Topic: Radiator Rubber Seal - 69 Dearborn

[Mark69Sportsroof]

Does anyone have pics of how the rubber radiator seal is mounted to the radiator core.  I have an aftermarket and can't figure out how to mount it properly so it's functional and looks good.

Thanks Mark

[J_Speegle]

For your 10/68 Dearborn car I would guess - does make a difference. Different plants and different time periods meant, normally , different ways of attaching

Also Mach I or non-Mach I changed things also


Hoping I guessed that correctly I offer the following (this has been discussed at length on many of the forums over the years)

First - is the radiator support in your car original to the car?   If so inspect the trailing edge of the radiator support of pairs of very small holes - staple holes. This may confirm what was originally there.

If the radiator support has been replaced or repaired you are left with going with the "norm"

From what we've been able to figure out - current understanding - during 69 Dearborn production Dearborn used a large stapler to staple the back edge (where the rubber seal is normally double thickness - top and bottom layer) to the radiator support.

http://www.concoursmustang.com/forum/gallery/4/6-220715003737.jpeg[/img]]


There is some evidence that sometimes the stapler was out of commission and the workers then relied on some electrical style clips to hold the seal in place.   


Related and semi-related prior threads

http://www.concoursmustang.com/forum/index.php?topic=10501.msg62554#msg62554


http://www.concoursmustang.com/forum/index.php?topic=1397.msg7082#msg7082

Most other treads are related to San Jose and NJ built 69's



IMHO check for evidence and make a choice from there

[Mark69Sportsroof]

Thanks Jeff.  That is what I was looking for.  It was for the 69 Sportsroof.  I have all the manuals but the pics were hard to follow.  It is the original radiator support but not holes or markings

Thanks Mark

[J_Speegle]

Thanks Jeff.  That is what I was looking for.  It was for the 69 Sportsroof.  I have all the manuals but the pics were hard to follow.  It is the original radiator support but not holes or markings

If you 100% sure the panel is original and you have confirmed it (no many original owners here on the site
IF so them its likely that yours was one that got the clips





For others the seals were not installed on all 69 Mustangs

[Mark69Sportsroof]

As always thanks for the great pics and information

Mark

[SCJSTU]

so question......I have a 69 Shelby GT350 convertible built Dearborn Jan 69.....

so is the seal stapled in the middle or on the back edge?

[Anghelrestorations]

For a Dearborn car we would expect to see staples....but the location of the staples is not the same from one car to the next.  Most common thing is to use the same holes and locations that were already there.  They were not using a template or anything accurate to punch the staples in. 

[J_Speegle]

In 69 at Dearborn you can find examples of the use of staples to secure the seal to the radiator or when we suspect that the staple fixture was not working the use of electrical clips to retain it. Will look through my collection and see what they were doing during the end of Jan 69 to give us a better insight. Will post pictures in a few hours

Until then there are a number of examples in the Unrestored Picture Threads on the site just look for 69 Dearborn or Shelby titles

There should be another thread on the subject with addition pictures. When I locate it I will likely merge this one with that thread

[J_Speegle]

so question......I have a 69 Shelby GT350 convertible built Dearborn Jan 69.....

so is the seal stapled in the middle or on the back edge?

The intent was to staple the seal at the rear edge close of on the forward most line cast into the top rear area of the seal. In that way the forward area would rise up (by form, design and air flow) and make contact with the bottom of the hood. Workers didn't always follow that direction or were very careful on placement of the staples. As always you can use the holes made originally in your original radiator as a guide in these details


Here is an unrestored example from a car finished at Dearborn in Jan 1969 Worker did a pretty nice job on the task this time- Hope this helps

[J_Speegle]

While we are revisiting the subject wanted to post just some examples to show the range and location of staples applied during 69 production at Dearborn




As we have found the stapler did not always preform as expected so at Dearborn, when this took place or when the worker did not put enough staples in the seal electrical clips were used in their place. Just appears that this was their quick fix to keep the line moving. Have dozens of unrestored cars with these. This was not typical or how things were suppose to be but it was not done on only a couple of cars either and there does not seem to be a pattern to the issue so they much have been able to repair the machine fairly quickly and were not without it for a long period of time. IMHO Sharing some examples below


Examples (top left- top right - bottom ) July 69, Dec 68, Feb 69





And a few examples where possibly the stapler apparently jambed (or something else happened) mid job or the worker missed the center seal staples and an inspector had clips (since the stapler was at another station) placed in the center to fix the possible issue