ConcoursMustang Forums
1st Generation 1964 1/2 - 1973 - Questions & general discussions that apply to a specific year => 1964 1/2 - 1965 => Topic started by: C5ZZKGT on May 23, 2011, 02:58:50 PM
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My bracket has a very jagged/crude looking "slit" if you want to call it that in the back of it....it was pointed out to me as incorrect/out of place at the Jax national this past weekend:
I looked at other '65s and they all had a nice, clean stamped looking "slit" in this area while '66s had nothing there at all and were solid.........opinions?
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Most '65 latch supports I have seen have the slit. Remember that '65 and '66 hood latch supports are different and not interchangeable.
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OK, Thanks Charles! I didn't know that the '65s and 66s wern't interchangeable. I just have to wonder why mine has the slit so jagged and crude looking.......
BTW: What is the purpose of the slit?
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maybe just a bad stamping or if its a late car maybe the tooling was on its last legs
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The jagged edge may indicate a service replacement part. Seen a few of those that were questionable quality.
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This is the top bracket...its sure ugly since it was pointed out to me-I'll try & post a picture...
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I would consider it a neat piece if it show's no signs of major pitting, a possible ford stamping that wasn't exact
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This bracket is is pristine condition, was finished along with everything else during my car's restoration.
I honestly never noticed it before until the judges pointed it out to me at the Jax show and its litterally rightr in front of your nose every time you open the hood.....this is a July 1965 Dearborn car.....
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FWIW I just went out to look at mine, also a 7/65 Dearborn. The slot has an edge sticking up a bit at the ends, but is otherwise clean and straight. Maybe yours reflects a damaged tool when it was made?
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I've got to get off my butt and post a picture of this thing....
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Without further delay here is a picture of the slit in question, agai Late July 1965 from Dearborn:
-Just figured out how to post pictures-feel like a kid in a candy store now!!
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I'm guessing that maybe that is a reproduction part?
Here's a pic of an original from a late May '65 Dearborn car:
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Without further delay here is a picture of the slit in question, agai Late July 1965 from Dearborn:
-Just figured out how to post pictures-feel like a kid in a candy store now!!
It kind of looks like someone made it...Like it didn't have the slit initially and then someone cut into it...
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It kind of looks like someone made it...Like it didn't have the slit initially and then someone cut into it...
I have to kind of agree, thats why I thought it might have started out as a '66 piece, but am told that the '65-'66 are not interchangeable......
In any case machine or man made slit I can't understand why this part was put on my car during restoration.
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Maybe it is a reproduction piece? Originals aren't that hard to find, would just need to strip/paint. And yes, 65-66 are not interchangeable due to the grille differences.
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I wish I knew Charles, I wish I knew.....
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Looks original to me a lot of ford parts are like that and back in the 60's quality control was lacking ???
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Looks original to me a lot of ford parts are like that and back in the 60's quality control was lacking ???
Certainly lacking when compared to quality and fit of modern cars, but in my personal opinion, I think Ford did a pretty good job on these cars, much better than most give them credit for.
I believe that latch support piece on Rick's car is either an aftermarket replacement or a poor quality Ford service part. They were originally date stamped, although sometimes the date is stamped across the bolt holes. The date is stamped on the bottom.
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Looks original to me a lot of ford parts are like that and back in the 60's quality control was lacking ???
Guess a good thread would be to post some pictures of original cars and how well they fit - (even compared to new cars)
Now if we're comparing service replacements made over the yes (80's for example) I would agree there was plenty of room for improvement - but of course not all of these were produced by Ford.
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Does anyone know what the hole is for? It looks like it's had a tool jammed into it.
Is it possible that Ford may have used that hole as a leverage, with a crude tool, to move the latch striker on the assembly line? Possibly when due to tolerances, bolt adjustment wasn't enough?
Looking at the upper edge of your hood latch support bracket, it seems uneven or canted as though maybe the holes in the radiator support are misaligned?
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My guess is it's either an alignment reference or there to improve how the car crumples during a collision.
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Thanks guys!! I'm going to check the date on this one........
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Should be able to use a light and mirror to possibly see if there is a date stamp. If you need a pic, let me know, just pulled 3 out last night when sorting/cleaning up the garage. BTW, they all have clean slits, no jagged edges.
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Thanks Charles, I'm going to check for a part number today.....where would I find it on the bottom? is it likely to be a C4zz # or a date code?
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There are no part numbers or engineering numbers stamped on the latch support. It simply has a sheet metal date stamp like the fenders and most all other individual sheet metal parts throughout the car... like 6 3 3D
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April 19 Dearborn car, nice and clean. ;)