Topic: 1970 Strut rod question

[Bob Gaines]

Confused.

I have two pairs of strut rods. One set I have just removed from the car. Whilst there were many wrong or repro parts on my car, judging by the pitting and ageing of the ones I have removed, I believe they are probably original to the (June 70 Metuchen built) car. That set does have the squished out control arm mount face but no cotter hole.

The set I am in the process of fitting are mint refurbed originals I got from JD at Allclassic. These also have the squashed out control arm mount face and also have no cotter pin hole.

More interestingly, the picture below is a shot from JDs 1970 stock page where it states that these strut rods are for all Mustangs 70-71 including Boss. Again, this would fit with what the 70 assembly manual shows.

And I trust JD implicitly and he is both a qualified Mustang judge and has never let me down in getting the correct Boss specific parts for my car. He knows his Bosses. So I suspect that this means the squished out control arm mount face is a non issue for 70 model Bosses of any type???.

So where does this and all the discussion above leave us on the cotter pin issue? I?m gunna shoot JD an email to see if he is aware of the cotter hole rods.
Martin

The regular 70 Mustang and according to the MPC 70 Boss strut rod has the wider base (squished out) but no cotter pin hole. It reads like you have the typical 70 Mustang strut rod. It is a non issue for 70 Boss because they are all the same but a issue for 69 Boss where both the wider base and the cotter pin hole are factory. I have known JD for several decades and he has knowledge about Mustangs but I am not aware of JD judging Mustangs in any National Mustang/Shelby venue.

[hopey]

You may be correct but the books have been wrong before. It doesn't surprise me that the 70 Boss strut rod was the same as the 70 Regular Mustang . The 70 regular Mustang used a bigger bearing spindle (spindle not the same as the Boss)and tie rods. Less parts for more applications.  I too am curious about the B9 application. The MPC seems to indicate it was different yet again for a total of 3 different strut rods used in 69 if you go by the MPC . The big suspension equipped 69/70 Shelby's got the same strut rod as the Boss 302. I have dissembled quite a few 69/70 Shelby's over the years that had them ,the B2 spindles and the bigger tie rods. Those odd and rare parts typically got switched out for more common regular Mustang parts not the other way around.

Marcus has beat us all to it with his research . Page 36/37

https://anghelrestorations.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/65-to-73-Suspension-Guide-v3.4_opt.pdf

[Bob Gaines]

I think the work that Marcus did on his article was well researched and totally satisfies me at least on the subject. Marcus article indicates that the Ford MPC is wrong in that it reads that the 69 Boss 302 uses the C9ZZ-3468-C+D when in fact it the 69 "Boss cars" (I take that as Boss 429 too) used C9ZZ-3468-A+B. Another example of the MPC not being always absolute.

[hopey]

I think the work that Marcus did on his article was well researched and totally satisfies me at least on the subject. Marcus article indicates that the Ford MPC is wrong in that it reads that the 69 Boss 302 uses the C9ZZ-3468-C+D when in fact it the 69 "Boss cars" (I take that as Boss 429 too) used C9ZZ-3468-A+B. Another example of the MPC not being always absolute.

It is not wrong it just lists the over the counter replacement part not the factory installed part. By Oct 1969 the replacement part for the 69 B302 was the newer part revision. Interestingly it still calls out the A&B revision for the 69 B429 and does not list the 70B429. I guess all that extra weight over the F60-15 needed the squish??.? Or KK was still evaluating the newer part?

EDIT. I checked with David Davis and he tells me that the 70 B429 basically used the 70 strut rod design with the reinforcement but it also had the castle nut and cotter pin.

[Bob Gaines]

It is not wrong it just lists the over the counter replacement part not the factory installed part. By Oct 1969 the replacement part for the 69 B302 was the newer part revision. Interestingly it still calls out the A&B revision for the 69 B429 and does not list the 70B429. I guess all that extra weight over the F60-15 needed the squish??.? Or KK was still evaluating the newer part?

EDIT. I have been reliably informed that the 70 B429 basically used the 70 strut rod design with the reinforcement but it also had the castle nut and cotter pin. Not sure what the part number is.

What you are describing is the 69 Boss strut rod.

[hopey]

Bob, I cannot comment or add anything further I asked David if it was the 69 version and he said it no was basically the 70 version modified as described. I would have to defer to him, Marcus, Ed Mayer or other B429 suspension expert. My focus is the 69/70 regular production but I am trying to educate myself on the specials- Eg 69 Shelby and 69/70 KK builds.

[HDAshmore]

The Marcus article was a huge help and very informative.

I should of looked in the library from the start.

Thanks all.

Dan

[jwc66k]

I think the work that Marcus did on his article was well researched and totally satisfies me at least on the subject. Marcus article indicates that the Ford MPC is wrong in that it reads that the 69 Boss 302 uses the C9ZZ-3468-C+D when in fact it the 69 "Boss cars" (I take that as Boss 429 too) used C9ZZ-3468-A+B. Another example of the MPC not being always absolute.

Remember that the "MPC" is for replacement parts at dealerships and not "always" what was assembly line installed.
Jim

[Bob Gaines]

Remember that the "MPC" is for replacement parts at dealerships and not "always" what was assembly line installed.
Jim

Remember also that the MPC does not let you know which part has been superseded or not and which is not like assemblyline. Practical knowledge and observation of original examples goes hand in hand with using the MPC to maximize results. Bob

[69bossnut]

Guys to make it simple, 69 had a big suspension and a little suspension. The big suspension use the extra area reinforced strut rod with a castellated nut & cotter pin at the end. This would be 69 boss 302, boss 429 & some Shelby?s after something like around April would?ve got the heavy duty big suspension in 70 all mustangs went to that reinforced style strut rod but it did not have the casted nut with a Cotter pin.

[hopey]

Thanks David!