Topic: 69 Mach 1 Dearborn Steering Box details

[G Wood]

The steering box on my 69 has body colored paint on the outward facing surface of the box (surface facing into engine compartment). I am not sure when these were installed in the car, but why would it have body color paint on it (in addition to the white and yellow daubs that are still there)?

[J_Speegle]

Guess the first question would be what color was your car painted?  It might just match a paint mark that was applied, originally to the box - just a thought and a place to start the discussion.

If not I don't know how it happened (if it did ) at the plant since the box would have been installed after the painting.

Other possibilities would be a happy painter (car being touched up at the dealer or by PO?

[G Wood]

Jeff:

My car is winter blue. I have cleaned the box and have been able to uncover the original daubs plus the body color paint.

[J_Speegle]

Do have a picture of another 69 Mustang (late Dearborn) with a mark on the other side of the main body with a similar (could just be the angle or camera settings)  color. That picture looks like other 67-8 ones with a more Ford engine blue. Maybe someone didn't stir the can as much that day

[G Wood]

Thanks Jeff, your thoughts on why this was applied. Was the box on the car etc? Also does the top of the box get blacked out as these does not appear to be much paint there if it did.

[J_Speegle]

Thanks Jeff, your thoughts on why this was applied. Was the box on the car etc? Also does the top of the box get blacked out as these does not appear to be much paint there if it did.

Believe, like many marks, it was to help workers quickly identify this steering box from another (PS verses non PS for example)

This could have been for the guys building/assembling the boxes (subassembles), the guy who placed them in specific bins for the line workers or for the line worker - possibly all three

Have not seen evidence that the 69 boxes were blacked out like some of the early boxes

[Bob Gaines]

Believe, like many marks, it was to help workers quickly identify this steering box from another (PS verses non PS for example)

This could have been for the guys building/assembling the boxes (subassembles), the guy who placed them in specific bins for the line workers or for the line worker - possibly all three

Have not seen evidence that the 69 boxes were blacked out like some of the early boxes

As Jeff indicates the paint marks helped identify the boxes .I know I have seen many PS boxes that had similar marks to each other as well as some with little to hardly any marks. I doesn't seem very uniform IMHO. I have recently seen compelling evidence that some (not all or even close to) had the "top " of the box blacked out on some 69 P/S cars.  Bob

[J_Speegle]

...........I have recently seen compelling evidence that some (not all or even close to) had the "top " of the box blacked out on some 69 P/S cars.  Bob

You know I'm not going to let it pass without asking "what plant"?  - Guessing Deaerborn

[Bob Gaines]

You know I'm not going to let it pass without asking "what plant"?  - Guessing Deaerborn

you are such a mind readerereerer

[Bob Gaines]

Jeff,don't mistake my reply as to imply that I think it was very common though. I think just the opposite until I see further proof. Bob

[J_Speegle]

Jeff,don't mistake my reply as to imply that I think it was very common though. I think just the opposite until I see further proof. Bob

So others reading the post - DON"T run out to black out the steering box - yet   LOL

Will have to dig out the box from my Boss 302 now to look for black

[Bob Gaines]

So others reading the post - DON"T run out to black out the steering box - yet   LOL

Will have to dig out the box from my Boss 302 now to look for black

+1

[Anghelrestorations]

I have about 15 or so steering boxes I have pulled from original cars...plus the extra cars I have at my shop and none of them have any signs of blackout treatment on them.  This would be for 68/69/70 dated steering boxes. 

[G Wood]

I did some more cleaning on my box last night and it does appear that there was black paint applied. There is a difference when you remove the tag. After it sat in Evapo-rust the black became more evident.

[J_Speegle]

I think we're looking for black applied (just a mention) with a brush rather than sprayed on. Sprayed on IMHO is more likely a PO or used car lot "freshening things up" a bit