Topic: 1968 San Jose GT 390 Fastback Steering Column

[bullitt68]

I am in the process of restoring my Tilt-A-Way steering column and I was surprised to find a January date stamp one the column. I didn't expect to see such an early date stamp on my car, but obviously some parts could have been dated that early. My understanding was that parts should be close to body shell assembly date. In my case April 1968 or a month before approx. Is this in line with other observations?

[bullitt68]

Just checking to confirm the significance of this sticker and if they are currently available. Unfortunately mine was damaged when I acquired the car.

Thanks

[bullitt68]

Can someone confirm if the steering column should have overspray on it on the bottom in the engine bay. Mine appears to have black overspray. I originally assumed that the steering column should only be painted charcoal metallic, but the over spray has me questioning that assumption and wondering if for some reason it could have receive any overspray after installation.

Thanks

[ruppstang]

It should be the charcoal metallic. It most likely got painted during a engine bay make over. The charcoal metallic could have a bit of splatter from fire wall sound deadener sealing.

[bullitt68]

It should be the charcoal metallic. It most likely got painted during a engine bay make over. The charcoal metallic could have a bit of splatter from fire wall sound deadener sealing.

Great thanks appreciate it

[J_Speegle]

I am in the process of restoring my Tilt-A-Way steering column and I was surprised to find a January date stamp one the column. I didn't expect to see such an early date stamp on my car, but obviously some parts could have been dated that early. My understanding was that parts should be close to body shell assembly date. In my case April 1968 or a month before approx. Is this in line with other observations?

Interesting. Not allot of other examples for comparison but we have to start somewhere. Consider that its that make up unpopular options would have been produced in small groups than the items they used on every car and in turn would have sat on a shelf somewhere longer so the "range" can be greater.

The silver labels are not (as far as I know) commercially available as reproductions. On the last car I did with a tilt I can't recall if we made on our reused a nice original

[bullitt68]

Interesting. Not allot of other examples for comparison but we have to start somewhere. Consider that its that make up unpopular options would have been produced in small groups than the items they used on every car and in turn would have sat on a shelf somewhere longer so the "range" can be greater.

The silver labels are not (as far as I know) commercially available as reproductions. On the last car I did with a tilt I can't recall if we made on our reused a nice original

Thanks Jeff. Do you know what the label indicated. Was it from the manufacturer or from Ford. I wish I could save it, but it is too far gone. It looks to have originally been silver in color and I could not make out any other text or numbers. I wonder if anyone has an intact example I could use for reference.

[J_Speegle]

Thanks Jeff. Do you know what the label indicated. Was it from the manufacturer or from Ford. I wish I could save it, but it is too far gone. It looks to have originally been silver in color and I could not make out any other text or numbers. I wonder if anyone has an intact example I could use for reference.

Almost a mylar material just not as shinny IMHO - closer to the material the service decals on the shock tower were made from. The sticker was most likely applied at the supplier and just identified the date and possibly the shift/plant it was completed at and on. Only thing your missing  on the example you posted is the final two digits possible a "2A"

On other steering columns (haven't seen them on a tilt 68 one yet) a paper sticker on the "bellows" and there is a wire label on the turn indicator wire loom that I reproduced for a friend .  Think we're past the one year exclusive policy I set for much of the custom work

[bullitt68]

Almost a mylar material just not as shinny IMHO - closer to the material the service decals on the shock tower were made from. The sticker was most likely applied at the supplier and just identified the date and possibly the shift/plant it was completed at and on. Only thing your missing  on the example you posted is the final two digits possible a "2A"

On other steering columns (haven't seen them on a tilt 68 one yet) a paper sticker on the "bellows" and there is a wire label on the turn indicator wire loom that I reproduced for a friend .  Think we're past the one year exclusive policy I set for much of the custom work

Great thanks Jeff. Is the sticker something worth pursuing? Just curious if anyone else is emulating the sticker or if it get omitted at all

[bullitt68]

Just curious regarding these steering column parts. The parts that are actual on the column itself look like a much blacker paint as opposed to the charcoal metallic on the other hardware parts. I just want to confirm if the column received the charcoal metallic or did it get a different color of paint. Or was that just due to the fact that the steering column parts are pot/cast metal opposed to a raw metal finish. Also not sure about the firewall bracket as it does look like a semi satin black

Thanks

[J_Speegle]

Just curious regarding these steering column parts.

My recall of 68 San Jose pieces was that the clamp (bottom one) were black while the parts that make up the steering column itself with Charcoal. Lets see what others have found

The lower firewall bracket/clamp I seem to remember as being dipped or at least some with heavy runs - will check my pictures

[bullitt68]

My recall of 68 San Jose pieces was that the clamp (top and bottom ones) were black while the parts that make up the steering column itself with Charcoal. Lets see what others have found

The lower firewall bracket/clamp I seem to remember as being dipped or at least some with heavy runs - will check my pictures

Interesting. I was assuming that those parts on my car were original, but can't say 100%. I am close to being ready to paint those parts and just want to make sure I am painting them all the correct color. I also assumed that not only is the paint original, but also the correct color as well. Better to be safe than sorry. Most other cars that I have seen seem to have had the darker almost black look compared to the very obvious charcoal metallic parts on my car

[J_Speegle]

Corrected my earlier response since it makes sense that the upper clamp matched the steering column. I was reminded of this once I look through the pictures and saw the cars with other interior colors  and how they were painted/color applied

[bullitt68]

Corrected my earlier response since it makes sense that the upper clamp matched the steering column. I was reminded of this once I look through the pictures and saw the cars with other interior colors  and how they were painted/color applied

Great reference thanks Jeff. That shows me the parts that got black and the parts that get the charcoal metallic

[bullitt68]

Corrected my earlier response since it makes sense that the upper clamp matched the steering column. I was reminded of this once I look through the pictures and saw the cars with other interior colors  and how they were painted/color applied

On another note look at the coverage of interior color on the floor behind the carpet. Very interesting. I did not realize that there was so much over spray on the floor area under the dash. My car seems to be a bit of an anomaly as it did not have much overspray inside the interior for the most part and minimal sound deadener and Seam sealer. Perhaps my car was built on a Friday and they just wanted to get it done quick!