Interested in understanding production line paint markings.
I observed many markings on the rear housing after doing a basic clean and external inspection of the assy from my car.
Is there a general understanding of what job aid, or production line process step these refer to ?
The center section has the typical orange and yellow paint color markings. (photo attached)
The axle housing has:
- blue paint lines at the brake line junction block and axle vent hose coupling (photo attached)
- yellow wide paint marking on the passenger side, by the brake backing plate (photo attached)
- yellow "X" paint marking where the 2 brakes lines meet. (photo attached)
- light yellow paint marking at the drivers side end, near the brake baking plate. (photo attached)
- white marking on the center section rear of housing. I'm not sure if that is a number? (photo attached)
- orange paint marking (line) near the brake junction block. (photo attached)
Sorry, I can only attach 4 photos.
Others available on request.
I'd be interested to hear from folks that can explain these.
I'm guessing that these are typical of what is found on other rear axle housing assemblies.
Thank you!
Fran
Thanks for posting Fran, interested to see the feedback as I'm about to detail my axle housing.
Thats a 4 -speed KR 2 hole housing automatic has 1 hole. Great original photos and looks like the brake hose line strap was never installed?
Quote from: Special Ed on July 02, 2022, 09:23:55 AM
Thats a 4 -speed KR 2 hole housing automatic has 1 hole. Great original photos and looks like the brake hose line strap was never installed?
It's a typical housing used after about February 1968 on all Mustang / Cougars. The cars with staggered shocks use a different setup than cars that had standard shock mounting.
I don't often get to correct Special Ed.
What was wrong in my post as i pointed out that thats a KR 68 1/2'' cj 4-speed 2 hole housing of which is unique for those cars that have staggered shocks. The 68 1/2 cj and KR automatics have the 1 hole housing and thats why the 68 cj resonators have different bends on the lh rear pipe over axle to clear staggered shocks and the cj automatic has different bend than 4-speed cjs. In 69 70 all 31 spline housings use the 2 hole housing and the resonator pipes are same bends between 4-speed and automatics cjs. The reason i made my post was to point out in his great photos that thats a 4-speed 2 hole housing and some of the color codes will be different on an automatic 1 hole housing.
Quote from: Special Ed on July 02, 2022, 12:10:35 PM
What was wrong in my post as i pointed out that thats a KR 68 1/2'' cj 4-speed 2 hole housing of which is unique for those cars that have staggered shocks. The 68 1/2 cj and KR automatics have the 1 hole housing and thats why the 68 cj resonators have different bends on the lh rear pipe over axle to clear staggered shocks and the cj automatic has different bend than 4-speed cjs. In 69 70 all 31 spline housings use the 2 hole housing and the resonator pipes are same bends between 4-speed and automatics cjs. The reason i made my post was to point out in his great photos that thats a 4-speed 2 hole housing and some of the color codes will be different on an automatic 1 hole housing.
Ford started using that housing for ALL 1968 /Mustang / Cougars with a 9" rear. Even 28 spline applications. It's not unique to a Shelby - it's a common housing.
- The yellow large mark in the top center of the third member was a quick identifier of that particular type, compared to others in the Sterling at the time.
- What you describe as blue can be also found as a teal marking that help guide the worker installing hardware into that hole find it quickly so that the process would be quicker
- Yellow ring around the end of the housing is an interesting one that shows up on 68 9" housings and was continued for a couple of years. First thought it was a guide as to what side the end of the tube should be installed when attaching it to the springs but have found examples marked on passenger and drivers ends unless the one side were mistakes and they figured it out anyway. ::)
- Letter or number on one end of a tube for the rearend I've not figured out as of yet. Seen on not all originals but these can be found back to 64 production and through 73 at least
Hope this helps
For others viewing these colors, marks and other details might likely not apply to your car. Do your home work, don't take the easy route and don't be "that guy"
Quote from: Royce Peterson on July 02, 2022, 10:50:12 AM
I don't often get to correct Special Ed.
That's very true because Ed is usually correct and in this case he is. For the sake of simplicity and not to confuse people over the spline count because of how Shelby put 31 spline axles into conventional 9 inch housings I will just say that there is a staggered shock housing and a non-staggered shock housing. The 68 four-speed cobra jets which included cars were the only cars that used the staggered shock housing and it does have the two holes like Ed is describing. The standard 9 inch housing had one hole that held down the brake hose and use the vent hose to secure it. On a staggered shock car because the exhaust has to go around that shock there needs to be a relocation of the vent hose.
