Topic: 68 Convertible Undercariage Detailing Questions

[GNovarro]

My 68 got new rails, torque boxes, etc. and I'm trying to detail it as close as possible to original.
The undercarriage is done in red primer and I don't want to get points deducted due to all the welding work.
I tried to find an unrestored or thoroughbred 68 convertible to see what my torque boxes and seat pan holes (for emergency brake cable) should look like but had no luck finding one. The weld & sealant assembly manual doesn't have specific details for a 76A.

What should the torque box welds look like and how should they be "dressed"?
What should the seat pan holes for the Emerg. cable look like.
I also found some covered holes in the back seat area that I did not change that might be original. Can someone confirm whether these are original?   

See attached pdf for photos and thanks for your time.

[68 S Code]

What do you mean by "covered holes in the back seat area"? How big, where, what kind of cover?

[TLea]

hard to explain exactly. i will have my car on a lift next week and can take pictures. not sure what you mean by holes, i see what appears to be weld dimples. only other holes i can think of in that area are for resonator hangers. those are 2 -3/8" holes 1 1/2" apart with a sheet metal screw size hole between them

[68 S Code]

Tim, he didn't mention whether this was a dual exhaust car or a single exhaust. Did single exhaust cars still have a resonator? I agree that dual exhaust cars would have holes for the hanger in the rear bulkhead as it starts to curve upward from the floor pan below the rear seat bottom. Single exhaust cars in my experience do not. In a small block car I remember the two threaded holes in the RH frame rail further back. Are those holes in the frame on all cars.

[GNovarro]

This 68 was originally a single exhaust 289 (still is).  The hanger for the muffler ataches to a frame section, no resonator that I know of.
Yes its the weld dimple area, 2 indented holes and 2 weld lumps which is located just above the hole for the backrest holdown screws and to the right of the "seat belt bolt bong" . See attached jpg picture of the same thing but on the drivers side

[J_Speegle]

Guess (as usual) we should know what factory and plant your car was built at so that we can provide the best info on what those workers at that plant were doing that particular period.

[68 S Code]

Any chance someone added dual exhaust in the past and they drilled some holes for hangers?

[GNovarro]

The subject car was a January 1968 build -  Metuchen car.  Can someone out there provide some guidance on how I should finish off the welding work done on the torque boxes and the configuration of the seat pan holes for the emergency brake cables? Maybe provide pictures of an unrestored convertible for guidance?  The torque boxes and seat pans are more visible and easier for a judge to see than the weld dimples so it looks like I need to concentrate on those areas instead of the "dimples".

Thanks

[J_Speegle]

Here are some to start






Restored (things incorrect) but welds look original

[GNovarro]

Thanks J. Speegle for great photos - from an unrestored car.
Looking at the photos it seems like Ford did not put anything (sealer) under the seat pan flanges or has it vaporized over the years?   
I will use the photos to correct the flanges on my seat pans where the Emerg. cable exits they need to be corrected.

Can you post a picture of a rear torque box? 

[TLea]

No sealer around seat pan reinforcements except along back of inner rocker. I took some pics of my Dec NJ vert yesterday on the lift, I'll upload later today. Its restored but I think  you'll find its fairly technically correct.

[TLea]

As promised,
torque box




E brake cable


Area of extra holes/dimples