Build Sheet Question - Leaf Springs

[69 GT350 Vert]

My early '69 GT350 (#100) has 5RS68 stamped on the leaf springs, and no other stampings.  Does anyone know what colors would have been stamped on my build sheet for the leaf spring section?  I can't find my build sheet.

My car has a few other anomalies as well.

[Coralsnake]

The "build sheet" springs were removed by Shelby and replaced.

The replacement springs did not have colored stripes. They might have had a white marking on the front eye, but thats all

[69 GT350 Vert]

Interesting.  Thanks.

[Bob Gaines]

The vast majority were special leaf springs that had the bottom and two upper a different length compared to regular Mustang . The typical 69/70 Shelby bottom leaf was marked S9MS 5560 A. There are two other different markings that I am aware of also. Yes as Pete mentioned they were marked with a sprayed on white marking encompassing the spring eye. 

[98SVT - was 06GT]

Were these installed on the Ford assembly line? Or were they swapped when the cars were completed by AO Smith?

[Coralsnake]

AOSmith

[jimhyc]

What was the purpose of the spring swap? Can't imagine there was much difference in handling since nothing was done to the front spring if I recall.

[Special Ed]

69 shelbys were designed to have the new wide low profile f-60-15 polyglas gt tires and early shelbys had tractions bars so i think the new leafs were designed for better traction with new wide tires. 69 shelby leafs only used 2 round hole (not square hole) spring wraps not 3 like other year springs and bottom leaf lays flat and dont use a sring wrap. The front eyelet had white paint sprayed on the front end and the later cars started using c9zx bottom leafs along with the s9ms and i never could figure out why #s change as gt 350 vs gt500 vs 4-speed vs auto as nobody that i know of has figured out a pattern but the very early cars had 5rs68

[Bob Gaines]

Were these installed on the Ford assembly line? Or were they swapped when the cars were completed by AO Smith?

The build sheets show a conventional Mustang spring was used when building the car at the Ford assemblyline.  The Mustang springs were swapped out at AO Smith during conversion.

[98SVT - was 06GT]

The build sheets show a conventional Mustang spring was used when building the car at the Ford assemblyline.  The Mustang springs were swapped out at AO Smith during conversion.

So despite all the bad mouthing of the Shelby American line being too inefficient and all Ford's efforts to speed up production their own Shelby Automotive wasted time and dollars by not installing them during the initial assembly.

[Coralsnake]

Thats an odd statement, considering Ford did not install "Shelby" unique parts any other time....

[98SVT - was 06GT]

Thats an odd statement, considering Ford did not install "Shelby" unique parts any other time....

To reduce costs, Ford began installing more of Shelby's unique components directly at the San Jose assembly line before the cars were shipped to LA for final finishing. For example, the 428 big-block engines for the GT500 and the special exhaust systems were built-in. However, the remaining interior, fiberglass, and specific trim components were still finished by hand at the Shelby Facility.

[Royce Peterson]

To reduce costs, Ford began installing more of Shelby's unique components directly at the San Jose assembly line before the cars were shipped to LA for final finishing. For example, the 428 big-block engines for the GT500 and the special exhaust systems were built-in. However, the remaining interior, fiberglass, and specific trim components were still finished by hand at the Shelby Facility.
[/quote]

This is a different process used in 1967 versus 1969 when Shelby Automotive contracted with AO Smith to do the mods.

[cob428]

See attached pictures of what I have on June 69 build

Pete

[Coralsnake]

Sure Ford installed some parts, but my point is that wasnt really part of the overall plan.