Topic: Very Early 1968 j code heads??

[Hipo giddyup]

Just ran across a great deal yesterday from the local Craigslist. A set of original 1968 J code heads. The seller wanted $50 so I couldn't resist!! When I got there and inspected them I was shocked and surprised that they were not only original and untouched but they had a date code of 7 G 26! If I'm thinking correctly this would be July 26th 1967?? Does anyone think this is an early date for 302 4v production?? Not sure when the first 68 was built but to add to this story the seller states that his buddy's car, that the heads came out of, is a very early 1968 J code convertible. In fact, he told me that his vin is 100004!. Really cool if this checks out to be true. Seems that the owner of the car pulled the tired motor some time ago to replace it with a 351W. I am now in the process to see if he will part with the block and intake. Let me know if anyone thinks this is an early J code and possibly the 4th Mustang of the 1968 model year?? The seller thought that the car would have been used for promotions or even the show circuit being such a low number but does not know of the cars full history. I'll post some pics of the 4v heads tonight..

[Bob Gaines]

Just ran across a great deal yesterday from the local Craigslist. A set of original 1968 J code heads. The seller wanted $50 so I couldn't resist!! When I got there and inspected them I was shocked and surprised that they were not only original and untouched but they had a date code of 7 G 26! If I'm thinking correctly this would be July 26th 1967?? Does anyone think this is an early date for 302 4v production?? Not sure when the first 68 was built but to add to this story the seller states that his buddy's car, that the heads came out of, is a very early 1968 J code convertible. In fact, he told me that his vin is 100004!. Really cool if this checks out to be true. Seems that the owner of the car pulled the tired motor some time ago to replace it with a 351W. I am now in the process to see if he will part with the block and intake. Let me know if anyone thinks this is an early J code and possibly the 4th Mustang of the 1968 model year?? The seller thought that the car would have been used for promotions or even the show circuit being such a low number but does not know of the cars full history. I'll post some pics of the 4v heads tonight..

The 4 speed J code heads are in the most demand. They have the smog ports .You didn't say but if yours has the smog ports but if they do then you really scored. If they don't they were still a good buy but a lot more common.

[sportyworty]

Just ran across a great deal yesterday from the local Craigslist. A set of original 1968 J code heads. The seller wanted $50 so I couldn't resist!! When I got there and inspected them I was shocked and surprised that they were not only original and untouched but they had a date code of 7 G 26! If I'm thinking correctly this would be July 26th 1967?? Does anyone think this is an early date for 302 4v production?? Not sure when the first 68 was built but to add to this story the seller states that his buddy's car, that the heads came out of, is a very early 1968 J code convertible. In fact, he told me that his vin is 100004!. Really cool if this checks out to be true. Seems that the owner of the car pulled the tired motor some time ago to replace it with a 351W. I am now in the process to see if he will part with the block and intake. Let me know if anyone thinks this is an early J code and possibly the 4th Mustang of the 1968 model year?? The seller thought that the car would have been used for promotions or even the show circuit being such a low number but does not know of the cars full history. I'll post some pics of the 4v heads tonight..

04G cars  are typically Promo introductory show units and first day production. I would expect 10004 to be one of them.  If that was the case the  26G heads would not be original to the car. Like Bob said the 4V head with out ports being automatic is relatively common and worth about 300-400. Because of the strike July J Heads can be found on early post strike Nov cars.

[Hipo giddyup]

Thanks for the response and info guys. I do not see the smog ports and I do not know what the DSO of the car would be. Not even sure what tranny was in the car, my guess is that it was an automatic or he probably would have said a 4 spd car. Can't confirm the fourth mustang of the line but it would be neat to check it out and it's options. If he has the block and intake maybe I can see the car? After a quick clean up the dates are 7/29 and 7/31.   Either way I'm glad the heads were $50! :-)

[Hipo giddyup]

One more shot...

[J_Speegle]

Thanks for the response and info guys. I do not see the smog ports and I do not know what the DSO of the car would be.

In 68 DSO had nothing to do with emission requirements and applications as long as it was for domestic delivery. The ports are most notable on the the face of the head with the exhaust ports

[sportyworty]

These are the smog tube ports on the closed emission 68 4V heads.
Sorry pic posted upside down but you can see the holes in the lower right corner of each exhaust port

[sportyworty]

Ok when you click on pic to enlarge it shows right side up
Perhaps my phone

[Hipo giddyup]

Okay, so the ports were used on 4 v 4 sPd cars?? So if this car was to have been sołd here on the east coast and was a manual shft, they would have been plugged? Just trying to understand what Bob had stated earlier about the 4 spd port heads are worth the most and the dso had nothing to do with them coming with ports?? Sorry just confused.

[sportyworty]

4 speed  J code cars had smog tubes screwed into the heads. This is how any US sold  manual transmission J code car was delivered. Automatics were not machined to accept the tubes so no holes are present.
Hope that will answer you questions without getting into the export and plug thing

[67gtasanjose]

Okay, so the ports were used on 4 v 4 sPd cars?? So if this car was to have been sołd here on the east coast and was a manual shft, they would have been plugged? Just trying to understand what Bob had stated earlier about the 4 spd port heads are worth the most and the dso had nothing to do with them coming with ports?? Sorry just confused.

My understand has been that all 1968 J-code 4-speed cars, nationwide were originally equipped with the thermactor system and would have all come delivered with a smog pump system, therefore needing the tubes (holes in the heads). These heads look to be AUTOMATIC trans heads (much more common).

I'm still curious in this thread about the "Early Production" number (first, that should be confirmed IMHO) If it was a "show car" for Ford usage, wouldn't the car's DSO indicate this too somehow? To me, the answer as to if these heads were original to THAT particular car or if it were possibly a 4-speed car will remain unanswered without info from the data tag of the donor of these heads. Otherwise if it is or was a regular production car, these heads, by all current understanding, are NOT at all from a 4-speed J-code car, given the common knowledge of 68 production line 4-speed J-code Mustangs being delivered with Thermactor systems.
Show circuit cars wouldn't have necessarily followed the production line rules, correct?

Images of the J-code Thermactor system from Mustangtek:
http://www.mustangtek.com/Fordparts/68JcodeSmogSetup.html


Richard

[Hipo giddyup]

A text was left with this gentleman but I can't do much more than that. After all I don't really know him and only spoke with him for about 1/2 hour. He did have some knowledge of these cars so I was puzzled he sold the heads so cheap. Even though they sound common they still seemed cheap to me. If his friend isn't into selling the other parts from this motor maybe this guy could snap a pic of his door tag for my interest. Hopefully I'll reply with some good news soon. Thanks again for all the info, I've learned alot about the heads and the 302 4 v production.

[TLea]

It's not uncommon for  nov/early dec cars to have July 67 parts. My dec 1 car has lot of July August  dates

[krelboyne]

I know it is a given, but just to be sure for future viewers to this thread:
Domestic 1968 J code (302-4V engines) with 3 or 4 speed manual transmissions all received the thermactor drilled cylinder heads.

And for those that are unaware, the exhaust manifolds also had 4 small reliefs machined in them for additional clearance on those thermactor tubes.