ConcoursMustang Forums
1st Generation 1964 1/2 - 1973 - Questions & general discussions that apply to a specific year => 1969 - 70 Shelby => Topic started by: ninedrvr on September 23, 2021, 12:33:48 PM
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I just read a page on the thecoralsnake.com that the 69 Shelbys didn't have rear spring paint codes since AOSmith replaced the springs. Is this the current wisdom?
I'm setting up my springs now and if they are supposed to have paint codes/stripes, I want to get the right colors. My car is GT500 Convertible Automatic with A/C. 3/69 build date.
Jim
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Some 1969 Shelby springs have a white mark by the front eyelet. It is usually not visible when the springs are installed.
I wouldn't question the Coralsnake 😎 (just kidding- feel free to confirm anything) I am always willing to improve the website.
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Here is a picture of the reminants of one such white mark found on a set of 69 Shelby rear springs. Of course it appears that what is left is maybe only 50% or less than the original size
Shown in the picture is the front spring eyelet. Have seen the white in another location on some examples but that was not apparently typical
(https://www.concoursmustang.com/forum/gallery/16/6-230921155712-16045140.jpeg)
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As others have been saying a white paint mark is what was done to mark the special leaf springs. If it is not visible then that is not out of the ordinary given where it is and the variation of how it was marked during typical production . I have seen original marks that appear to be have been made by brush and others by spray can . To elaborate more the Shelby rear leaf's are typically the same regardless of if GT350 or GT500 , fastback or convertible, AC or non AC equipped. If you are prepping the springs to be installed then I would first confirm that they are in fact Shelby springs. The paint mark is very hard to see once installed if at all. The special leaf springs on the other hand are VERY visible and can be easily identified as genuine Shelby or not. Also unlike other Mustang leaf springs you can not just switch the bottom plate like other Mustang leaf's and no one is the wiser. The Shelby leaf's are different shape (bottom) and lengths are different (next two leaf's)compare to regular Mustang. The only section that is the same as a regular Mustang is the section with the front and rear eyelets.
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Adding some photos here since I have these handy. Ignore the green paint on the leaf springs as thats body overspray from a repaint at some point in its life. But you can see the white paint marks and the distinct leaf springs.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51570412832_390f9d1f82_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2mz6R3Q)20210928_153036 (https://flic.kr/p/2mz6R3Q) by Marcus Anghel (https://www.flickr.com/photos/154714213@N02/), on Flickr
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51571458298_a630a01e78_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2mzccQ7)20210928_153107 (https://flic.kr/p/2mzccQ7) by Marcus Anghel (https://www.flickr.com/photos/154714213@N02/), on Flickr
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51572144410_08d0d930d0_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2mzfHMC)20210928_153000 (https://flic.kr/p/2mzfHMC) by Marcus Anghel (https://www.flickr.com/photos/154714213@N02/), on Flickr
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51570412872_fd06a39ec3_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2mz6R4w)20210928_152950 (https://flic.kr/p/2mz6R4w) by Marcus Anghel (https://www.flickr.com/photos/154714213@N02/), on Flickr
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Adding some photos here since I have these handy. Ignore the green paint on the leaf springs as thats body overspray from a repaint at some point in its life. But you can see the white paint marks and the distinct leaf springs.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51570412832_390f9d1f82_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2mz6R3Q)20210928_153036 (https://flic.kr/p/2mz6R3Q) by Marcus Anghel (https://www.flickr.com/photos/154714213@N02/), on Flickr
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51571458298_a630a01e78_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2mzccQ7)20210928_153107 (https://flic.kr/p/2mzccQ7) by Marcus Anghel (https://www.flickr.com/photos/154714213@N02/), on Flickr
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51572144410_08d0d930d0_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2mzfHMC)20210928_153000 (https://flic.kr/p/2mzfHMC) by Marcus Anghel (https://www.flickr.com/photos/154714213@N02/), on Flickr
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51570412872_fd06a39ec3_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2mz6R4w)20210928_152950 (https://flic.kr/p/2mz6R4w) by Marcus Anghel (https://www.flickr.com/photos/154714213@N02/), on Flickr
I wanted to mention that the only leaf that looks to be different in the pictures is the bottom leaf .That is because the next 2 leaf's that are also Shelby unique are not shown in a way to show the different lengths compared to a regular Mustang
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Ok...adding one other photo here for this to show the other leaves.....
I can do a side by side comparison of regular Mustang leaf springs in the next few weeks.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51576863216_cfa76fc37b_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2mzEUwm)20211008_120141 (https://flic.kr/p/2mzEUwm) by Marcus Anghel (https://www.flickr.com/photos/154714213@N02/), on Flickr
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The S9MS marked version is the more typical. The C9ZX as in Marcus's picture is the rare of the two.