Topic: 65 ac bezel

[Mstang]

Picking up my re chromed ac bezel tomorrow, would like to know what the the factory used for screws, as the saying goes anything worth doing is worth doing concourse. Thanks

[J_Speegle]

Could only find decent close ups of 1966 examples

Can report that they are at least phillips head slightly domed heads from what I'm seeing on the 65's. Dark colored ones (likely plated with Phosphate I would guess( for the sides.

Sure others will be along soon and improve on my information

[lancelot66]

Jeff is correct except for the finish, from what I have on our car (SJ 1/66). I know them to be original. The side ones are the slightly domed, Phillips head, but are either chromed or clear zinc (I'm thinking chromed). The bottom one is a flat head, also Phillips and is finished in the silver/clear zinc. You can see it reflected in the end cap and its kind of a bugger to get to. They are all of a finer machine thread, but I don't have specifics to size/pitch/etc.

[J_Speegle]

........... from what I have on our car (SJ 1/66). I know them to be original. The side ones are the slightly domed, Phillips head, but are either chromed or clear zinc (I'm thinking chromed from the ones I've removed). The bottom one is a flat head, also Phillips and is finished in the silver/clear zinc. ...........

Almost posted the same thing as you did until I checked the pictures. Your example is at least 6-12 months away from the P)O;s car. Here is what I found

That's the same thing I found on 66 's but for that the bezel/cover is designed differently on head units installed in 65. Since on the 66 unit that screw holds the side edges of the bezel to the case they are a silver color (guessing chromed)  while on the 65's those screws don't hold the bezel in place and the area around the screw is black in color

Notice the difference in the face/bezel shape. Now I can't say that the change over was at the end of the production year and we have to consider the possibility that some 65 style dealer installed units may have ended up in 66's because of supply or that the dealer just had one on the shelf. Sure the 65-66 only members we have will clarify or confirm


66 example





65 examples

[lancelot66]

There's that wonderfully timed/supplied photo library of yours to the rescue once again Jeff. See exactly what you mean and I didn't remember that difference at all on the side of the bezels. They'd stick out like the sore thumb if they were chrome screws instead of phosphate on the '65 unit. Perfect illustration. We did receive a '65 style console end cap with ours but everything else, solid '66 design that you'd expect. Really interesting I think. Sure would have been fun to be on those assembly plant lines, watching them make decisions with the available parts they had  and how fast supplies ran low or empty altogether.

[lancelot66]

Had to see if I could better add to this thread & response, particularly when Jeff puts this kind of effort together (the usual) and then because I wasn't completely sure of the finish of that bottom screw. They look to me as all chromed but here's ours, along with my handy little ratchet phillips screw remover for tight places...

[Mstang]

To Jeff and lancelot66, I would like to thank both of you for helping me out on this screw situation, as I rip into the car I would like to try and keep everything correct as possible,you guys tag teeming together and posting pictures of the screws was great, not sure if someone sells these on line, but I'll check the local hardware,they have a great nut and bolt isle,again thanks for the effort, gary

[DJames]

If you are going to go the hardware store route, make sure that the two screws that go into sides aren't too long. I've seen more than a couple of those units with punctured evaporator cores because of the side screws being a little too long.

[lancelot66]

DJames makes a very good point. The side screws are 1/2" and the bottom screw is 3/4", slightly different threads between the two types. The bottom screw has a slightly more coarse thread. I'm sorry I don't have better info than this. There is an EXCEPTIONAL reference spreadsheet in the library on fasteners. You might check to see if these are listed in there.

[jwc66k]

Had to see if I could better add to this thread & response, particularly when Jeff puts this kind of effort together (the usual) and then because I wasn't completely sure of the finish of that bottom screw. They look to me as all chromed but here's ours, along with my handy little ratchet phillips screw remover for tight places...

Are those the actual screws used on the 65 bezel? The 65 (and 66) Mustang Electrical Assembly Manuals show a complete A/C unit installed so no bezel screws are referenced. Ford Car Parts (aka MPC, 72 ed) does not have the same bezel shown, they indicate a later replacement unit. There is a screw shown, 40515-S 10-24X3/8 pan head slotted, but it is not the same as the pictures. This is not an error. Ford Service departments were interested in making the car and its accessories work - not restoring to original factory specifications.
Jim

[lancelot66]

On a '65 bezel, I could not say for certain at all. These I posted are from our '66 (late '65 build) and I'm 99% certain they're original to the car. After seeing the photos Jeff posted, '65 side bezel screws look to be P & O finish. Could be they used a slotted screw for the bottom as well in '65. Have yet to see some examples where they were known to be original (for the bottom screw).

[Mstang]

Would like to thank everyone who helped me out on this, did find the two side screws at the hardware, like you posted 1/2 inch 10/24 with the head kind of like a semi flat black, the bottom one I picked one up in stainless,for now, and being new to the site I didn't know about the Libary that sight is pretty dam cool,
 Thanks gary

[ChrisV289]

Here are my screws. Not sure if they are original or not

[jwc66k]

Chris,
You got two different types of thread in the pictures, a thread cutter and a tapping type. Did one come from each side? If you could measure the diameter, pitch (threads per inch), length and the head diameter, that will assist in identifying them.
Jim

[ChrisV289]

The one with the flat top came from the bottom screw by the console end cap.  The other is one of the side screws (passenger side).  I'll have to measure tomorrow when I get home..