ConcoursMustang Forums
1st Generation 1964 1/2 - 1973 - Questions & general discussions that apply to a specific year => 1968 Mustang => Topic started by: 68GTFastback on August 08, 2012, 04:27:49 PM
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Have S Code Fastback with 390 engine. Are the shock towers a different order # for this car, compared to a 289-302-351 etc? I cannot find a separate part # for big block cars in cataloges.
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Pretty sure that the reinforced, or big block shock towers, didn't show up in the 1968 S and R codes until mid year.
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67 S codes and 68 X,S & R codes had the same shock towers except the inner and outter structure was welded verticaly on both sides. I will see if I can find a picture. Marty
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Since you didn't mention when and where you car was built we're kind guessing what the correct answer for you would be
As mentioned 67-8 S codes were just welded up - not very pretty. 68 S & R's had extra reinforcements added part way through the year. So we don't have any idea right now which is the correct replacement for what your car should have. :(
Also be aware that you can't just go out and purchase every piece for these cars and may of us here would suggest that you use original parts rather than purchasing a reproduction as they often differ in look from originals
A couple of 67 Examples
(http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f49/firetrainer/67%20Mustang/67BBshktwrmod.jpg)
(http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f49/firetrainer/67%20Mustang/677R03S17xzxShockTower.jpg)
A 68 big block welded shock tower example
(http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f49/firetrainer/68%20Mustang/68earlierBBshktwr.jpg)
Late 68 R & S code shock towers
(http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f49/firetrainer/68%20Mustang/8F03S187078shktwr.jpg)
(http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f49/firetrainer/68%20Mustang/8F01Rxxxshktwr.jpg)
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What about 67-68 Shelby's, both the small and big block varieties? Same thing - welded on BB only until the extra brace as a running change in 68?
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Seem as though I saw a car some where that had a welded on one side and the late on the other. May have been a repair?
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Sorry I left this out. The car was built at San Jose November 31, 1967. Thanks for your input and photo's.
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I helped out a bit (minor touches) on a 67 GT350, all original sheet metal, welded fully on one side, but the other side only the side towards the front was welded, not the rear. The 3 or 4 welds looked like Jeff's pics. I chalk that up to a simple error. But it is a small block with the supplimental welds. Can get the vin if that would help.
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Sorry I left this out. The car was built at San Jose November 31, 1967. Thanks for your input and photo's.
So somewhere in the 8R0xS14xxxx range? All of my pictures are organized and filed by VIN. Would guess that that was during the welded seams not the added brace period but now with the complete information we can see what they were doing at San Jose around that time
Follow - up
Apparently you car is right around the change over point - so based on what I've got pictures I can't suggest one or the other practice
8R02S133811 - no extra metal just extra welding
(http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f49/firetrainer/68%20Mustang/8R02S133811shktwr.jpg)
8R01R158074 - extra metal - brace
(http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f49/firetrainer/68%20Mustang/8R01R158074shktwr.jpg)
Sorry
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What about 67-68 Shelby's, both the small and big block varieties? Same thing - welded on BB only until the extra brace as a running change in 68?
Shelby typically had the welding done on both BB and SB.
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Nov 67 would be welded reinforcement. Wrap around didnt start until around 4/1/68
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So somewhere in the 8R0xS14xxxx range? All of my pictures are organized and filed by VIN. Would guess that that was during the welded seams not the added brace period but now with the complete information we can see what they were doing at San Jose around that time
I can add one more data point. I have welded shock towers, and figured out early on that it must have been done at the factory. The welds have grey primer and chassis black over them, all appearing to be original. I started looking at other 390 '68s at shows, and every SJ car had the same welds (2 or 3 cars).
My car was bucked on 2/2/68, VIN 8R02S140290. No digital photos handy, I will try to locate and scan some prints.
The welds on mine are just as ugly, even have big chunks of welding wire sticking out of one of them! I'm going to try to preserve those in place.
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I can add one more data point. I have welded shock towers, and figured out early on that it must have been done at the factory. The welds have grey primer and chassis black over them, all appearing to be original. I started looking at other 390 '68s at shows, and every SJ car had the same welds (2 or 3 cars).
My car was bucked on 2/2/68, VIN 8R02S140290. No digital photos handy, I will try to locate and scan some prints.
The welds on mine are just as ugly, even have big chunks of welding wire sticking out of one of them! I'm going to try to preserve those in place.
I used to think that the welded up shock tower brackets were only a Shelby addition but have since noticed them on other regular Mustangs with the competition suspension option as well regardless of if BB or SB.
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I used to think that the welded up shock tower brackets were only a Shelby addition but have since noticed them on other regular Mustangs with the competition suspension option as well regardless of if BB or SB.
Interesting, I haven't paid enough attention to look for the welds on non-S-code cars. Since you brought up the suspension option issue, I will add that my car is not a GT and has the standard handling package.
