Topic: 1968 Toploader Main Case changeover from C5AR to C8RA

[68Metuchen390GT]

I have a 1968 Mustang 390 GT, built in Metuchen on June 19, 1968, VIN 212765.. its a late model year build. I’ve been researching the RUG M2 Toploader that my car was originally equipped with, itwas unfortunately replaced by a previous owner. I am trying to locate one with the right casting dates and that is close to my build date.

I’m new at this, but through my search of the examples I found for sale or sold has revealed a potential change over of the main casing housing during the RUG M2 build, at some point between 026000 to 027000, I assume this would be true for all 68 Toploaders since the Toploader serial number is sequential.

David Kee has the C5AR from 64-67 and the C8AR from 68-71. I have attached a photo from his site. Every site says the RUG M2 is specific to the 68 390 GT. My Marti report confirms this is what I had and the door tag confirms the wide ratio.

I have photos of my examples but here is my preliminary info, ( yes I know it’s a small sample ) but clearly this happened during production.

RUG M2  02457x    Case C5AR
RUG M2  024961    Case C5AR
RUG M2  026053    Case C5AR
Changeover
RUG M2  027476    Case C8AR
RUG M2  029250    Case C8AR
RUG M2  029433    Case C8AR
RUG M2  029435    Case C8AR   

I would also like to know if the date codes on the toploader would be similar to other date codes on my car ( which is mostly an unrestored survivor w original paint) of March to May date ranges, would the toploader be a few months before the build date or were they cast in huge batches and the number just large batches of the same dates.

I welcome any help, thanks in advance. My apologies if someone else already noticed this but I searched here and SAAC and didn’t see anything.

Richard

[RoyceP]

Your list of cases and TC serial numbers doesn't tell you what you want to know - which is when the particular transmission in question was used in a car, and at which assembly plant. You need the VIN stamp from each case to tell you the answer to that question. The VIN will be useful in placing a date with a transmission case  at a particular plant. I would suspect that cars built at the Dearborn Rouge plant would get the new cases from Livonia TC division first due to proximity.

Also be aware that the door tag code "5" was also used on close ratio top loaders in 1968 as there was no code for denoting the close ratio versus wide ratio that year. Your Marti report is accurate information though.

[68Metuchen390GT]

Totally agree, I know these would have sat around until used and would have been picked from a stockpile, so this leads me to a couple of questions, and obviously the serial numbers would great to narrow that down, I had seen J_Speegle mention a possible attempt to document some of these.  I had meant to include that late last night but was afraid of losing my attachments.

I feel like this was a transition period between transmission engineering numbers and these early C5AR cases were the last of the 67s cases that we’re used in the first part of the 68 model year. So some new questions, my apologies in advance

1. How many casting facilities were there? The tag serial numbers are in sequence which leads to an assumption there was one assembly facility or at least they were very coordinated, even without the VIN there appears to be a progression until the switch. The VINs would establish some known dates and I’ll have to work on some more analysis of that but it’s also unknown how long they would have sat around. The VIN was most likely stamped at each vehicle plant as the car was assembled.

2. Where were they finally assembled into wide and close ratios? Was this one location until shipped out?

3. At what point in their Assembly was the ID tag affixed? Were they just made as generic wide and close ratio until they got a tag assigned?

4.i realize this may not be documented but the cases changed over at some point, so is there a ball park date? If mine was a late model year then an assumption would be I’d have a C8AR case.

5. How relevant are the date codes if stockpiled and how close to the build date would these have been made?

I had seen a listing that a 6 on the door tag was for the optional 2.32 close ratio transmission in 68, it’s also in Marti’s  tag book, is that incorrect?

Thanks Richard

[RoyceP]

All of the manual transmissions were assembled at T&C division in Livonia, Michigan. Not sure about casting - but I would imagine that was done either in Dearborn or Cleveland. Any DIF marks on the cases? Or a C surrounding an F perhaps?

