ConcoursMustang Forums

1st Generation 1964 1/2 - 1973 - Questions & general discussions that apply to a specific year => 1967 Shelby => Topic started by: Bossbill on August 08, 2018, 01:45:44 PM

Title: 67 Shelby Autolite Shocks
Post by: Bossbill on August 08, 2018, 01:45:44 PM
While rummaging around on the Shelby parts shelf looking for clutch parts to restore I found two original Autolite rear shocks! I didn't really recognize them earlier as the previous owner had undercoated the car -- and the shocks.

In looking at what I believe is the date code I can pull out a 6M, which works well for my build date, but how is the whole line "T6MB" decoded?
Title: Re: Shelby Autolite Shocks
Post by: J_Speegle on August 08, 2018, 07:17:32 PM
In looking at what I believe is the date code I can pull out a 6M, which works well for my build date, but how is the whole line "T6MB" decoded?

Nice find!

As shown on page #35 of the article about Date Coding in the Library ;)

They would decode as we understand it right now as Plant - Year - Month - Shift

Title: Re: Shelby Autolite Shocks
Post by: Bossbill on August 08, 2018, 07:19:47 PM
Doh!

One demerit for Bill!

I  keep forgetting that the date code stuff is within the Library =>ConcoursMustang.com Official [65-73] Mustang Article List and is not a standalone.

Title: Re: Shelby Autolite Shocks
Post by: Bossbill on October 02, 2018, 03:12:56 PM
Here are two more shots of the Shelby Rear shocks:
Glass Media blasted prior to restoration.
Paint daub found on the bottom of both rear shocks.

Makes me wonder if the fronts also had this color and where.
Title: Re: Shelby Autolite Shocks
Post by: J_Speegle on October 03, 2018, 07:33:01 PM
Paint daub found on the bottom of both rear shocks.

Makes me wonder if the fronts also had this color and where.

Haven't seen that color (looks to be a red related color) as a rear shock paint mark on an adjustable 67 shock. Maybe someone else has.

Fronts would have a color identification at the bottom of the shock - sort of like the rears - at the bottom end just above the mounting bracket on the tube.
Title: Re: Shelby Autolite Shocks
Post by: Bob Gaines on October 04, 2018, 01:22:37 AM
Haven't seen that color (looks to be a red related color) as a rear shock paint mark on an adjustable 67 shock. Maybe someone else has.

Fronts would have a color identification at the bottom of the shock - sort of like the rears - at the bottom end just above the mounting bracket on the tube.
Jeff I suspect it is a monitor issue.  Not a red shade but a lavender purple color. That mark is typical on 67 shocks both front and back. The only shade/color I have ever seen on 67 shocks. The fronts have the mark at about the same distance from the bottom as the rears from what I have seen.
Title: Re: Shelby Autolite Shocks
Post by: J_Speegle on October 04, 2018, 02:06:42 AM
Jeff I suspect it is a monitor issue.  Not a red shade but a lavender purple color. ....................

Maybe  - We'll guess we'll have to get a confirmation from the man on the scene ;)   Have another example but it may be the same issue - camera adjustments, monitor settings and other details that lead to that look also.

Agree that the lavender for that year - that application is what I've found on originals
Title: Re: Shelby Autolite Shocks
Post by: Bossbill on October 04, 2018, 01:23:18 PM
We'll guess we'll have to get a confirmation from the man on the scene.
Agree that the lavender for that year - that application is what I've found on originals

Man on the scene reporting, sir! The color appears the same in person as on my cell and two LCD monitors. It leans more towards red.
This shock has seen undercoating and rust. That was the color found even when I scrapped off the top layer.

I think we want something closer to this?
Title: Re: Shelby Autolite Shocks
Post by: Bob Gaines on October 04, 2018, 04:14:00 PM
Man on the scene reporting, sir! The color appears the same in person as on my cell and two LCD monitors. It leans more towards red.
This shock has seen undercoating and rust. That was the color found even when I scrapped off the top layer.

I think we want something closer to this?
I wouldn't call the color I am seeing on my monitor of the pictures posted as leaning toward red . But that is just me . Regardless the ruling on the last picture posted is as they say , looks close enough for government work , IMHO.
Title: Re: Shelby Autolite Shocks
Post by: J_Speegle on October 04, 2018, 04:53:52 PM
I think we want something closer to this?

Yes
Title: Re: Shelby Autolite Shocks
Post by: Bossbill on October 04, 2018, 10:06:05 PM
Thanks again for your help, guys.

I have most of the hardware and I'll have to see if I can reuse the rubber.
I'll post a pic later in the owner restoration thread.
Title: Re: Shelby Autolite Shocks
Post by: Bob Gaines on October 04, 2018, 11:09:14 PM
Thanks again for your help, guys.

I have most of the hardware and I'll have to see if I can reuse the rubber.
I'll post a pic later in the owner restoration thread.
Check with Chris Brown. He is making the hardware . I am not sure about the rubber bushings.
Title: Re: 67 Shelby Autolite Shocks
Post by: J_Speegle on November 03, 2018, 07:13:30 PM
Figured it was best to build off of this thread to keep all things related together.

Looking into the 67 Shelby adjustable shocks provided by Gabriel I was reminded that this might be a good time to share some findings

So far I've found two versions of the AUTOLITE shocks that I discovered on original shocks installed on these cars during production while looking through the examples I have in photos found and shared with me. Front shock markings seem to follow the same production pattern.


