Topic: Do I have a real factory GT? What say you?

[Jays66gt]

I've done a lot of research to find out the tell tale signs of a true factory GT versus a dealer made car, or an owner that took it upon him/herself to make their Mustang a GT. So here is my list and answers. So is it likely that I have a real GT?

Square snubber plate above pumpkin: YES
All were A or K code: Mine is an A code
GT production didn't start until late February of 65: Mine is dated Sept. 1965
Dual exhaust through the rear valance with trim rings: NO (weird but true)
Reinforcement exhaust hanger plates were on the inside of the car behind the rear seat: YES
Rear brake hose located further outboard to clear pipes: unknown
Rear bumper guards deleted, and mounting holes in trunk plugged: NO (again weird but true)
Rocker panel trim and quarter ornament deleted: YES
Regular Mustang badges were deleted form the front fenders (Except engine designation): YES
Special rocker panel stripe with "MUSTANG" lettering on front fender: YES GT badges on front fenders: YES
Quicker 16:1 ratio steering box with tag reading either HCC-AX or HCC-AW: I cannot locate a tag to verify
Larger diameter sway bar (13/16"): YES
Heavier front and rear springs: ?
Heavy duty shocks: ?
Front 4-piston disc brakes and larger master cylinder: YES
Unique "GT" gas cap: YES
Fog lamp switch wiring reversed from 65 with 2 male and 1 female connector: Not verified
Circuit breaker mounted on the wiper motor bracket: not verified
Standard grill was used and had brackets added on (As well as blacked out without chrome leading edges): YES
Radiator support now punched for lamp wiring: YES
Rear lights operate when fog lights are turned on: YES

I do have a 1965 edition of the rally pack setup installed. Is it possible this could be a left over as my car is a September '65 car?

I don't plan to show the car this is just my curiosity getting the better of me.  I love my car, no matter what.  But I'd like the opinions of an expert or three here!

Thanks,

Jay

[jwc66k]

Does your car have the dual exhaust tip hangers holes? They are a pair of holes thru the rear frame rail just to the rear of the tie down plate holes and in front of the shackle bushing hole. The tie down plate holes are horizontal, the exhaust hanger holes are vertical, plus there is a crush plate you can feel if you stick a finger in the assembly line tooling hole in the frame rail. If those two sets of holes are not there, it cannot be a GT.
Jim

[CharlesTurner]

Think pics of the dual exhaust reinforcements and the snubber plate would be required to answer your questions correctly.

[Jays66gt]

Picture of the snubber plate:

[Jays66gt]

Picture of the exhaust hanger area.  I can feel a vertical piece if I stick my finger in the big hole which is located just above the rear spring shackle.

Front to back on the car is left to right as you are viewing the picture.  Top is top and bottom is bottom.

[Jays66gt]

And my steering box is a HCC-AX.  Tag was so dirty I didn't know it was a tag!

[gjz30075]

Rear brake hose located further outboard to clear pipes: unknown

Why would this be an unknown?   Is it in the location shown in this picture?

[Jays66gt]

I didn't know what to look for...

[Jays66gt]

And mine looks identical to your underside.  Although my exhaust system is installed.  The hangers for the exhaust are bolted to just to the outboard of those plates that are installed next to the driveshaft.

[gjz30075]

Aha!  I figured out this photoshop stuff.   I've circled the tab that is spot welded to the floor where the brake lines (hard and soft) meet.   This is the tab that is moved more outboard so the soft line doesn't interfere with the exhaust.

[1970shelbyguy]

i call it my prostrate check. frame rail gussets should be there on all fact dual exh cars. even  69 mach1's have them.  just gotta watchout for restored cars that had rear frame rail replacement. usually that little gusset isn't put inside the frame rail before welding is done.

[CharlesTurner]

frame rail gussets should be there on all fact dual exh cars.

The 64.5-65 transverse and 65 Arvinode K codes didn't have them.

[J_Speegle]

Remember that confirmation relays on not just what should be there but any features that should not be there.

Remember the vast majority of cars have gone through allot of changes since new - yes even those who's owners swear that they never were changed


Looking at your list your have ? at Springs. You can check the short leaf on the rears to help figure out unless they have been changed

Also consider that the multiple trim pieces that should not be there - their mounting holes should not be there either nor signs of repair/elimination in those locations also

[jwc66k]

Here's a couple of pictures I "borrowed" from an e-bay sale for a set of "Dual Exhaust" parts including the frame rails. Inside the frame rail (first pic, second item from left) you can see three "tubes" going across the rail. The closest "tube" is where the rear shackle upper bushings bolt into, the next is the two "tubes" for dual exhaust mounting (they are vertical but only the top tube is visible) and in the front is the rear tube for shipping tie down pair.
In the lower right hand corner are the two mounting brackets from the frame rail to mount the insulators for the rear exhaust mounts. The other items are the four bolts for the mounting brackets, two hanger pieces that aren't used in dual exhaust installations and the two mounting plates for the rear of the mufflers installed from inside the car.
The second picture attemps to show the two vertical tubes.
Jim

[CharlesTurner]

... two hanger pieces that aren't used in dual exhaust installations...

Those are '65 parking brake cable retainer brackets, outers.

Again, the rear frame rail reinforcements only apply to dual exhaust cars built after around mid to late March '65.  K codes before then (there were no GT A codes at the time), did not have that style rear hanger, nor the reinforcements in the frame rail.