Topic: 65-66 GT350 assembly questions

[Hipo giddyup]

Hi All, I have two questions about the 65-66 Shelby GT350's. First, would these cars have had the pinch-weld black-out treatment?? If so, was it typically a spray on treatment or brushed-on applied during this time frame?? Also, when these cars were first being assembled in the "metal/body shop", would the export brace reinforcement plate have been added at the San Jose plant or later at the Shelby works? Another question is for the original type support braces found on the shock towers, would they have been left off when the assembly line knew this was to be a "Shelby"?? Curious to know. Thanks!

[CharlesTurner]

Yes, they would receive pinch-weld blackout just like all the other regular production Mustangs at SJ.  It would normally be sprayed.

The export brace reinforcement would have been done at SJ assembly plant, except for the 1st 3 cars, which did not receive this.  This also would have included the washer-reinforced shock caps.

The shock tower to cowl braces would not be installed, the corner brackets also not welded in.  This was how the export option was done.

If you look closely at new fastbacks received before the Shelby conversion, it's obvious the export braces were already installed.

[ChrisV289]

Going along this thread, how were the Hertz cars delivered to Shelby?  Were they already painted black, green, white, red, and sapphire blue or did Shelby have to repaint those cars once they arrived?

[CharlesTurner]

Going along this thread, how were the Hertz cars delivered to Shelby?  Were they already painted black, green, white, red, and sapphire blue or did Shelby have to repaint those cars once they arrived?

They were painted at SJ assembly plant.

[Hipo giddyup]

Thanks Charles. So any Mustang that was going to be exported was devoid of these cowl braces and an export brace installed, correct?

[Bob Gaines]

Thanks Charles. So any Mustang that was going to be exported was devoid of these cowl braces and an export brace installed, correct?

I don't think every single export car got the additional items we normally associate with the "export package". I am under the impression that it is a extra cost package that some cars exported from the US got and others didn't.

[mjd 65]

I don't think every single export car got the additional items we normally associate with the "export package". I am under the impression that it is a extra cost package that some cars exported from the US got and others didn't.

This isn't Shelby related, but I have a 65 Metuchen hardtop with an "X" code on the buck tag and a 95 DSO on the build sheet.  Both of these should indicate an export car, yet the car had no trace of ever having an export brace or any other export equipment installed.  Rather, it has the regular shock tower braces and corner brackets on the towers. 

[CharlesTurner]

This isn't Shelby related, but I have a 65 Metuchen hardtop with an "X" code on the buck tag and a 95 DSO on the build sheet.  Both of these should indicate an export car, yet the car had no trace of ever having an export brace or any other export equipment installed.  Rather, it has the regular shock tower braces and corner brackets on the towers.

Right, as Bob mentioned, just being an export DSO did not automatically have the car equipped with the export bracing.

[Hipo giddyup]

 Got it, nice piece of info as you could assume an "export' brace was for exported cars..

OK, I've got one more. I have used the Monte Carlo bar on a few of my Mustangs and everyone would leave the bolt head impression on the underside of the hood from the top bolts on the firewall. Was this the same issue with the Shelby's using the Monte Carlo bar or was there a special bolt or different way to assembly this piece??

[jwc66k]

I have used the Monte Carlo bar on a few of my Mustangs and everyone would leave the bolt head impression on the underside of the hood from the top bolts on the firewall.

I use a 5/16 bolt without an attached washer or a lock washer on my three. The head profile is lower. Any grade bolt with a length of about 1.0 inch works. I learned the hard way too.
Jim

[Bob Gaines]

Got it, nice piece of info as you could assume an "export' brace was for exported cars..

OK, I've got one more. I have used the Monte Carlo bar on a few of my Mustangs and everyone would leave the bolt head impression on the underside of the hood from the top bolts on the firewall. Was this the same issue with the Shelby's using the Monte Carlo bar or was there a special bolt or different way to assembly this piece??

one star washer bolt and one flat washer bolt. No special bolt. They some times hit.

[Hipo giddyup]

 Thanks guys. I'll use your recommendations. 

Bill

[jwc66k]

An addition - I didn't want to drill a hole in the apron of my 66 K Fastback for the forward Monte Carlo Bar bolt. I get around this, I took a 5/16-18 "T" nut (the type used in woodworking), bent the three retainer barbs flat, trimmed the threaded portion to be less than the thickness of the Monte Carlo Bar's mounting plate (Dremel tool), shortened a 5/16-18 bolt to 3/16 thread length and installed those kluges to the bar at each end. A piece of tape between the apron and the "T" nut keeps the scratches to a minimum. The bolt/nut are there for looks, the bar comes off for show, without an extra hole in the fender apron. I don't race the car, the bar is there for extra support.
Jim

[TLea]

We've seen on several original Shelby hoods 2 marks 3 1/2" apart in the steel frame of the hood. Reasonable assumption would be at SA a block of 2x4 was placed under hood to try and increase clearance