Topic: 70 Coil Spring Paint Marks-Mach 1, M code, 4 speed, PS, PB, No AC, San Jose

[Kdclem]

Looking for the Coil Springs Paint colors for a 1970 M1, 351C - 4V, 4 speed, PS, PB, No AC, San Jose, but Marti also calls out "competition suspension".  Don't know exactly what that means, maybe the front sway is bigger.   I have the photo with a hint of orange, so I'm pretty sure at least one of the paint daubs is orange.  Now the photo of the build sheet above is showing the coil spring strips as gold and tan, with am automatic trans.  And saw another build sheet similar build 4 speed cleveland from Dearborn and it had Gold/Orange.  Without a build sheet, would it be safe to say my car should have Gold/Orange?  Does anyone know what the colors mean?    Like - Orange /Gold vs. Orange/ Tan.  And would it be Orange first, then Gold, from left to right?  Does it matter where the paint stripes land when the spring is installed?  Or basically pointed parallel with the spindle?

Please let me know if this isn't the right location for this question.

[J_Speegle]

Looking for the Coil Springs Paint colors for a 1970 M1, 351C - 4V, 4 speed, PS, PB, No AC, San Jose, but Marti also calls out "competition suspension". 

Just the next higher level of suspension from the standard suspension. Often different front and rear springs, different sway bar(s), different shocks

I have the photo with a hint of orange, so I'm pretty sure at least one of the paint daubs is orange.  Now the photo of the build sheet above is showing the coil spring strips as gold and tan, with am automatic trans.  And saw another build sheet similar build 4 speed cleveland from Dearborn and it had Gold/Orange.  Without a build sheet, would it be safe to say my car should have Gold/Orange?

No. Was the other M code 4 speed equipped exactly like your car (PS, no AC? and around the same production period as your car?

Does anyone know what the colors mean?    Like - Orange /Gold vs. Orange/ Tan.

Guess you haven't discovered or read the article on Paint Marks that is posted in the Library. The paint mark colors "mean" that a specific coil spring was to be installed on cars just like yours and the colored markings helped the worker on the line quickly find and locate the correct spring for your car from the colors listed on one of your cars buildsheers.

  And would it be Orange first, then Gold, from left to right?  Does it matter where the paint stripes land when the spring is installed?  Or basically pointed parallel with the spindle?

In the article I believe it states (if not this is in plenty of other threads on the subject) on their side or on the flat base, that would end up being the top once installed. The paint was applied from the then top (later the bottom once installed) to the bottom so that runs would look as if they ran up hell once installed if there were any produced during the application. Paint was applied with a fairly thin brush without allot of paint (more on the bottom coil moving to what would be the top once installed in a single pass often leaving visible brush marks as the brush finishes on each coil in direction of travel

The easiest guide is that typically I found the strips were applied so that their orientation was visible at the outer coils on the rear outer surface on the drivers side coil spring. I apply the sane orientation , in relationship with the end of the coil at the bottom and simply install them that way.


So back to the original color of your front coil spring markings. When was you car finished at San Jose? On an initial look I see 70 4 speed PS, no AC with color combinations that don't include orange but we'll look further once you post the information requested

[cobrajet_carl]

Looking for the Coil Springs Paint colors for a 1970 M1, 351C - 4V, 4 speed, PS, PB, No AC, San Jose, but Marti also calls out "competition suspension".  Don't know exactly what that means, maybe the front sway is bigger.   I have the photo with a hint of orange, so I'm pretty sure at least one of the paint daubs is orange.  Now the photo of the build sheet above is showing the coil spring strips as gold and tan, with am automatic trans.  And saw another build sheet similar build 4 speed cleveland from Dearborn and it had Gold/Orange.  Without a build sheet, would it be safe to say my car should have Gold/Orange?  Does anyone know what the colors mean?    Like - Orange /Gold vs. Orange/ Tan.  And would it be Orange first, then Gold, from left to right?  Does it matter where the paint stripes land when the spring is installed?  Or basically pointed parallel with the spindle?

Please let me know if this isn't the right location for this question.

Gold/Orange is what a build sheet I have calls out for a 4sp no AC.

[J_Speegle]

Gold/Orange is what a build sheet I have calls out for a 4sp no AC.

Mach I and PS also? And when was the car built or at least when was the projected build date?

[cobrajet_carl]

Mach I and PS also? And when was the car built or at least when was the projected build date?

Thought it had P/S but just power disc brakes.

[jwc66k]

Thought it had P/S but just power disc brakes.

If your goal is a "concourse grade" Mustang, you best know how your Mustang was equipped. You're lucky, you can get a "Marti Report" (1967 and newer). If you don't have one - GET ONE.
For paint, if (that's a big if) you have a color sample, you can get a small batch of paint made up at Home Depot for around $7.00 or $8.00 (isn't "inflation" wonderful). They did my 66 paint markings requirements.
Jim

[J_Speegle]

Kdclem Still didn't hear back on when your car was built?

Found one example that appears to match but not sure how the production period/date compares to your

[Kdclem]

Sorry for the delay.  I have three photos included.  The Marti is for my car.  The build sheet, and then the "zoomed in" build sheet, is a bit hard to see, I got this from someone responding to a facebook group when I posted pictures there asking is anyone had a build sheet example of a 351c, 4 speed M1, No AC , PS, PFB.  He states this sheet is from his car and from Dearborn, and mine is from San Jose.  It clearly shows the rear leaf springs as 2 yellow, and 2 brown stripes.  The front springs a bit harder to see, but definitly the first entry is GLD for GOLD, and then a "O" is visable.  The only color that could be is Orange, that would be a match.  Without a build sheet all I can do is find and compare legitimate examples.  I have seen other cars with similar make up only that are automatics that have GOLD/TAN for spring color daubs.  Thanks to all of you for helping.  Greatly appreciated.

[Kdclem]

Showing where I'm at with the front suspension.  Yes, the Spring Purchases is the only item I could not source, other than a Scott Drake version which I did not want.  I went with these modified kit from Open Tracker.  The kit uses the original Ford spring perch metal, and a new shaft with bearings.  Not Concours correct, I know but I was exhausted from looking trying to find them for a reasonable price. Couldn't find NOS, and even if I could swage new rubber and make it safe, I couldn't find the bushing anywhere either.   Had to make a tough call if the car is ever to be finished.  I was lucky to find DSD Restorations and David installed new upper and lower ball joints and riveted them with cross hatch pattern.  Turned out great.  I dipped the lower control arms in the semi low gloss paint in a make shift cardboard tube about 4" in Diameter.