Topic: Hood Date Stamp ?

[Brian Conway]

     This is the hood on my May 65 SJ car.  The only date stamp I can find is at the lower left are there other locations ?  Can't really make out the stamp.  It appears to be 31 * A.  The A is upside down and the 31 * is my best guess.  Pretty sure it is the OE hood but may be also be a service replacement.  Thanks for any help.  Brian 

[mgmradio]

Brian, that's probably a later service replacement hood. It has the latter 66 divots that go though the front channel.

[aaatp]

Definatley a 66 style hood

John

[Brian Conway]

     Thanks guys.  The car was not mine at the time but I do vaguely remember a story that ended with a replacement hood.  This was back in my adolescent years and before aftermarket parts.  Brian

[Brian Conway]

A picture better reveals the date stamp on this hood.  Looks to be 65 A with a dot in front of the 65 ?  So by the usual method decodes as January 65 ?  Brian

Actually, that date format does not signify year/month like a typical assembly line piece.  This A 65 "date stamp" is found on Ford replacement parts, the ones made much later after production ended.  Ford was still selling replacement hoods for Mustangs into the late 90's, early 2000's, if I remember correctly.

So, basically, the codes does not translate to anything other than identifying the piece as a later Ford replacement.  It technically would not be concours-correct.

[NEFaurora]

"Definately a 66 style hood."

+1 to that.

[CharlesTurner]

Actually, that date format does not signify day/month/plant like a typical assembly line piece.  This A 65 "date stamp" is found on Ford replacement parts, the ones made much later after production ended.  Ford was still selling replacement hoods for Mustangs into the late 90's, early 2000's, if I remember correctly.

So, basically, the codes do not translate to anything other than identifying the piece as a later Ford replacement.  It technically would not be concours-correct.

[Brian Conway]

Thank you.  That is a reasonable explanation.  The dot in the hood stamping probably had a understood meaning at one time.  Brian

[CharlesTurner]

Should make it clear that I was only referring to service replacement sheet metal in noting it's seen on Ford parts.

My personal opinion on this would be that it was changed either due to a change in manufacturer of the replacement parts or possibly changed during a re-work of the original tooling (from wear).