I need advice on correct date code for a 67 GT500. How close to the cars build date can the engine be? Is 10-12 days prior to the cars build date too close? Any help would be appreciated. Thanks, Rob.

But I read a lot. Two months at the very minimum to three and half months maximum seem to be the accepted norm.


53 F100, Volare clip, 4 wheel disc 390-wide ratio toploader

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...doesn't it make sense that Ford would have dropped a 428PI in on the line?

The cost of tossing out a new 390GT engine and installing a 428PI engine that was custom machined for the Mustnag exhaust manifolds seems cost prohibitive.

It makes more sense to install the custom exhaust 428PI on the production line and install the time-consuming hand-fitted fiberglass bodywork at the Shelby plant.

I can see where the twin carb intakes and hot cams (if they sometimes got them in 1967) might have been swapped in and tuned at the Shelby plant, as the engine test station on Ford's FE engine assembly line might best be configured for a 4V carb and ordinary camshaft, but swapping an entire engine seems so costly.

I would like to learn more on the details of whether the 390 really was discarded at Shelby, and what was done with the hundreds of abandoned engines. With Shelby's tight operating budget, it just seems tough to believe.

Shoe.

........SOHCs waited their turn in line, LOL, Rod. BTW, they removed all the cast headers for engines that weren't going into cars and were toss aside, literally. At certain times Ford would bring in Laborers to remove the discarded manifolds to prevent the deck from collapsing.

Mickey Thompson's 63 1/2 #997 S/S Hi-Rise 427 Lgt/Wgt Galaxie,

1957 C-600 Cab-over carhauler w/390-4V, 2-speed rear-end

FGCofA member #4908

MCGC member #75



"There will ALWAYS be an FE in my LiFE"

The 428 engines were installed on the line. The engine code in the Ford VIN is Q.
Contact Dave Mathews the 67 registrar and ask him for the earliest date code. If you send me an email I will send you his contact information.
Frank



Two 427 Tunnel ports -Two 428's!

I have all the facts messed up. LOL. I sure wish I could remember where I saw that photo of the extra engines waiting to go back to Ford.

Thanks for mentioning you have seen a photo.

That would be a cool photo to see. It would suggest the early GT-500s did get the 390 installed. At a cerain point the production line switched over to the 428s. It'd be interesting to know when this occurred.

Shoe.

......the replacement 428 engine to have dates that closely follow the car's build date. The logistics for producing a turn-key/sold GT500 are dictated by the entire supply chain's process, i.e. Cleveland Foundry, Cleveland Engine, availibility, Shelby's orders and timeline, etc. I believe a Mustang/Cougar with a 390/428 built at Dearborn could have an engine dated within a week of it's build date. IIRC, some of the Marti reports I've seen here show actual build dates that lag the coded date on the VIN tag, JMO, Rod.

Mickey Thompson's 63 1/2 #997 S/S Hi-Rise 427 Lgt/Wgt Galaxie,
1957 C-600 Cab-over carhauler w/390-4V, 2-speed rear-end
FGCofA member #4908
MCGC member #75

"There will ALWAYS be an FE in my LiFE"

My understanding is the 428 PI with the 2*4 holleys were installed by Ford ("special hi-po 8V"), as well as some other parts and some deletes. There are others who probably can provide more detail. Date coding of the 428's might be difficult because of the potential to assemble in batches, I don't know.
Joe

Rob,
My 428 PI block was cast 1 month prior to car being built at Ford.Hope this helps...Greg.

A photo shot of a room full of engines, 428CJs or 390GTs setting in a room after being pulled for an other engine. Maybe it was the Boss 429 project? For whatever reason I thought it was the Shelby GT500s. Strange Ford installed them on the line but with the S code in the vin.

Read Frank's post:
http://www.network54.com/Forum/74182/message/1226325985/1967+GT+500%27s



1912 Model T Ford touring Salmon (ugh!)
1913 Model T Ford Touring original Black paint
1915 Model T Ford Roadster Black
1915 Model T Ford touring Black of course!
1967 Cougar GT 390 Cardinal Red / Black
1968 Cougar GTE 427 Augusta Green / Saddle
http://www.supermotors.net/vehicles/registry/15029/50071-2

to ask my little buddy who worked in the factory about the engines- he was one of the wrenches, and also drove the original Dragonsnake- I should see him Wednesday night- see if he remembers

I can't say for all but when we disassembled mine on the apron it had a very large Q on the passenger side. The Ford serial number on ALL 67's under the shelby tag has a Q in the ford number. There is no S in the ford number. The original block on mine has the 428 in the passage as well. That is the only one I can comment on. Keith

Hello Keith,


If I am not mistaken, SAAC's current records show six '67 GT 500s have "S" engine codes in their Ford VINs. Four of these are presently thought to have been assembly line mistakes and the cars were actually built with the correct 428 PI engine.


However, my car, serial number 0100, the first production GT 500 built by Shelby American was originally equipped with a 390. It was an "Engineering" car and was used for public relations and was road tested by three different automotive magazines. The 0-60 mph times and its 1/4 mile times are indicative of a 390 equipped car.


The other '67 GT 500 that is thought to have been originally built with a 390 is the "convertible prototype", serial number 0139.


This information will probably come out in the next edition of the SAAC Registry.


Thanks,
Eric

I was able to talk with a noted Shelby restoration expert today and he advised me that one to two months prior to the cars build date is normal. Anything closer than that is probably too late to have come in that Shelby. Also, all 1967 GT500s were Q codes with the single exception of the prototype GT500 car number s/n 100 which was an S code. I guess you learn something everyday! Thanks again. Rob.