The VIN stampings will answer all the other questions with no room for opinion.

Totally agree, I know these would have sat around until used and would have been picked from a stockpile, so this leads me to a couple of questions, and obviously the serial numbers would great to narrow that down, I had seen J_Speegle mention a possible attempt to document some of these.  I had meant to include that late last night but was afraid of losing my attachments.

I feel like this was a transition period between transmission engineering numbers and these early C5AR cases were the last of the 67s cases that we’re used in the first part of the 68 model year. So some new questions, my apologies in advance

1. How many casting facilities were there? The tag serial numbers are in sequence which leads to an assumption there was one assembly facility or at least they were very coordinated, even without the VIN there appears to be a progression until the switch. The VINs would establish some known dates and I’ll have to work on some more analysis of that but it’s also unknown how long they would have sat around. The VIN was most likely stamped at each vehicle plant as the car was assembled.

2. Where were they finally assembled into wide and close ratios? Was this one location until shipped out?

3. At what point in their Assembly was the ID tag affixed? Were they just made as generic wide and close ratio until they got a tag assigned?

4.i realize this may not be documented but the cases changed over at some point, so is there a ball park date? If mine was a late model year then an assumption would be I’d have a C8AR case.

5. How relevant are the date codes if stockpiled and how close to the build date would these have been made?

I had seen a listing that a 6 on the door tag was for the optional 2.32 close ratio transmission in 68, it’s also in Marti’s  tag book, is that incorrect?

Thanks Richard

[68Metuchen390GT]

Thanks, I updated my very small list with VINs where available, I used Kevin Marti’s tag book for production dates. I know I will need to develop a spreadsheet as I go along. Anything listed unknown I had no picture or could not determine.

ID plate   Serial      Main case       VIN                         Date of cast        Factory            Date of vehicle.    Make
RUG M2  024505    Case C5AR       Missing ear            Unknown             Unknown            Unknown       Unknown
RUG M2  024575    Case C5AR       Unknown.              Unknown              Unknown            Unknown      Unknown
RUG M2  024961    Case C5AR       Not present            M12  Dec             Unknown             Unknown      Unknown
RUG M2  025705    Case C5AR       7T02S262243         D12  April             Metuchen             5/67           Mustang     
RUG M2  026053    Case C5AR        Unknown               Unknown             Unknown             Unknown      unknown
RUG M2  026468    Case C5AR        Unknown               Unknown              Unknown             Unknown     Unknown
Changeover
RUG M2  027476    Case C8AR         Unknown               Unknown             Unknown             Unknown      Unknown
RUG M2  029250    Case C8AR         8T516827              H16 August          Metuchen            3/68            Cougar
RUG M2  029433    Case C8AR         Unknown                Unknown             Unknown             Unknown     Unknown
RUG M2  029435    Case C8AR         8R143202               Unknown             Unknown             2/68           Unknown
RUG M2  029718.   Case  C8AR         Unknown               H3 August            Unknown              Unknown    Unknown

[68Metuchen390GT]

Don’t see a C surrounding an F anywhere, what does the W1 stand for?

[RoyceP]

I think it means Windsor (Ontario) 1st shift.

Don’t see a C surrounding an F anywhere, what does the W1 stand for?

[68Metuchen390GT]

Thanks, I’ve only seen W-1 and W-2 on main casings and tail ends of the toploaders in the 1967 or 68 but nothing else, maybe someone more experienced than me can weigh in? Or has an example.

[K-HESS]

Here is another one for your list. Its from a 1967 Metuchen built S-code fastback. It has a C8 case with a cast date of F14 and a tag code RUG-M2. One other note I want to point out about this particular case is it has extra cast on top. I have had a few of these over the years and they seem to have been in production for a short period of time. The extra cast area looks like it would have been a good pad to stamp the vin number since it is milled clean but I have never seen a vin number stamped here on the few that I have had.