Topic: 65 mustang trunk floor ridge detail

[Markstang65]

Hello, I am putting trunk floors in my mustang and noticed one has a reinforcement ridge under the bumper bracket and one doesn't. Was this a year specific thing like the spare tire hold-down bracket or a model thing?
Also the trunk floor (early 65 Buffalo stamp) without the ridge was a thinner gauge (20) metal vs. the other (18/19 gauge). Did they put thinner less rigid materials on 6 cylinders?

[J_Speegle]

Hello, I am putting trunk floors in my mustang and noticed one has a reinforcement ridge under the bumper bracket and one doesn't. Was this a year specific thing like the spare tire hold-down bracket or a model thing?
Also the trunk floor (early 65 Buffalo stamp) without the ridge was a thinner gauge (20) metal vs. the other (18/19 gauge). Did they put thinner less rigid materials on 6 cylinders?

First welcome to the site - hope you find the information helpful with your restoration projects

A few questions to fill in the gaps before some answers we hope

Given the picture I guess your asking about a coupe or convertible. Care to let us know when and where your car was built so we can focus on your particular plant and time period?

No the panels were the same for 6 cylinders and V8 in this case.

You wrote "reinforcement ridge under the bumper bracket" and the picture does not show it clearly, are you referrign to a ridge around the rear bumper bracket or under as you wrote?

[Markstang65]

Sure thanks!...it's a July 65 Dearborn Fastback C code. It was a wreck with home-made sheet metal trunk when I got it so I have no idea what was in it originally. I have found a pair of salvaged trunk floors for it but they do not match. I was referring  to that ridge that is stamped upwards and wraps around the bumper bracket. I assumed it was structural. So I don't know what way to go with these...just want them matching. Most pictures on the Internet seem to show the ridge stamping to be correct but I have seen both styles I guess. But if there is no pattern to their use...I can more easily cut the ridge out and weld in some flat metal on the one side.

[jwc66k]

Here are copies of a couple of pages of Ford drawings that may answer your question.
You should get a set for your car's year, available from most Mustang parts suppliers. You will need the 64 1/2-65 Chassis and 64 1/2-65 Weld and Sealant (where the drawings are located) to complete your set.
Jim

[J_Speegle]

Sure thanks!...it's a July 65 Dearborn Fastback C code. ............

Thanks for the information might want to put in your signature because your going to need to include it or it will be asked for allot when you ask questions

The ribs or ridges were a running design feature for all three body types, changed during spring at all the plants. Both styles were used for some reason  for a fair amount of time - not unusual to see one of each on a car for a period of time. Given when your car may have been built and the fact that the trunk floors have already been replaced before  I would choose (based on what I know at this time) go with both with the ridges

[Markstang65]

Ok perfect! That is the answer I have been looking for. So basically around spring of 65 they were switching over. I will have to either find another floor or patch in a ridge I guess. I am trying to do an accurate representation with all salvaged or NOS parts. Thanks much!

[Markstang65]

Gosh...I really hate to hack up this nice original trunk floor though just to get them ridges!

[J_Speegle]

Gosh...I really hate to hack up this nice original trunk floor though just to get them ridges!

I'm confused here. In a prior post you wrote

It was a wreck with home-made sheet metal trunk when I got it so I have no idea what was in it originally.

now your reporting that these are original trunk floors    Which is it?

[Markstang65]

The car had essentially no floors remaining when I got it. They were repaired very crudely with sheet metal and about 15 pounds of boogered up braze.  So nothing really left of the original ones in that far back area to see what was installed from the factory. I was able to purchase replacement floors that were cut out of two different 65 cars (unknown models) but they do not match as discussed previously in regards to that ridge detail. These replacement cut-outs are both actually in good condition but as you know don't match. I am deciding if it is worth it at this point to put them in the car mis-matched, or modify the one by carefully welding in the ridge portion from a repop or from another original perhaps...if I can find one. The two would then match; both having ridges. As I previously commented, and where you may have been confused is that I kinda hate to cut up a nice original floor like that(referring to the replacement without the ridge laying outside the car on the garage floor). I guess my question was answered already- being a July car you would expect to see that ridged floor. Hope that makes sense...I don't know how to explain it any better. Thanks

[J_Speegle]

Thanks understand now