1966 GT350 partial spec GT350's with protective cover/wrap on rear brake line

[Bob Gaines]

Note the ground off/modified bolt heads on both of 6S030's original traction bars. (GREAT photos Ruben!)

Then read this 1966 story from Bill Kolb Jr., when he was working at Larsen Ford (White Plains, New York) about the same issue they were encountering with the override traction bars on the Hertz cars:

Believe removing and using a lathe is much more advance engineering than the typical example we find

+1. Crude to say in the least.

[gt350shelb]

yep i have seen this on carry overs also

[GT350Lad]

Great pics, what an era, thanks for sharing.

[NC TRACKRAT]

A minor clarification to the material used on this modification:  PANDUIT has their version but back in the '60's, the product was called SPIRAP from AMP Incorporated. It's still available from TYCO Connectivity, the company that acquired AMP Incorporated.  It's made of NYLON and available in black or white and in various diameters.
https://www.te.com/usa-en/plp/spirap/Znj4.html

[6s1640]

Note the ground off/modified bolt heads on both of 6S030's original traction bars. (GREAT photos Ruben!)

Then read this 1966 story from Bill Kolb Jr., when he was working at Larsen Ford (White Plains, New York) about the same issue they were encountering with the override traction bars on the Hertz cars:

Believe removing and using a lathe is much more advance engineering than the typical example we find

+1. Crude to say in the least.

Hi Bob,

Was this clearance problem with the bolt head cured with the kinked override traction bar?

Thanks

Cory

[6R07mi]

As far as being random - maybe the wrong word. Maybe its better to state at this time that not all of those cars received the wrap. "Random seems to suggest  only a few or less than fifty percent."


Since the 65 / 66 production seems to be a series of running changes as feedback from the fielded cars worked it's way back to SAI and I don't think it's logical that a line worker would institute  an additional modification on their own.
It would be interesting if someone like Chuck Cantwell or another person very involved in the production could recall when & why this was introduced for a short time of the override bar production ?
I wondered if when they had to pull the brake line away from the axle housing to allow a gap for the axle bracket to be welded, and then push it back close to the housing they noticed the risk of the 2 parts rubbing, and then later determined it was unneccessary?
Or the decision to change to underride bars, they knew it wouldn't be needed soon.
Theory's that beg knowledgeable input

regards,
jim p   

[Bob Gaines]

As far as being random - maybe the wrong word. Maybe its better to state at this time that not all of those cars received the wrap. "Random seems to suggest  only a few or less than fifty percent."


Since the 65 / 66 production seems to be a series of running changes as feedback from the fielded cars worked it's way back to SAI and I don't think it's logical that a line worker would institute  an additional modification on their own.
It would be interesting if someone like Chuck Cantwell or another person very involved in the production could recall when & why this was introduced for a short time of the override bar production ?
I wondered if when they had to pull the brake line away from the axle housing to allow a gap for the axle bracket to be welded, and then push it back close to the housing they noticed the risk of the 2 parts rubbing, and then later determined it was unneccessary?
Or the decision to change to underride bars, they knew it wouldn't be needed soon.
Theory's that beg knowledgeable input

regards,
jim p   

The problem is that many of these nuance details where not very memorable by themselves . Unless something else that was more memorable was associated with the detail like a expensive fix , accident etc.  I am sure it is hard for them to believe what is expected of them to remember so many decades after the fact.

[TLea]

6s007 & 6s018 both had remnants of wrap

[SFM6S087]

6s007 & 6s018 both had remnants of wrap

Thanks, Tim. Below is my running list – now including the cars you identified. All carryovers.

6s007
6s018
6s030
6s033
6s117
6s135
6s161

Any more out there?

It seems odd that they would produce over 500 1965 GT350s with over-rides without this wrap. Then put some on a few cars and drop the idea. This is one we may never solve. As was previously mentioned, this is a minor item to remember 50-plus years later.

Steve

[shlby66]

       Steve,

       You can add 6S188, to the list, as it had the wrap, too.

       Doug

[gt350shelb]

and 6s118 had remains

[1967 eight barrel]

You mean a bench grinder isn't considered advanced?    If you think that's bad, take a look at how the 1967 Shelby tail light openings are cut!
                                                                 -Keith

[SFM6S087]

Thanks for the additional cars. Here's the updated list:

6s007
6s018
6s030
6s033
6s117
6s118
6s135
6s161
6s188

There's no telling how many other cars may have received that wrap, and it went missing over the years or was casually discarded during repairs or restoration.

Steve