Topic: Correct bolts for July '65 shock tower braces

[meltdwn65GT]

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[CharlesTurner]

Metuchen car?  The bolts in the pic are not original.

[CharlesTurner]

A good July '65 Dearborn reference I have has star washer bolts with an anchor symbol in the middle.  Don't believe these are reproduced.  If you remove the replacement bolts on the car, you should be able to see an impression.  Look for tic marks left by a star washer.

[Ivygreen65]

My late June 65 Dearborn convertible has different bolts on the top when compared to the sides.  The 2 bolts on top have the = = head marking and a round, toothed washer (similar to your photo).  The 6 side bolts (3 on each side) have the anchor head marking and star washers.  I cleaned sound deadener off of the wheel well side of all of them when I restored the car, so I'm pretty sure they are original.

[jwc66k]

In general, 1965 Mustangs used an external tooth lock washer type bolt for fenders and spring shields (officially the upper A arm bumper brackets) attachment. The fender bolts were 5/16-18X7/8 long, the spring shields were 5/16-18X1.0 long. All should be the external tooth type as seen in the one on the fender. The disc type with teeth at the edge were "phased" into production in 1966 where a mix of both type were found in early 66 cars. Smooth disc were not used until 1968. It is possible that the toothed disc type was used in Dearborn in July, I'll let Jeff chime in. All those bolts were phosphate and oil, no cad or zinc finish. I see you have the "nut on the inside option" too.
Incidentally, the nuts and carriage bolts used for the shock tower should be cad or zinc.
Jim   

[J_Speegle]

All I have to offer from that time period and plant

First example is possibly the same car as Charles is referring to

[CharlesTurner]

Yes, aqua car is the low mile original, July '65 Dearborn.  Have a bunch of pics of that one, which you probably do too.

[Ivygreen65]

Did you remove the replacement bolts to see what washer pattern was imprinted into the sheetmetal?  If you originally had star washers in that particular location, the sheet metal will be imprinted accordingly.  That was another clue that my round toothed == washer bolts were original - the tooth impressions.

[rodster]

For what it's worth, my 'projected'  April 19th 65 Dearborn car has star washer bolts with a recessed SEMS marking (very difficult to see) and fender bolts are anchor.