Topic: double spare tire holddown bracket

[turtledriver]

Here's another view of the brackets.  The one on the bottom has a notch in it when it was formed, making it a different part number from the top one which we all know well.  If it was simply a duplicate of the top one put in the wrong location why is it not the same bracket?

[jwc66k]

It keeps the beer cooler in your trunk from sliding when you hook a strap to it.
Jim

[RoyceP]

Looks like it is made so the J - hook can be installed vertically in either one. Interesting.

Here's another view of the brackets.  The one on the bottom has a notch in it when it was formed, making it a different part number from the top one which we all know well.  If it was simply a duplicate of the top one put in the wrong location why is it not the same bracket?

[J_Speegle]

Additionally the lower bracket is a little different than the top one in that it has a notch cut out.  Its a different part number not just a duplicate.

Hos did you come to that conclusion since the parts are not marked with an identification engineering number? And extra details would not automatically make it a different part number- tons of examples of that during the 60's

Here's another view of the brackets.  The one on the bottom has a notch in it when it was formed, making it a different part number from the top one which we all know well. If it was simply a duplicate of the top one put in the wrong location why is it not the same bracket?

As mentioned in reply #12 if the first one was a mistake installed during the bucking process or early station in the build and the other the correct or repair at a later station by a different worker then both stations could have bins with parts from different stamping plants or from a different form/machine and the reason for slightly different designs

Based on all the examples so far the issue was discovered and corrected prior to paint during the first "half" of the build and not addressed midway when the cars were waiting to be finished unlike some other mistakes and corrections we've seen over the years

Pretty simple if you understand the process

[J_Speegle]

And another example of the mistake made by some San Jose worker during 65 production. Only one from there that year I can remember seeing

[Bob Gaines]

A mistake like that would not need to be corrected. It would be left alone because it would not cause a problem. When noticed during the assembly process another one would be installed in the proper location and sent on.

[turtledriver]

Let?s assume the brackets are the same part number and different stamping plants had slightly different designs.  If that were the case these brackets would be mixed up and we would see notched versions on the top side.  Have you ever seen a notched version on the top?  The convertible documented in reply #8 also  shows the notch on the lower but not on the top same as mine.  This car was made in San Jose on Oct 7 1965.  Mine was made in Dearborn on oct 13 1965.  So we have two different workers, in two different plants on two different days making the exact same mistake in the exact same way with the exact combination of random brackets oriented in the exactly same manner in the exact same place.  It?s like either hitting the mistake lottery or something told them to do it like this.   When you see a ?mistake? repeated over and over at two different plants at two different times with two different sets of workers does it not make you question was it really a mistake?

[ChrisV289]

+1   

It was Tony Kovar who suggested that. He seems to say it?s been covered before when I asked him to give his opinion on here

[PraireBronze]

Would it be plausible that another model (Falcon? Comet?) had the bracket there and the assembly line worker just had a brain fart thinking he was working on a different model?

[J_Speegle]

Let?s assume the brackets are the same part number and different stamping plants had slightly different designs.  If that were the case these brackets would be mixed up and we would see notched versions on the top side.  Have you ever seen a notched version on the top?

Honestly have not looked for a spare tire bracket with a "notch in the edge" Looks like a that may have been designed for a different application, possibly made to be in the reverse so that the hook stays centered and the bracket mounted on its side as attached in the examples. If this is the case then this  suggests a different non-Mustang application, another mistake, as PraireBronze posted. If so then it  would have a different part number. All you need do now is to look at other models built on the same line or another in the building to see where someone screwed up.

............... When you see a ?mistake? repeated over and over at two different plants at two different times with two different sets of workers does it not make you question was it really a mistake?

Yes when you see tens of thousands or more without the same mistake. If its not a mistake why were not all the cars built with two retainers?

Can offer many other mistakes that were repeated at different plants by different workers so this is not the first or last one.  In everyday life we see different people making the same mistake every day in the news. Same thing.

Not sure that the discussion is going anywhere at this point

[turtledriver]

Not sure that the discussion is going anywhere at this point

That is true...  I appreciate everyone's help.  Just very curious.  I'm leaving it in place for sure.  I like my restorations to be factory correct.  These cars are like time machines and the closer they are to when they were new the better the time machine, mistakes and all.  Maybe someone in the future will know for sure why its the way it is.