SAAC Forum

The Cars => 1968 Shelby GT350/500/500KR => Topic started by: Kent on March 07, 2024, 03:25:57 AM

Title: 1968 GT350 Front End Installation pictures?
Post by: Kent on March 07, 2024, 03:25:57 AM
Hello I´m looking for some helpful pictures of the correct front end installation for a 68 Shelby GT350. Including which brackets were welded and which were just with screws. Maybe someone has pictures here from a restoration. My body guy and painter has a GT350 and he calls me 100 times and it's hard to explain every detail. I was looking for pictures over google but the most are not very correct or just clones. Thanks for the help.

By the way does someone here has a Nose Top Panel which is going between the 2 headlight buckets and that has the SHELBY letters on it then for the 68 in stock with the Shelby part number on it repro or original? I would need it. Thank you....
Title: Re: 1968 GT350 Front End Installation pictures?
Post by: Coralsnake on March 07, 2024, 07:19:13 AM
Nothing welded up there. Its all bolted together.

I suggest this as reference

https://www.npdlink.com/product/unique-parts-manual-68-shelby/138075
Title: Re: 1968 GT350 Front End Installation pictures?
Post by: shelbymann1970 on March 07, 2024, 09:21:16 AM
too many times restorers put the fiberglass header  BEHIND the brackets on the nose. First pic  of red car is WRONG. Second one on the white car is correct on the bracket being under the header.
Title: Re: 1968 GT350 Front End Installation pictures?
Post by: Kent on March 08, 2024, 03:04:03 AM
Yes that's a usual thing I see often and it don't make sense to mount fiberglass like this.

I always did it the right way and thought its wrong and was not done like this by the factory but I thought its better for the fiberglass and years later I found a concours restored one at a saac meet and found out my thinking and doing was right as they mounted it the same way like I did all the years.

By the way I need one of these top panels does someone here has one for sale?
Title: 1968 GT350 Front End Installation pictures?
Post by: Bill Collins on March 08, 2024, 12:44:50 PM
Here is the page from the factory assembly manual showing the alignment to be as Shelbymann and Kent describe it. (View "T" in the drawing).
Title: Re: 1968 GT350 Front End Installation pictures?
Post by: Jhockman on March 08, 2024, 12:58:17 PM
Quote from: Kent on March 08, 2024, 03:04:03 AM
Yes that's a usual thing I see often and it don't make sense to mount fiberglass like this.

I always did it the right way and thought its wrong and was not done like this by the factory but I thought its better for the fiberglass and years later I found a concours restored one at a saac meet and found out my thinking and doing was right as they mounted it the same way like I did all the years.

By the way I need one of these top panels does someone here has one for sale?
This might be a good option.
Title: Re: 1968 GT350 Front End Installation pictures?
Post by: shelbymann1970 on March 08, 2024, 02:56:38 PM
Quote from: Kent on March 08, 2024, 03:04:03 AM
Yes that's a usual thing I see often and it don't make sense to mount fiberglass like this.

I always did it the right way and thought its wrong and was not done like this by the factory but I thought its better for the fiberglass and years later I found a concours restored one at a saac meet and found out my thinking and doing was right as they mounted it the same way like I did all the years.

By the way I need one of these top panels does someone here has one for sale?
what boggles my mind is the header brackets have a threaded extruded hole for the bolt so why would anyone mount it wrong because you would need a nut or clip on the backside to hold it in place and possibly tightening up on the extruded hole.
Title: Re: 1968 GT350 Front End Installation pictures?
Post by: shelbydoug on March 08, 2024, 04:50:59 PM
Quote from: shelbymann1970 on March 08, 2024, 02:56:38 PM
Quote from: Kent on March 08, 2024, 03:04:03 AM
Yes that's a usual thing I see often and it don't make sense to mount fiberglass like this.

I always did it the right way and thought its wrong and was not done like this by the factory but I thought its better for the fiberglass and years later I found a concours restored one at a saac meet and found out my thinking and doing was right as they mounted it the same way like I did all the years.

By the way I need one of these top panels does someone here has one for sale?
what boggles my mind is the header brackets have a threaded extruded hole for the bolt so why would anyone mount it wrong because you would need a nut or clip on the backside to hold it in place and possibly tightening up on the extruded hole.

It's a no brainer to me. Very juvenile.
Title: Re: 1968 GT350 Front End Installation pictures?
Post by: SAM83 on March 11, 2024, 07:49:52 PM
I'm making a list of things that didn't get done or wasn't done correctly when my car came back from restoration 7 years ago and saw this discussion so had to take a look. Sure enough, I'm in violation of the fiberglass not being on the correct side of the bracket, the hardware used to secure the fiberglass to the bracket is also not correct.

Am surprised as I supplied the restoration shop with the Master Body kit from AMK which should have contained the correct part to use. 

In the picture of the white car, I see a bolt used on each end of the header support bracket.  Are they both the same bolt/washer assembly? 

Cannot find my catalog that contains the assembly drawing ever since I cleaned my office. Is the bolt assembly PN 378178 -52?  Picture is a little grainy.  If so, does the link below contain the correct part with correct bolt head stamping and finish?

Apologies as I cannot figure out the insert hyperlink option.

https://www.npdlink.com/product/body-bolt-chrome/167653/202914


Title: Re: 1968 GT350 Front End Installation pictures?
Post by: Coralsnake on March 12, 2024, 12:00:35 PM
Thats not the bolt
Title: Re: 1968 GT350 Front End Installation pictures?
Post by: Coralsnake on March 12, 2024, 05:12:47 PM
# 14453 self driller


(http://www.thecoralsnake.com/hardware1.jpg)
Title: Re: 1968 GT350 Front End Installation pictures?
Post by: SAM83 on March 12, 2024, 07:12:03 PM
Thanks Pete!  I had come to a dead end in my search.