Topic: Early 66 HiPo Air Cleaner Base Date Codes

[Snydly289]

Were there any date codes other than 5A and 6A on the 65 to early 66 HiPo air cleaner bases? I am aware that the HiPo air cleaner bases were made at limited times since the HiPo was a much more limited production car compared to the non HiPo cars.

I am currently working on finding parts for a friend who is not computer savvy that has a San Jose built 66 HiPo coupe.

Engine assembly date is 5L30 (November 30th, 65), data plate date is 04M (December of 65). Would a 5A stamped air cleaner base be appropriate for his car? Or were there other date codes prior to January of 66?

[J_Speegle]

I have records of 5A and 6C for the early cars (not including 67 production cars at the moment) Of course there are the undated bases that add to the confusion.

IMHO the 5A would be the most appropriate date for the base based on the information you've provided

[sgl66]

Of course there are the undated bases that add to the confusion.

For years I thought I had one of those undated bases. When I removed the paint for a cleanup, I found a 5A lightly stamped. After, paint, it was mostly hidden again

[J_Speegle]

Yes they are pretty shallow (the stampings) much of the time suggesting that they were possibly stamped with a gang stamp and done by hand

[Snydly289]

IMHO the 5A would be the most appropriate date for the base based on the information you've provided

Thank you for the info, I myself have a spare gold 5A stamped base that will work for his car after I paint it blue. Were the bases that were made per batch with say, the 5A date stamp, painted right after they were formed and date stamped or were they formed, stamped, set off to the side and then painted as they were needed per car?

What I'm trying understand is that there would not be the possibility that his early 66 with a blue painted engine block could have come with a gold painted air cleaner base with a 5A stamp?

[Texas Swede]

Many years ago, 25+ I traded a complete set of HiPo engine mounts for a NOS air cleaner in the box.
It included everything but the HiPo decal. Never driven the car with the original burgundy filter.
The base was painted blue and was dated 6A. I traded the base for a 5A dated one with S2MS on this forum.
Texas Swede

[sgl66]

What I'm trying understand is that there would not be the possibility that his early 66 with a blue painted engine block could have come with a gold painted air cleaner base with a 5A stamp?

FWIW, my 66 engine assembled in Sept 65 came with a blue 5A base

[J_Speegle]

Thank you for the info, I myself have a spare gold 5A stamped base that will work for his car after I paint it blue. Were the bases that were made per batch with say, the 5A date stamp, painted right after they were formed and date stamped or were they formed, stamped, set off to the side and then painted as they were needed per car?

What I'm trying understand is that there would not be the possibility that his early 66 with a blue painted engine block could have come with a gold painted air cleaner base with a 5A stamp?

Nothing that I know of suggests that the air cleaners were painted by the supplier right away. Don't think Ford wanted to pay for or inventory tons of air cleaners so the supplier likely kept them and sold them (possibly at a slightly higher value if they could get it) when the orders for more came in.

Ford would not have wanted to roll out a bunch of high dollar Mustangs with mismatched air cleaners so IMHO no there is not much chance  that such a car started with a gold base  and not something I would consider doing to a car unless there was a ton (pictures from 1965 for example) of support and even then some would still consider it a mistake.

[Snydly289]

I appreciate the honest opinion, it was just a crazy thought I had late one night while gathering the date codes on the parts we have on the car so I figured I would ask away.

Thanks all for the input!