Easiest way to see this is look in an MPC. Four-speed cobra jet car is used a C8 brake hose and all other 67 and 68 9 Inch housings used C7
Special ed correct, again 😁
Because it can be hard to find a 4 speed KR/Cobra jet housing many will drill the extra hole in the correct location to make it comply.
Quote from: Bob Gaines on July 03, 2022, 05:30:19 PM
Because it can be hard to find a 4 speed KR/Cobra jet housing many will drill the extra hole in the correct location to make it comply.
Of course you have to start out with a period correct 9 inch housing to accomplish the mod correctly.
Quote from: Bob Gaines on July 03, 2022, 05:30:19 PM
Because it can be hard to find a 4 speed KR/Cobra jet housing many will drill the extra hole in the correct location to make it comply.
I have not had to drill the extra hole. Got one last year from an X code 1968 Cougar (U date code, scheduled July 15) out of Georgia to replace the one in a 428CJ Cougar GT-E (June 1968 actual build date) that was simply too pitted to use. The X codeCougar had a peg leg 28 spline 9 inch with 2.75 to one ratio and the plain single rib center section. But the main housing and the brake backing plates are the same as any GT500 KR.
The brake flex hose is different as are the hard lines and the wheel cylinders if you have staggered shocks. Only 428CJ 4 speed cars were supposed to get that but apparently some automatics accidentally got it too. This R code GT-E was a C6 and it had the typical regular shock arrangement.
This is from my copy of the Lincoln Mercury MPC. Note that my copy was last revised April 1969, therefore the last model year shown is 1969. The "1975 Final Revision) likely differs considerably.
Note that I was off on my date - the correct date for the two plug rear axle housing is April 1, 1968. My theory is that date is consistent with the introduction of the 428CJ.
It shows C7ZZ 4010-F being used prior to that date on axles with build prefixes starting with WES or WFD.
The later housing is P/N C8ZZ 4010-A and it shows applicability as being WES, WFB and WFD axle assembly prefixes.
(https://www.supermotors.net/getfile/1169779/fullsize/mpc-rear-axle-housing-1968--69.jpg)
Quote from: TLea on July 03, 2022, 03:25:17 PM
Quote from: Royce Peterson on July 02, 2022, 10:50:12 AM
I don't often get to correct Special Ed.
That's very true because Ed is usually correct and in this case he is. For the sake of simplicity and not to confuse people over the spline count because of how Shelby put 31 spline axles into conventional 9 inch housings I will just say that there is a staggered shock housing and a non-staggered shock housing. The 68 four-speed cobra jets which included cars were the only cars that used the staggered shock housing and it does have the two holes like Ed is describing. The standard 9 inch housing had one hole that held down the brake hose and use the vent hose to secure it. On a staggered shock car because the exhaust has to go around that shock there needs to be a relocation of the vent hose.
Easiest way to see this is look in an MPC. Four-speed cobra jet car is used a C8 brake hose and all other 67 and 68 9 Inch housings used C7
Special ed correct, again 😁
Shelby didn't put 31 spline axles in anything - Ford did on the assembly line.
May build 427 GTE. WFD-A-31 spline (axle built 3rd week April), C6, two hole housing
Quote from: warwick on July 03, 2022, 07:24:37 PM
May build 427 GTE. WFD-A-31 spline (axle built 3rd week April), C6, two hole housing
Ed Zackery. Lots of 351 cars got that housing in '69 too.
Quote from: Royce Peterson on July 03, 2022, 06:46:23 PM
Quote from: TLea on July 03, 2022, 03:25:17 PM
Quote from: Royce Peterson on July 02, 2022, 10:50:12 AM
I don't often get to correct Special Ed.
That's very true because Ed is usually correct and in this case he is. For the sake of simplicity and not to confuse people over the spline count because of how Shelby put 31 spline axles into conventional 9
Shelby didn't put 31 spline axles in anything - Ford did on the assembly line.
