I am restoring a 65 K GT coupe. Looking for an original starter and details for the the drive shaft.
For the starter they were painted semi-gloss black with a fade at the attaching end to assure good grounding. In some cases on later starters an ear was masked off. The stud and retaining base and nut were not painted with likely a mask slipped over the two to protect them from painting. An ink stamp for identification (65-some 68 cars) along with the date in the design was placed over the black paint. Don't use a sticker or a stamp made from one of the reproduction stickers. Those have been copied from NOS/service replacements. Also don't forget the paper gaskets that were used also and installed before the unit was painted
Drivelines should have a heat line the length of the tube where the tubes were shaped and welded together. The tubes were cut and the case ends were welded to the ends of the tube so you will find the heat bluing of the tube and dark visible welds there also. Ends will be natural case with fresh machined surfaces. Units were balanced and weights, as needed, were welded to the tube producing another heat "stain" at each spot.
Every third driveline would have a stenciled tube number (three drivelines were made from each tube section provided by that producer) in yellow. Identification markings and others were added to the tube manually
Here is a thread on restoring your driveline with details if yours is still in usable condition
https://www.concoursmustang.com/forum/index.php?topic=13.0 (https://www.concoursmustang.com/forum/index.php?topic=13.0)
And some pictures to help with the starter details
Close up showing the original band hardware and the exposed band gasket in these shots
(https://www.concoursmustang.com/forum/gallery/18/6-010423155412-185001748.jpeg)
A few pictures showing the two transition (black to bare) styles we've found. Not all 65's but for illustration of the paint pattern
(https://www.concoursmustang.com/forum/gallery/18/6-010423155414-185011823.jpeg)
An original shot of the starter - what you can see but not allot.
(https://www.concoursmustang.com/forum/gallery/18/6-010423155412-184992474.jpeg)