Topic: Front shock tower upper mounting bracket

[slk25]

I am looking for a new upper shock tower mounting bracket and according to the website at NPD, the threaded hole to bolt down the shock top are 5/16-18 or course threads.

According to Jim's spreadsheet, and the bolts on my car, the holes should be 5/16-24 fine thread.

42767-S8   8   FF033   5/16-24X7/8HH,REC,EXT LKW,1/2HEX   SCREW,HEX,REC,EXT LKW   4   SHOCK ABSORBER,FRONT,TOP-SHOCK

Where can I find a correct upper shock mount or do I need to somehow rework the stripped out thread on my existing unit?
   

[Bob Gaines]

I am looking for a new upper shock tower mounting bracket and according to the website at NPD, the threaded hole to bolt down the shock top are 5/16-18 or course threads.

According to Jim's spreadsheet, and the bolts on my car, the holes should be 5/16-24 fine thread.

42767-S8   8   FF033   5/16-24X7/8HH,REC,EXT LKW,1/2HEX   SCREW,HEX,REC,EXT LKW   4   SHOCK ABSORBER,FRONT,TOP-SHOCK

Where can I find a correct upper shock mount or do I need to somehow rework the stripped out thread on my existing unit?

Yes fine thread. You could always weld a new fine thread T nut like original or even a standard nut as the nut would not be visible once bracket is mounted.  PM sent.

[jwc66k]

Yes fine thread. You could always weld a new fine thread T nut like original or even a standard nut as the nut would not be visible once bracket is mounted.  PM sent.

Agreed, fine thread. You can find used mounts, C5ZZ-18A017-A, on e-bay.
What changed from fine thread, 5/16-24, to coarse thread, 5/16-18, were the 3 nuts and 3 CARRIAGE bolts that attached the bracket to the fender apron, as of 3/1/66.
See: Ref "Ford Car Parts", 75 ed - aka MPC, Text Section 180 page 1.
34662-S8 - before 3/1/66, changed to 34392-S7/8 - after 3/1/66.
355471-S8 -  before 3/1/66, changed to 378940-S2 - after 3/1/66.
No 1966 Mustang Chassis Assembly Manual is available.
Jim

[Bob Gaines]

Agreed, fine thread. You can find used mounts, C5ZZ-18A017-A, on e-bay.
What changed from fine thread, 5/16-24, to coarse thread, 5/16-18, were the 3 nuts and 3 CARRIAGE bolts that attached the bracket to the fender apron, as of 3/1/66.
See: Ref "Ford Car Parts", 75 ed - aka MPC, Text Section 180 page 1.
34662-S8 - before 3/1/66, changed to 34392-S7/8 - after 3/1/66.
355471-S8 -  before 3/1/66, changed to 378940-S2 - after 3/1/66.
No 1966 Mustang Chassis Assembly Manual is available.
Jim

65/66 upper shock brackets use a fine threaded bolt to hold the shock head.  67-70 upper shock bracket uses a course thread bolt. The anchor bolt marking between the two is the same . I am not sure if this is the case here but the repro people commonly but incorrectly use a course thread when making the repro 65/66 upper shock bracket . I guess since the marking is the same they assumed incorrectly that the 67-70 bolt can be substituted.

[J_Speegle]

Is there a reason why your looking to purchase a new reproduction?  You might consider just buying an original after checking that someone didn't mess up the threads on them. Guess I've been lucky but never owned a Mustang or Shelby (out of over 100) that had a stripped, damaged, rusty or pitted one.

Just an option to consider

[jwc66k]

Ding, ding, ding - wake up Bob.

65/66 upper shock brackets use a fine threaded bolt to hold the shock head.  67-70 upper shock bracket uses a course thread bolt. The anchor bolt marking between the two is the same . I am not sure if this is the case here but the repro people commonly but incorrectly use a course thread when making the repro 65/66 upper shock bracket . I guess since the marking is the same they assumed incorrectly that the 67-70 bolt can be substituted.

What changed from fine thread, 5/16-24, to coarse thread, 5/16-18, were the 3 nuts and 3 CARRIAGE bolts that attached the bracket to the fender apron, as of 3/1/66.
See: Ref "Ford Car Parts", 75 ed - aka MPC, Text Section 180 page 1.
34662-S8 - before 3/1/66, changed to 34392-S7/8 - after 3/1/66.
355471-S8 -  before 3/1/66, changed to 378940-S2 - after 3/1/66.
No 1966 Mustang Chassis Assembly Manual is available.

Two different areas for 65-66 front shocks. The FOUR bolts for the shocks to the bracket were questioned. Then I showed what did change, the SIX that mounted the bracket to the shock tower (I called it fender apron, which it is a part of).
Jim

[Bob Gaines]

Ding, ding, ding - wake up Bob.Two different areas for 65-66 front shocks. The FOUR bolts for the shocks to the bracket were questioned. Then I showed what did change, the SIX that mounted the bracket to the shock tower (I called it fender apron, which it is a part of).
Jim

The OP was talking about a stripped thread in the bracket not anything about the bolts holding the bracket down . I thought I was politely showing you how you got off track (course thread and NPD) I see that you didn't take it in the helpful spirt it it was meant given your reply 

I am looking for a new upper shock tower mounting bracket and according to the website at NPD, the threaded hole to bolt down the shock top are 5/16-18 or course threads.

[jwc66k]

The OP was talking about a stripped thread in the bracket

I am looking for a new upper shock tower mounting bracket and according to the website at NPD, the threaded hole to bolt down the shock top are 5/16-18 or course threads.

Was he? Seem there was a question about fine vs coarse threads as well.

I was politely showing you how you got off track (course thread and NPD)

I was curious, so I did some additional research. The MPC had no mention of a change to a coarse thread at the top of the bracket for shock mounting, but I did find that there was a change to coarse threads for the bracket's mounting to the shock tower/fender apron, with implimentation dates. Then I found the NPD reference for hardware to be incorrect. I also sent an e-mail to NPD informing them of this "problem".
Did you have a nice day?
Jim

[Bob Gaines]

Was he? Seem there was a question about fine vs coarse threads as well.I was curious, so I did some additional research. The MPC had no mention of a change to a coarse thread at the top of the bracket for shock mounting, but I did find that there was a change to coarse threads for the bracket's mounting to the shock tower/fender apron, with implimentation dates. Then I found the NPD reference for hardware to be incorrect. I also sent an e-mail to NPD informing them of this "problem".
Did you have a nice day?
Jim

Apparently you missed the part where I explained that the repro 65/66 shock bracket is made with a course thread insert like 67-70 instead of the correct find thread .That is most likely what the NPD notation in their catalog is about . You have to use course thread bolts to hold down the shock head when using one of their repro 65/66 mounting brackets. It has nothing to do with to shock tower mounting bracket hardware.

[jwc66k]

Apparently you missed the part where I explained that the repro 65/66 shock bracket is made with a course thread insert like 67-70 instead of the correct find thread .

To be truthful, I've never seen an aftermarket 64-66 bracket with coarse threads. I just looked in a couple of old Mustang catalogs but did not find an aftermarket bracket, and looked for a replacement bracket - 18A017 (also called a shock tower) - as a current product, but nothing.
Jim

[Bob Gaines]

To be truthful, I've never seen an aftermarket 64-66 bracket with coarse threads. I just looked in a couple of old Mustang catalogs but did not find an aftermarket bracket, and looked for a replacement bracket - 18A017 (also called a shock tower) - as a current product, but nothing.
Jim

I hope you never have to use one. It is just another example of the repro market getting it wrong.