67 gt500 shock tower reinforcement plate

[Jeb67]

Hey all I have an early 67 gt500 that has shock tower reinforcement as 68 and on big blocks came with from ford, should or did shelby weld reinforcement plates in originally?

[S7MS427]

I think you'll find that those were installed by Ford for all 390 CID cars.  GT500s started out using that chassis.

[Jeb67]

Thank you. One question was the reinforcement added after build as my 67 gt500 shock tower reinforcement plates are stitched welded but they are ugly, was this normal? I'm restoring mine and was wondering should I clean the welds up or leave as they might have looked like this from original build?

[J_Speegle]

Thank you. One question was the reinforcement added after build as my 67 gt500 shock tower reinforcement plates are stitched welded but they are ugly, was this normal? I'm restoring mine and was wondering should I clean the welds up or leave as they might have looked like this from original build?

Your restoring not "making a better car" so confirm what your seeing is original then move on to another detail. With a 67 there are plenty that will need your attention 

[Royce Peterson]

The reinforcement plates started to be used by Ford midway in the 1968 model year. Around March 15 1968. Your 1967 GT500 should not have any such thing.

[J_Speegle]

For your and others comparison

67 San Jose reinforced shock towers



Discussion on CMF https://www.concoursmustang.com/forum/index.php?topic=18735.0

68 S and R code shock tower reinforcement examples




69 & 70 styles You should be able to see the difference when compared to 68's and each other

[Kent]

The reinforcement plates started to be used by Ford midway in the 1968 model year. Around March 15 1968. Your 1967 GT500 should not have any such thing.

That's right, and the messy welds on the 67s are not always there on the 390 mustangs.

[Jeb67]

I'd like to thank all of you for the info and photos for reference as well. You're correct there are a lot of issues to be resolved in this restoration if to do correct.

[azdriver]

The reinforcement plates started to be used by Ford midway in the 1968 model year. Around March 15 1968. Your 1967 GT500 should not have any such thing.

Just to add to the discussion, my 3/14/68 built GT500 does not have the extra plates...

Pat

[Coralsnake]

Contrary to popular belief the reinforcement plates are not "big block" only.

During 1968 its unusual to see GT500s with them and you will find them on GT350s

[MustangDave302]

So what shock tower is correct for a GT500 2/7/68 build date?  Is no brace plate correct?

[Coralsnake]

It would be atypical to see reinforcements on a 1968 GT500

[Bob Gaines]

So what shock tower is correct for a GT500 2/7/68 build date?  Is no brace plate correct?

For your 2/7/68 GT500 look at the top pictures that Jeff Speegle posted in reply #5. Jeff has them marked "67 San Jose reinforced shock towers" however the early 68's had the same shock tower plates with the terrible welding as the 67 Shelby. It was later in 68 that the wrap around shock tower(what they are typically called) came into use.

[MustangDave302]

Thank you Bob

[JD]

Hey all I have an early 67 gt500 that has shock tower reinforcement as 68 and on big blocks came with from ford, should or did shelby weld reinforcement plates in originally?

The original poster was asking about '67 Shelby's. These were on all '67 Shelby's GT350 & GT500, see attached EARLY '67 GT350 which corresponds to the first set of images in Jeff's post #5.  And yes, sloppy welds not pretty.