Topic: Was dual exhaust a factory option on '65 A-code non-GT?

[ramori]

My 5F07A coupe has dual exhaust, and I'm assuming it was factory installed. Build date 11AUG64.
Some are telling me no way, dual exhaust was only available for k-code and GT models, and it must be aftermarket.
I'm not the original owner, and there is no Marti report for my car.
Can one of you Concours gurus verify that dual exhaust was an option for A-code coupes?
Is there a tell, underbody, that can prove mine were factory installed?

[ChrisV289]

The only cars from the factory with dual exhaust were k codes and factory GTs (A and K codes only). Everything else was single exhaust. Dual exhaust requires reinforcements in the rear frame rails and the rear seat pans. More than likely your exhaust was added by a previous owner.

[rocket289k]

The only cars from the factory with dual exhaust were k codes and factory GTs (A and K codes only). Everything else was single exhaust. Dual exhaust requires reinforcements in the rear frame rails and the rear seat pans. More than likely your exhaust was added by a previous owner.

+1


Ron

[ramori]

Thanks for the quick reply. Don't get me wrong, I like the dual exhaust, but now I'm a bit disappointed that my car isn't as original as I had always thought. Everything else seems to be original,, but now I have to look deeper..

I've owned it for about a year (3rd owner) and I don't know much about its history besides some older maintenance records and what I can see with my (untrained) eyes.

[carlite65]

pull the rear seat bottom. take some pics and post them then we will know for sure.

[rocket289k]

You will be looking for a reinforcement plate like this on the rear seat floorpan (outline denoted by red arrows) + factory exhaust hanger (purple arrow).


Ron

[jwc66k]

In early 1965 (3/25/65) Mustangs got a different dual exhaust system (previously it was an Arvinode Dual Exhaust System) for cars with the HP engine. This same dual exhaust system was used for 65 and 66 Mustangs with the GT option. Here are some pictures that detail the changes to the frame rails at the rear to mount the exhaust pipes.
The first picture is the "key". Note the instruction to insert a finger in the assembly line hole in the frame rail to "feel" the crush tube (aka spacer). The crush tube is shown in picture 2. All 64-66 dual exhaust cars will have this crush tube. The last two pictures show what's inside the frame rail (pictures are from e-bay). There are two crush tubes per car, one on each side. If there are no crush tubes, it is not a dual exhaust car.
Note: The crush tubes can be installed with "determination" to fake make a dual exhaust Mustang. Ask Jeff.
Jim
Edit: Years in first sentence were 1964.

[Scott302]

Jim,
I think you will want to edit the dates you posted.  You meant to type 1965 and 3/25/65!!!
"In early 1964 (3/25/64) Mustangs got a different dual exhaust system (previously it was an Arvinode Dual  Exhaust System) for cars with the HP engine."

Seeing that his car has a scheduled date of 8/10/64, a true dual exhaust car for that date would have received the transverse muffler dual exhaust system.

[J_Speegle]

Agree -

The original question has an easy and straight forward answer though if your going to discuss the features and identifying a dual exhaust car then the first question would be when the car was likely built since that first "year" had multiple systems and features

[ramori]

My VIN: 5F07A25010
Build codes: 65A  R  29  11H 35 1 6   (Aug 11 1964 Dearborn scheduled build date)
I removed the rear seat, here are the photos. I didn't see either of the tell-tales that were shown in Ron's photo, but maybe my photos are of the wrong area? I didn't take a photo of the tunnel.
Can someone review the photos and comment please?

[jwc66k]

Jim,
I think you will want to edit the dates you posted.  You meant to type 1965 and 3/25/65!!!
"In early 1964 (3/25/64) Mustangs got a different dual exhaust system (previously it was an Arvinode Dual  Exhaust System) for cars with the HP engine."

Seeing that his car has a scheduled date of 8/10/64, a true dual exhaust car for that date would have received the transverse muffler dual exhaust system.

Corrected dates on my original post. Thanks Scott.
Jim

[jwc66k]

My VIN: 5F07A25010
Build codes: 65A  R  29  11H 35 1 6   (Aug 11 1964 Dearborn scheduled build date)
I removed the rear seat, here are the photos. I didn't see either of the tell-tales that were shown in Ron's photo, but maybe my photos are of the wrong area? I didn't take a photo of the tunnel.
Can someone review the photos and comment please?

Your car never came with a dual exhaust system from the factory. Do the "stick your finger in the rear frame rail" test to prove that to yourself. That is the easiest "test".
Jim

[CharlesTurner]

Your car never came with a dual exhaust system from the factory. Do the "stick your finger in the rear frame rail" test to prove that to yourself. That is the easiest "test".
Jim

Jim, even if the car was an August '64 K code, it wouldn't have had that reinforcement in the rear frame rails since transverse and arvinode didn't use the further back hanger configuration like a GT style system.

[jwc66k]

True. The Mustang in question did not come from the factory with dual exhausts.
Attached are pictures of the rear frame rails with Arvenode provisions, used only with "K" code Mustangs.
Jim
One other point. The first "K" code Mustangs, which would have the Arvenode Dual Exhaust System, were produced in June, 1964, the 6th, 7th or 8th.

[warwick]

For a while there was a crush tube replacement on market-is there one now?  Does anybody have any.

I am restoring a 66 K Code with rear rails replaced without them.

Thank you