Topic: Fold down seat and trap door

[RichardM68]

Hello,

I'm sourcing some original parts to replace reproduction pieces of my fold down seat and trap door.  I have an opportunity to pick through some parts today!  I'm unsure of two things.

1. Which is the correct trim for the front "L" panel, recessed or not?  This site is somewhat contradictory.  https://web.archive.org/web/20170418182342/http://www.folddownseat.com/68ID.htm.  In one place it says "This is the recessed trim piece for front seat panel.  This was used starting in mid-68".  But right beneath that it says "For comparison, here is the 65-66 style trim (top) compared to 67-68 style trim (middle) and 69-70 style trim (bottom)".  It's referring to two different styles of trim, one is recessed, one isn't.

2. I want to confirm that my trapdoor should have 3 screws on the upper trim piece.  On this forum I read "The MPC lists two doors -- one for 67 and then a changeover to the screw-in style in Feb 68", but elsewhere I read something that makes me question that statements accuracy.

My 1968 is 8F02J166xxx  Produced in mid March 68.  I'm told that despite being a "March car", the "mid-68" changes would have been applied to the car because of the production year starting prior to Jan 1968.  I have no idea if this is true or not.  The same person said "mid year" changes would have taken place in Feb.

This is my first post on this forum.  I'm pretty active on a non-concours forum but find myself leaning toward concours where able.

Thanks in advance for your assistance.

-Richard

[J_Speegle]

First welcome Richard. Hope you find the support and information here helpful in your concours related questions and needs. And tanks for providing a partial VIN so that we don't have to ask before we can dive in.

The whole "early" "late" "mid year" is all just terms to roughly describe a period of time certain changes of features existed. Its when we get down to real build dates and to a less amount VINs or projected/warranty plate dates that we can sink our "teeth" and get down to specifics.

In a quick view of the pictures of car I've collected I can find examples of 68 Dearborn fastbacks with trap door trim with screws all the way back to the 130000's so let me look a little deeper and see what I can offer in another post

[RichardM68]

Hi. Thanks!  Of the two issues, the trap door is the one I'm more confident of, but it's great to hear that they were using screws by that VIN. It confirms my belief.  I'm curious what you'll find on the trim.  I've looked and can't find much info.

Thanks!

-Richard

[J_Speegle]

Don't ever seem to have as many pictures of ever details that I would like but since we're focusing on a specific plant and production period I hope this small sampling will help and provide some evidence and perspective


For the trap door here are two examples around your cars likely production. One just before and one just after
(Upper left) 8F1360xx  - (Lower right) 8F1723xx. Trim screws visible in both examples




As for the L shaped side trim on the fold down we have an example (upper left) from 8F1723xx and (lower right) from 8F1906xx. Since we have one without the extra latch support and one with this suggests a change in supply and design

[RichardM68]

To me, it looks like 8F1723xx does have a latch.  The bottom edge of the picture seems to capture the edge of the latch.  The shadow on the adjacent edge is puzzling because it makes it appear there isn't a latch, or possibly that it's very recessed.  I can't be certain, the pic is a bit blurry.  I don't believe any were produced a with recessed pocket but not a latch.   

Either way this is very helpful because it shows that in Dearborn, during my VIN production, the trim was recessed.  Thank you.

Also, you said "suggests a change in supply and design".  Does this mean that throughout the year there could be changes this significant that weren't planned?

Again, thank you!  This is a big help.

-Richard