Topic: 1967 Turn Signal Lever - Dearborn

[196667Bob]

In going through some of my parts this Summer, in order to see what needs to be restored or replaced, I got to my Turn Signal Lever. The knob was pretty decent, but had a chip in the plating on the end. The shaft. however, was in poor condition, showing bubbled plating and rust. I had heard that all of the Reproductions being made were not close to the originals, particularly in the shape, and end of the knob.

In looking at the 1967 Parts and Accessories Catalog, and the 1960-68 MPC, both show that the Turn Signal Lever (C7AZ-13305-A) was used for all Models of 67 cars, as well as all 68 Models built before December 11,1967, except those with Speed Control of course. So this should be fairly easy to come by - right ? Not.

I first tried all of me "usual suspects", er sources, for NOS parts. No luck there. Then I reached out to a couple of friends who frequent junk yards, and asked them to check all 1967's for a nice (not needing to be re-plated) Turn Signal Lever. I sent both pictures and dimensions of my lever. Once again, no luck. This baffled me as with so many 1967 Fords having been built, one would think that finding a decent lever wouldn't be that hard.

Then I got thinking ; is mine correct ? Even though my Dad bought the car from the original Owner in 1981, I don't know all that might have happened in its 14 years prior to that. Although, when you think about it, what would cause a Turn Signal Lever to need to be replaced in the first place ? Pushing it too hard up or down, one would think might break the Turn Signal Switch prior to bending the lever.

Nonetheless, I reached out to a couple of friends whom I knew had had their cars a long time. I asked for pictures and dimensions. After I received the information, it showed that both were identical in length (approximately 7-1/2" long), and in appearance of both the shape and end treatment of the knob (picture attached). Of course, both were San Jose built cars.

In looking at mine, it is similar in shape, but is 7-15/16" long, and the end of the knob is flat around the perimeter instead of a rounded perimeter, and the depression has a brushed, or spun look (picture attached), as opposed to just chrome plated.

So the question then, is did Dearborn's supplier make its levers like mine, or is mine just flat out incorrect ?

I would appreciate it if some owners of Dearborn built 67's would Post some pictures of their knob, along with the overall length of the lever, in order to help resolve this question. The lever is easy to remove and replace ; a 7/32" wrench on the flats of the shaft, and unscrew 1/4" of thread.

Thanks for any help in resolving this.

Bob

[Bossbill]

I have a purported NOS lever at 7 15/16 to the end of threads.
(the paint is whole, but the reflections make it look like some paint is missing!) Pic 1.

But my SJ parts car and another lever which I believe came off my SJ Shelby are 7 1/2 and have no circle of paint. Pic 2.

Not exactly what you were looking for but another data point of lever styles.

[Bossbill]

related post here:
https://www.concoursmustang.com/forum/index.php?topic=20829.0

[196667Bob]

Bill : Yes, my original (?)  is identical to the one in the first picture you Posted, and is the 7-15/16" long as I noted in my opening Post. It is also the same as Jeroen Posted in the thread you attached. How did I miss that thread ? I searched prior  to my starting this one, but nothing came up. I may have kept Dearborn in my search. Still wanting to find if this was a Dearborn only thing, or maybe early ?

Good catch before noting that the black ring matches the headlight (also matches Radio knobs and 67 Hang-on A/C knobs).

Thanks for the info Bill.

Bob

[67gta289]

Bob - I know you have this but perhaps others don't, so I'm attaching the 1968 MPC listing for basic part number 13305, lever - turn indicator.

I see in the "other" posting that Ed mentioned "3 turn stalks c7az c8az d0az".  I'm not sure what years he was answering for, but assuming that he omitted 1965-66 model year and speed control variations, I see two that would cover 1967 and 1968.  In the MPC we also have two meeting that criteria, but they are c7az-a (prefix match) and c7az-c (not matching his c8az notation)

In the junkyard I go to there are perhaps 50 or so 1967 Ford car models (not including L-M nor Ford trucks) and another 70 or so for 1968.  Not that I've looked for these, but I would say based on experience that maybe 30-50% are still there.  It will take several weeks but I'll try to do a random sample of 20 or so cars and get the relevant data with pictures.  Of course if there are any choice models they will go with me.

[196667Bob]

John : True, but to avoid confusion, only one that covers 1967 ; the "-A". The "-C" is for cars built after 12/11/67, in other words, the 68 Models.

Bob

[J_Speegle]

A set of pictures showing the item being discussed from 67 Dearborn examples. Any possibility, if there is one, that the difference between lengths being related to tilt and non-tilt? Just a thought

[196667Bob]

Jeff : A page by page review of the 1967 Chassis, Electrical and Interior Assembly Manuals indicated no differences in Turn Signal Levers, other than that for Speed Control. The 1967 Parts and Accessories Catalog, as well as the 1960-68 MPC both show only one Turn Signal Lever for 1967 (C7AZ-13305-A), other than the one for Speed Control.

In your pictures, the upper right, and lower left are from 67's with the Tilt-Away. The upper right lever, may be like the first picture Bill Posted, and mine, but it is hard to tell due to the brightness. The one in the lower right is at such an angle that one can't really tell. The two on the left are definitely like the ones in the pictures I received from the two San Jose Owners ; rounded edge on perimeter, black ring, and fully chromed depression with an obvious "tit" at the bottom of the depression. I have attached pictures of the two I received ; one from a car with Tilt-Away, and the other without.

For comparison, the last picture is a close up of mine (the same as the NOS one in Bill's first picture). As noted previously, both his and mine are 7-15/16" overall length. The two from San Jose were measured at 7-1/2" overall length. Mine appears to have a slightly larger conical depression than the two San Jose ones, and has a spun or brushed finish, with a not so obvious "tit" in the bottom of the depression. It also has a flat, as opposed to rounded, perimeter.

Bottom line ; based on the Dearborn examples you Posted, it blows my theory about mine and the one in Bill's picture being "Dearborn only.

Still waiting for members with Dearborn built 67's to Post some pictures, along with their build dates.

Bob