1- AUTOLITE marked shocks painted semi-gloss black. This first version had two horizontal lines to the left and the right of the MADE IN CANADA and but none to left and right of the AUTOLITE.
Production of this style appears to end in Dec 1966 (date on shocks). Reposted Bill's picture from above and added arrows to identify the lines.

(http://www.concoursmustang.com/forum/gallery/11/6-031118173539.jpeg)



2- AUTOLITE marked shocks painted semi-gloss black. This second version had two horizontal lines to the left and the right of the MADE IN CANADA and to the left and right of the AUTOLITE.
Production of this style appears to start in Jan 1966 (date on shocks)

(http://www.concoursmustang.com/forum/gallery/11/6-031118173713.jpeg)


Looking back to Bill's posts it appears he car originally (for the rears) was equipped with one of the earlier and one of the later versions of the AUTOLITE.  Likely others were the same during a transition period 

Title: Re: 67 Shelby Autolite Shocks
Post by: Bob Gaines on November 03, 2018, 09:08:05 PM
I thought I would include some pictures of the style of markings that came before the Autolite trademark in 67 production. The earliest C7ZD shocks had the FoMoCo trademark instead of Autolite. 
Title: Re: 67 Shelby Autolite Shocks
Post by: J_Speegle on November 03, 2018, 10:23:21 PM
I thought I would include some pictures of the style of markings that came before the Autolite trademark in 67 production. The earliest C7ZD shocks had the FoMoCo trademark instead of Autolite.

Was going to include that very early version also but choose not to in that post. Thanks for adding it in.

Is that the latest date you've seen on assembly line FoMoCo 67 shocks?

So I've got so far

1- up to Oct 66 the FoMoCo script stamping

2- Nov - Dec 67 made with AUTOLITE and lines

3- Jan 67-up made with AUTOLITE and no lines on either side of it

Think we have the whole year mapped out
Title: Re: 67 Shelby Autolite Shocks
Post by: Bob Gaines on November 03, 2018, 11:35:46 PM
Was going to include that very early version also but choose not to in that post. Thanks for adding it in.

Is that the latest date you've seen on assembly line FoMoCo 67 shocks?

So I've got so far

1- up to Oct 66 the FoMoCo script stamping

2- Nov - Dec 67 made with AUTOLITE and lines

3- Jan 67-up made with AUTOLITE and no lines on either side of it

Think we have the whole year mapped out
Yes, that is the latest date on a FoMoCo marked shock that I have come across. I have a suspicion that the Autolite marked shocks came about in mid Oct or maybe a little earlier. I still have a few loose ends to figure out before I can confirm.
Title: Re: 67 Shelby Autolite Shocks
Post by: J_Speegle on November 03, 2018, 11:50:42 PM
Yes, that is the latest date on a FoMoCo marked shock that I have come across. ............................

Matches with my stuff

As far as earlier Autolite. There was only one factory so an earlier date would mean they had multiple stamping machines going at the same time with different scripts but same dates. And this for a very low volume shock that they ahd been supplying for almost a year at that point.  ::)  Will wait to see an example and date on that one :)
Title: Re: 67 Shelby Autolite Shocks
Post by: Bossbill on November 04, 2018, 01:14:47 PM
Pics of mine after restoration:

(http://www.concoursmustang.com/forum/gallery/11/4249-041118120330.jpeg)

It's very hard to remove all traces of corrosion without also removing the lettering. This is especially true on the one shock as the lettering is right on the weld line.
Shocks are made out flat steel, then rolled into a tube and induction welded.
The stamping  on the early shock was done after the tube was welded.
Title: Re: 67 Shelby Autolite Shocks
Post by: J_Speegle on November 04, 2018, 05:05:35 PM
Thanks for taking a couple of additional pictures for the side by side.  Now since you provided us with a clear picture of the 7A dated shock we can now see that there was a third AUTOLITE version/variation of the stamping on the rear shocks. Appears to be a single run/month detail  just based on the evidence at this point

Purple arrows - Jan shock has horizontal lines at the left and the right of the settings like it does above to the left and right of the MADE IN CANADA and the AUTOLITE. The Feb dated shock does not

Blue arrows - show the difference in the stamping and the space or length of the lower arrow below the soft setting


(http://www.concoursmustang.com/forum/gallery/11/6-041118160208.jpeg)
Title: Re: 67 Shelby Autolite Shocks
Post by: Bossbill on July 14, 2021, 01:46:18 PM
Do you guys have a picture of a front 67 Shelby Autolite shock in the mid year timeframe?
A pic of the whole shock would be great!
Title: Re: 67 Shelby Autolite Shocks
Post by: J_Speegle on July 14, 2021, 05:18:06 PM
Do you guys have a picture of a front 67 Shelby Autolite shock in the mid year timeframe?
A pic of the whole shock would be great!

Got these from somewhere in the past. All have been stripped of paint and both front and rears are dated Jan 67 just like the rears you posted pictures of in the past

(https://www.concoursmustang.com/forum/gallery/15/6-140721161739-157231492.jpeg)
Title: Re: 67 Shelby Autolite Shocks
Post by: Bossbill on July 14, 2021, 08:52:29 PM
Thanks Jeff!