Are we splitting hairs here? Of course Shelby didn't put them in but Shelby cars specified them as well as the cobra jet Mustangs. Come on you can say it, Ed was correct
Quote from: TLea on July 03, 2022, 08:07:06 PM
Quote from: Royce Peterson on July 03, 2022, 06:46:23 PM
Quote from: TLea on July 03, 2022, 03:25:17 PM
Quote from: Royce Peterson on July 02, 2022, 10:50:12 AM
I don't often get to correct Special Ed.
That's very true because Ed is usually correct and in this case he is. For the sake of simplicity and not to confuse people over the spline count because of how Shelby put 31 spline axles into conventional 9
Shelby didn't put 31 spline axles in anything - Ford did on the assembly line.
Are we splitting hairs here? Of course Shelby didn't put them in but Shelby cars specified them as well as the cobra jet Mustangs. Come on you can say it, Ed was correct
Ed was mistaken and I posted a pictuure of the MPC to prove it. Many Ford and Mercury products got the 31 spline axles including any 427 (W code) or 428 (R code) Fords and Mercurys including Mustang, Cougar, Comet, Cyclone, Torino, Fairlane, Cobra and of course Shelbys because in 1968 Shelbys were made from Mustangs and Carroll Shelby was simply a member of the board of Shelby Automotive. I have minutes of many meetings and have none where he actually said anything.
Quote from: Royce Peterson on July 02, 2022, 10:50:12 AM
It's a typical housing used after about February 1968 on all Mustang / Cougars.
I don't often get to correct Special Ed.
No you are mistaken. Even changing to April 1 there was not a typical housing. There was staggered shock housing and non staggered
Quote from: TLea on July 03, 2022, 09:28:56 PM
Quote from: Royce Peterson on July 02, 2022, 10:50:12 AM
It's a typical housing used after about February 1968 on all Mustang / Cougars.
I don't often get to correct Special Ed.
No you are mistaken. Even changing to April 1 there was not a typical housing. There was staggered shock housing and non staggered
That's not what the book says nor what I have found over the past 50 years. Maybe you ought to be quiet and learn.
I dont work on 68s or own any 68s anymore but i know the 2 hole housings are very hard to find and i seen many cj and boss cars that didnt have them when restored from being badly pitted or changed out. Back in the mid 70s when gas was high some low gear boss and cj cars just got a high gear drum to drum from local junk yards and changed the complete housing out instead of buying new high gears and rebuilding the center section. Since nobody parts out staggered shock performance mustangs u have a hard time finding 2 hole housings and its not as easy as drilling out an extra hole since both holes are in different spots than a much common single hole housing and the outer vent hole is fine thread so on a 2 hole housing the inner hole is moved inward and outer moved outward both different hole locations than the single hole housing. On all my southwest trips buying rustfree parts i bought every 2 hole housing i could find off cars or still under the car and none were from cj cars as they dont exist in junkyards anymore BUT i found them on 70 351c 4bbl competition suspension cars and they use the more common 1/2'' rear sway bar. Most of the ones i was able to buy were from 70 351c 4bbl cougars as they are the same as mustangs and were more easy to find years ago before all the yards got cleaned out.
Quote from: Royce Peterson on July 03, 2022, 09:59:34 PM
Quote from: TLea on July 03, 2022, 09:28:56 PM
Quote from: Royce Peterson on July 02, 2022, 10:50:12 AM
It's a typical housing used after about February 1968 on all Mustang / Cougars.
I don't often get to correct Special Ed.
No you are mistaken. Even changing to April 1 there was not a typical housing. There was staggered shock housing and non staggered
That's not what the book says nor what I have found over the past 50 years. Maybe you ought to be quiet and learn.
Good advice, you should try it
Just got another one. This came from a '68 Cougar S code. Door tag was missing so I don't know what it was originally but it's a nice case and proper 2 hole configuration for a late car. Like Ed is saying the holes are located differently than the earlier single fitting housing, and while the fitting for the hose is the same (I think it may be 1/4" NPS thread) the bolt that secures the brake line is 3/8" - 24 NF.
I think if I wanted to fake one I would TIG up the existing hole and then drill and tap new holes in the proper locations / thread sizes.
Early Single fitting style shown for comparison sake.
(https://www.supermotors.net/getfile/1169970/original/axle-housing-jul-8-22-a.jpg)
Fittings:
(https://www.supermotors.net/getfile/1169971/original/axle-housing-jul-8-22-c.jpg)
Great photo royce showing the holes differences .