Topic: Four Speed Marking Question - HEH-BW

[Richdowl]

NOTE: The following question has been separated from a larger more general thread so that we can focus on more specific details
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Hello Jeff, I read your Paint Marks - Four Speed Toploader - The Basics. I'm in the process of restoring my toploader and need help deciphering some marks, Tranny1 photo has the tag. I can clearly read the BW marking in Tranny2 photo but I'm having difficulty figuring out the markings in Tranny3 and Tranny4 photos. Any idea?

[J_Speegle]

Well lets give this a try.

In Tranny 4 I don't see any shadows or marks. Maybe they didn't show up because of lighting (too bright or poor angle to see the) but as the article metions above the shifter studs we see what was likely a assembler number done in a stylish font from the period


In your passenger side pictures. I looked at other examples I have and some other top loaders being built before and after the HEH-BX. Typically the same workers that did the -BX and for the same purposes so their might be similarits.

I start out colorizing the different shapes, letters or numbers in contrasting colors to try and make out what they might be. In other examples I'll do every stroke or line in a different color. Not unusual to find them over lapping to make the process even more fun  Tried to try and guess what is going on around the filler hole on that side since it appears there is staining in a somewhat large area there with no clear indication as to direction or easy to determine shape.

The orange stripe or poorly applied check mark is found on a lot of examples

The large X or V is often found

A far number often had a large R on that side though not getting that from your picture

Red arrow at the bottom of the picture is pointing to possibly a few more stains from other letters or numbers that were applied to the bottom of the main case.

Yours


Highlighted




Here is another similar top loader with a couple of similar markings





Other places to look
- At the forward flange of the drivers side of the main case as shown in the article.
- Tail shaft housing. Above and or below the speedo attachment hole
- On the bottom of the tail shaft housing behind the rubber mount in the oval depression area

Some examples



Hope this helps

[Richdowl]

very helpful and than you very much

[Richdowl]

Hi Jeff,
Thanks for the help and please see my artistry after your suggestions, Tranny5 and 6. I have another question. When I removed my engine to spray the engine bay, restore the heating box, Bendix Master Cylinder, steering box and rear main seal a small aluminum round tag fell to the ground. Tag said Guaranteed Void if Removed. Any idea where it may have been glued to. Looks like a bolt perhaps. I have a picture of the tag attached.
Thanks
Rich Dowling

[Bob Gaines]

If historical details like transmission markings are a concern I thought I would point out that white Teflon tape was not used to seal fill plugs . Nothing was used for the fill plug for instance. If you are concerned about sealing threads on temp sender, oil pressure sender and extension etc. I would use a shellac based sealer like Indianhead which is similar to what Ford used to seal. https://www.amazon.com/Permatex-20539-Indian-Shellac-Compound/dp/B0008KLOG6?th=1    At the very least I would take a razor blade or pick and dig out the visible white. You can also carefully cover any remaining white with a little sealer using a toothpick. The white modern Teflon tape or pipe thread compound ruins the original illusion you are going for . Also the harmonic balancer was painted semi gloss black.

[Bob Gaines]

The tag may have come from a aftermarket or rebuilt part that came from your car but I don't recall seeing that original on a Mustang.

[Richdowl]

Thanks Bob, good catch on the harmonic balancer and the thread sealer

[J_Speegle]

Hi Jeff,
Thanks for the help and please see my artistry after your suggestions, Tranny5 and 6. I have another question.

Not sure how exact or correct your aiming for but for you and others who will read this thread and see the pictures we want to provide as much help and guidance as possible so here are some comments

On the flange where the trans would attach to the bell housing that dot of yellow is often a small (same font as the one above the gear/shift selector studs) two didgit number as I showed in reply #1. You may have found just a small amount of paint left from the application on your trans when you cleaned it. 

Neither the BW (trans type stamp) nor the different font stamp above the  gear/sifter selector studs were stencil  style fonts so there would not be gaps in the letters or numbers as your show. Yes I'm aware that the stencil styles were used incorrectly during the '80 and '90's and there are plenty of examples of this on "restored" cars from that period and often after when restorers just copied other cars in magazines at at shows rather than doing their own home work



As far as the "messy" writing or marks looks like something that possibly was original based on what we have available

When I removed my engine to spray the engine bay, restore the heating box, Bendix Master Cylinder, steering box and rear main seal a small aluminum round tag fell to the ground. Tag said Guaranteed Void if Removed. Any idea where it may have been glued to. Looks like a bolt perhaps. I have a picture of the tag attached.
Thanks
Rich Dowling

Agree with Bob in that the metal "tag" you found is very likely something put on an aftermarket/rebuilt replacement. Similar practices can be found on other parts that were not original to the cars. No need for the warning on original factory parts

[Richdowl]

Thanks Jeff, I understand about the stencil being period incorrect. I removed them and went to a local print & Ink shop and had them make me up a correct B and W stamp. Question about Tranny2 picture, are they dobs of yellow you think next to and at the bottom of the linkage studs?

[J_Speegle]

Thanks Jeff,....................... Question about Tranny2 picture, are they dobs of yellow you think next to and at the bottom of the linkage studs?

Not typically from the examples I have from the period. Looking mostly to HEH base transmissions from 65-67 for this

Consider that some "daubs" could be simply drips or some other unintended mess up. I have one example of a yellow line below the shift/linkage studs (about 4-5" below) on a different trans built almost two years prior to yours.  Do have one or two where the guy stamping the numbers stamped them multiple times on a few unusual areas of the trans and also where we typically find it.

All I have documentation for at this time