209981099.jpeg)


8F01J2167xxx
(https://www.concoursmustang.com/forum/gallery/20/6-150425150458-209981396.jpeg)



Hope this helps

Title: Re: GT350 Throttle Return Spring and Bracket
Post by: TLea on April 15, 2025, 05:22:06 PM

The brackets in Petes pictures and pics 2,4 and  6 Jeff posted (#4 is rotated backwards) are correct for J code. 289 2/4v and 302 2v used different  On the springs there were 2 as per assembly manual , Green for 4V 4 spd, blue for 4v auto however I've seen several unrestored autos with green

Title: Re: GT350 Throttle Return Spring and Bracket
Post by: J_Speegle on April 15, 2025, 05:47:51 PM

Thanks Tim. The second from the last in my picture set (8R01C167xxx) is much shorter than the others. Included for that purpose and to compare finishes.

Also thanks for the spring color confirmation. Keeps me from having to look that up  :)

Title: Re: GT350 Throttle Return Spring and Bracket
Post by: Coralsnake on April 15, 2025, 08:25:38 PM

I didnt want to go the big blocks but Ive seen phosphated production brackets. The service parts might have different finishes?

Perhaps like jeff suggested both were used?