Topic: Core Support Markings

[ruppstang]

I am lucky to have found these marks. The guy that was media blasting the car found these marks on the core support under several layers of black paint. Anyone have any idea what they are and what they mean? Lastly was this paint or a crayon marker? My car is a SJ 68 High Country Special -T code paint and C code engine. Marty

[CharlesTurner]

Hard to tell without bigger pics.

[J_Speegle]

#1 - normally we see very little markings that year and plant to the front cross member on standard engine cars (J or C codes) on the passenger side I've seen three different markings in the general area your shows. Picture you provided are a little difficult to make out - what do you make of the shape, letter(s) or number


#2 - guessing this is the drivers side of the radiator support. Normally the wax does not spread as far as yours did (under the black paint) but (one example I have)  in the left had impression also has a number but nothing to the outside like your example

[ruppstang]

I am not the greatest with the computer. I am trying to figure out how to post the pictures larger. I have my son in law working with a program to clean up the images a bit. I will post more latter. Marty

[ruppstang]

OK is these better? They added a yellow filter but I still can not tell what that one mark is. Possibly a 51 in the circle? That was car's DSO. Also were the marks wax marker or paint pen? Marty

[J_Speegle]

OK is these better? They added a yellow filter but I still can not tell what that one mark is. Possibly a 51 in the circle?...........

The cross member one first - odd shape, not seen before unless the writer was really off on your car. Have examples of "P/S", nothing or "B" in that location on 68 San Jose cars. One example of an "E" but its likely a spelling error again

For the other I've not seen another like it (circled something)  under the paint. DSO would mean nothing to the body guys in the first half of the build before the paint so don't think that will end up true. Might just be one of those marks that was only placed on your car and none others. But sire since you've shown it here we'll see it again somewhere at a show :0

Do have a couple (1408xx range) with a later added number to the passenger side of this marks location. Have not found a connection for that one at this point but only a couple cars out of thousands of unrestored 68 SJ cars I've seen so far

............Also were the marks wax marker or paint pen?

Permanent wax markers. On the bare metal you can tell how they grew (like an old tattoo) against the metal and making the paint applied over some (ones applied before the black) not stick well - resulting often in surface rust in some areas

[ruppstang]

For the other I've not seen another like it (circled something)  under the paint. DSO would mean nothing to the body guys in the first half of the build before the paint so don't think that will end up true. Might just be one of those marks that was only placed on your car and none others. But sire since you've shown it here we'll see it again somewhere at a show :0

 I put the marks on the car today and was thinking about 51 DSO mark. It makes a bit of sense in that the HCS body was not drilled for the Calaforina Special script may be the reason for the DSO. As I understand these cars were built in batches may account for the #9 before the 51 DSO.
I was looking at the pictures of my dads GTCS project pictures and found the same mark on the lower frame.
Marty

 

[J_Speegle]

Shape looks like its different from the one you posted earlier. This last one looks more like the "B"  that we've seen before.
Vins I have record of relate to the 160000 range. We also see PS in the same location during the first half of the year (have a couple of E's and one S/C - not sure how they relate) so they might have replaced one with the other for a period of time (P/S for B). Time will tell as we collect more info


For the possible DSO  of course being on top of the black it likely related to drivetrain or interior rather than body and trim -so the hole drilling might not relate to the other one

[Oz390]

My 68 S Gt coupe, San Jose Dec build had an SD on the apron, and PS (left side) and X Middle just right of center bolt hole) on the front cross member.

[J_Speegle]

My 68 S Gt coupe, San Jose Dec build had an SD on the apron, and PS (left side) and X Middle just right of center bolt hole) on the front cross member.

The use of PS on a Dec matches the pattern I've seen. The X is not one I've often seen on a 68 San Jose. It might be a poorly written "F" like we see in 69 at that location though haven't really seen the "F" used in 69 that I can recall. The belief (in 69) was that the "F" indicated to the line workers from the front view of the car that the car was a Mustang (Ford line code F) and not a Cougar which was built on the same line since they look almost exactly like each other at many points during constuction

Thanks for sharing