Since my last Post on this subject, I have done considerable research on the Strap and its fastener.
This has included the following :
1) 1967 Chassis Assembly Manual
2) 1967 Engine Assembly Manual
3) 1967 Preliminary Shop Manual
4) 1967 Shop Manual
5) 1967 MPC
6) 1960-68 MPC (Text and Illustrations)
7) 1965-72 MPC (Text and Illustrations)
VOL 67 S10 L2 Steering and Suspension Principles - Training Handbook
9) All 1967 Shop Tips
10) Any Special Service letters in my possession (missing quite a few)
11) TSB's from No. 40 (06/03/1966) through No. 99 (09/27/1968), except for No.'s 85,
86, 87, 95 and 97 which I am missing.
Unless I have just plain missed it,
none of the above have any pictures, illustrations, text, or any such "animal" in regard to the Strap and its fastener.
My next "exercise" was to go through approximately 85 pictures of 67's, most of which had several or more, detailed pictures of Engine Compartments. These included junkers, low and higher mileage original un-restored cars, fully restored cars, and partially restored cars, and a mix from all 3 Plants.
While Kevin Marti's book "Mustang by the Numbers" shows that approximately 44% of 1967 Mustangs were ordered with the Power Steering Option, my sample of 85 does not reflect that.
As best as I could tell by the pictures, I can only say for sure, that 17 had Power Steering. Of these 17, I found the following :
1) Only 2 had the complete Strap intact with its retainer.
2) 1 had the complete Strap and retainer present, but the Strap was broken in half.
3) 3 had remnants of the Strap held in place with the retainer.
4) 6 had the retainers only.
5) 2 had holes for the retainers only showing.
6) 2 with Power Steering exhibited no evidence of holes in the
Shock Tower. To me, this "says" that either the Shock Tower sheet metal was
replaced, or the Power Steering was added by a Dealer or an Owner after the
car left the Factory.
7) All of the 12 retainers that were in place were of the "push in"
pin type ; none were of the "screw-in" with serrated washer type as John
pictured from a SJ donor car in his initial Post here, or as found on my 67
(Dearborn).
Interestingly, both the one John pictured (from SJ Plant), and mine (Factory PS from Dearborn), were identical in size, length, and the serrated washer.
The only difference was the manufacturer's marking on the recessed hex head self- tapping screw(1/4"- 14 x 1").
My next thought was to look at pictures of 68's that I had. I only have 23 pictures of 68's, again in various conditions. Interestingly, of the 23 pictures of 68's that I have, 16 had Power Steering (this is way over the almost 52% that Kevin Marti's book shows were ordered with Power Steering).
While I didn't do as detailed an "inventory" on the 68's as the 67's, I did find that 2 had the Straps and retainers completely intact, none had remnants of the strap, none had the retainer only, some had only the holes for the retainers present, and some showed no holes present in the shock tower sheet metal.
My review of the 68's then got me wondering ; was the Strap just something that was carried over from 1967 initially, and then was decided to eliminate in early 1968 ? Not having anything specifically for 68's, other than the MPC's, I didn't really have anything specific that I could check. Therefore, I ask that if any 1968 Owners reading this have the 1968 Shop Manual, 1968 Chassis Assembly Manual , 1968 Engine Assembly Manual or other 1968 specific resource, please check them for any information on the Strap, and Post your findings in this Thread.
PARTSAs noted above, nowhere in my research did I find a Part Number for the rubber Strap. Based on the pictures and dimensions furnished by John and Jeff, I had a limited number machine cut and machine punched. While the originals appear to be actual tire cord strips, this is beyond reasonable to have made as such. What I did do was to have 3/16", double cord reinforced rubber used, in a similar durometer A (70-75) as tire cord. I will be listing my extras in the Parts for Sale section of the Marketplace in the near future.
In regard to the retainers for the Strap, I have also not been able to find anything specific on them, especially why both "push-in" types and "screw-in" types were used. Since John's donor example was from SJ, and my car was from Dearborn, the difference was probably not a "Plant thing" ; possibly an "early/ late" item, or just another one of the many 1967 running changes.
Based on the description and pictures provided by Marty, the "push-in" fastener appears to be Hardware Part Number 382040-S2. Interestingly, this fastener is shown in the 1960-68 MPC as being used on Full Size 1967 Fords, to hold the Defroster nozzle to the Heater Plenum. These fasteners can be a real "bear" to remove ; I have dealt with similar ones on earlier Fords. Unless you can reach both sides of the fastener with your two hands, you need a second set of hands ; one to squeeze the two "arrows" together, and the other to pry the "button end" out. Needing a second set of hands would be the case in regard to the PS Strap fastener. Possibly (?) this might have prompted the change to the "screw-in" type.
The good news, is that AMK shows these as being available ; just type in the Part Number in their "Search" box.
As for the "screw-in" type, all indications are that this is a SEMS fastener. I came to this conclusion based on several things ; first, I could find no separate serrated, conical washer of the correct ID and OD ; next, mine definitely has a "captive" washer (you cannot slip it off over the screw) ; AMK's Guide to Fasteners shows this part (376246-S) available in two different finishes ; finally, jwc's Mustang Hardware List shows this fastener as having two different applications in 1967, and one in 1968 (however, neither is for the PS Strap).
Once again, good news ; AMK shows this fastener as being available in both Phosphate and oil, and in Zinc Dichromate finishes. My fastener, as well as John's screw, appear to be the phosphate and oil.
Again, if anyone has any documentation on this PS Strap and its fasteners, please share here.
Bob