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I had previously thought it was only big blocks that had the welds but as noted above the small block Shelby's did as well. We are restoring a 68 HCS J code GT and I have found that it is welded as well. It does not have the competition handling option.
Marty
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I had previously thought it was only big blocks that had the welds but as noted above the small block Shelby's did as well. We are restoring a 68 HCS J code GT and I have found that it is welded as well. It does not have the competition handling option.
Marty
Getting a bit off thread with the addition of 67's and 68 small blocks - we'll see if we need to split.
Marty think that someone has "improved" you 68 HCS as you've mentioned - other things have altered
Looking at other 68 San Jose J codes through the whole production period I see on original cars only those shock towers without the extra welding as we've been discussing on the early big blocks. Have at least 50 examples but here are a few of the clearer ones rather that posting a ton of them
Do have some with the extra welding in many/all cases the black paint is burnt off of the area welded and often there is additional shock tower damage that appears they fixed at the same time
(http://www.concoursmustang.com/forum/gallery/3/6-110215160133.jpeg)
(http://www.concoursmustang.com/forum/gallery/3/6-110215155323.jpeg)
(http://www.concoursmustang.com/forum/gallery/3/6-110215160045.jpeg)
(http://www.concoursmustang.com/forum/gallery/3/6-110215160101.jpeg)
Just like C and T codes
(http://www.concoursmustang.com/forum/gallery/3/6-110215160030.jpeg)
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Getting a bit off thread with the addition of 67's and 68 small blocks - we'll see if we need to split.
Marty think that someone has "improved" you 68 HCS as you've mentioned - other things have altered
Looking at other 68 San Jose J codes through the whole production period I see on original cars only those shock towers without the extra welding as we've been discussing on the early big blocks. Have at least 50 examples but here are a few of the clearer ones rather that posting a ton of them
Do have some with the extra welding in many/all cases the black paint is burnt off of the area welded and often there is additional shock tower damage that appears they fixed at the same time"
Jeff I can not say for certain that a PO did not weld these but there was no signs of burned paint or a repaint. These look very much like other originals even with the sloppy wire left.
J codes that were not GTs got a 8 inch rear axel and lighter springs while the GTs got a 9 inch rear axel and heaver springs and sway bar. Possibly welded shock towers was another addition to that package. There are a number of strange thing on this car such as the factory sound deadner on the tunnel like a Cougar. Plus this car sat in a yard for the last twenty years so this would have to have been done long ago. What do you think?
Marty
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ruppstang, your pics look EXACTLY what I found on my S-code. The welds themselves are not pretty, but solid. And the extra wire looks like it wasn't a botched weld, but more like the welder had some extra wire sticking out of the gun and burned it off on a nearby area of the tower.
Perhaps yours was not supposed to get the extra welds, but got them by mistake?
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Jeff I can not say for certain that a PO did not weld these but there was no signs of burned paint or a repaint. These look very much like other originals even with the sloppy wire left.
J codes that were not GTs got a 8 inch rear axel and lighter springs while the GTs got a 9 inch rear axel and heaver springs and sway bar. Possibly welded shock towers was another addition to that package. There are a number of strange thing on this car such as the factory sound deadner on the tunnel like a Cougar. Plus this car sat in a yard for the last twenty years so this would have to have been done long ago. What do you think?
Good point - had completely missed that you were suggesting that it was possibly a GT modification rather than a J code one. Wish my Cal Spec was home to compare.
Pictures do look factory but can't be sure without confirmation IMHO with other original cars rather than leaning towards the "mistake" button :)
20 years in storage at this point IMHO really isn't that long. Plenty of Mustangs had 200K miles by the mid 80's
Will go through the pictures and add the GT option to the search this time
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Just checked my San Jose 68 GT J code. It is welded on one side and not on the other. The welded side has a piece of wire as well. Checked the small block Cal Spec and it does not have the welding but it is not a GT
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Was the welding unique to SJ, or was it done at the other plants too?
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Was the welding unique to SJ, or was it done at the other plants too?
For which car? We've sort of gotten off thread with the small block discussion. Think I'll split it so that we can focus and make what we collect easier to find in the future for others
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For which car? We've sort of gotten off thread with the small block discussion. Think I'll split it so that we can focus and make what we collect easier to find in the future for others
I meant shock tower reinforcement welds in general, regardless of engine size, GT status or handling package. Were any Dearborn or Metuchen cars welded this way, or was it a SJ-only practice?
This thread is very informative, I did not know the wrap-around reinforcements started in late '68!
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Here I go again -- posting to an old thread again. However, most of the pics have disappeared due to the Photobucket debacle.
Adding another data point to the shock tower welding discussion . . .
Here is a pic of a SJ 67 Shelby GT350, with the latest sheetmetal date in the first week of February.
Ignore the UCA bolts as those are part of roller stand to move the car around.
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4435/36893499641_20cc3e554b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/Yd9Q6p)
A larger picture is available by clicking the picture above and being sent to the original Flicker picture.
In the blowup you can actual see the "1 24" date on the engine brace!