SAAC Forum

The Cars => 1967 Shelby GT350/500 => Topic started by: shelbydoug on January 04, 2021, 07:40:06 PM

Title: C60A-6394-D bellhouse
Post by: shelbydoug on January 04, 2021, 07:40:06 PM
Were these things made in batches like the carbs?

I've been looking for one around my "sweet spot" of 7E31 but haven't even seen a first half of '67 dated one yet?

The '67 GT350 bells seem to have been batch cast and could have been a couple of months earlier then the build date.
Title: Re: C60A-6394-D bellhouse
Post by: J_Speegle on January 04, 2021, 08:02:54 PM
Don't have enough dates from these bell-housing to support them being cast on a daily basis, weekly or longer periods but they built so many Ford products with the same bell housing there were maybe a dew hundred thousands made or more. Just did a search for dated SB bell housing yesterday, for another project and maybe half the ads even mentioned or showed a date code so the search and collecting of data is a slow one. But at least dates on those are easier to come up with that (for example) engine divider plates

Think we need allot more data before we could draw a conclusion IMHO
Title: Re: C60A-6394-D bellhouse
Post by: DGSOH on January 05, 2021, 04:28:19 AM
Where exactly is the date code located on these?
Title: Re: C60A-6394-D bellhouse
Post by: shelbydoug on January 05, 2021, 09:55:44 AM
Most of them are near the rivet heads for the fulcrum.

I have seen later ones though (1970) that are on the opposite side nearer the starter.

They follow the same pattern as the block. First character, last digit of year. Second character, letter of the alphabet for the month. Third character, day of the month.

I'm looking for a 7E20 to 31. I haven't even seen a first half of '67 yet. Later half of '67, yes.

Some are speculating that they are cast in batches, particularly these for the 11.5" clutches since they were much smaller production applications then the small block bells were, BUT that is still speculation and you know what happens when you assume?
Title: Re: C60A-6394-D bellhouse
Post by: 430dragpack on January 05, 2021, 10:16:42 AM
I have two here, one off of a 67 GT500 and the other out of a 67 Fairlane, one is dated 6J12 and the other is 6J22.
Title: Re: C60A-6394-D bellhouse
Post by: gt350hr on January 05, 2021, 11:00:36 AM
  "Production parts" were made off of purchase orders/requisitions based on manufacturing needs and "scheduled" accordingly. The initial "run" would be big and a minimum inventory number would trigger an new manufacturing run , so YES there were lapses on certain parts. The (then) Detroit Iron Foundry (DIF on castings) was a HUGE facility making all kinds of parts so "scheduling" certainly happened.
   Randy
Title: Re: C60A-6394-D bellhouse
Post by: shelbydoug on January 05, 2021, 11:11:51 AM
I have two here, one off of a 67 GT500 and the other out of a 67 Fairlane, one is dated 6J12 and the other is 6J22.

Yea but do you know the Ford build date of the cars they came off of? See? That's the issue.

Maybe there are no first half '67 C60A bells? ;)

Incidentally, I HAVE seen 6K31 bells, so newer then the two that you have.

I think that MAYBE, the only way to answer this question is to look at "an original" in my DSO order and see what it or they have?

In all fairness to everyone trying to help, this seems to be somewhat of an unknown?
Title: Re: C60A-6394-D bellhouse
Post by: 430dragpack on January 05, 2021, 11:38:39 AM
I have two here, one off of a 67 GT500 and the other out of a 67 Fairlane, one is dated 6J12 and the other is 6J22.

Yea but do you know the Ford build date of the cars they came off of? See? That's the issue.

Maybe there are no first half '67 C60A bells? ;)

Incidentally, I HAVE seen 6K31 bells, so newer then the two that you have.

I think that MAYBE, the only way to answer this question is to look at "an original" in my DSO order and see what it or they have?

In all fairness to everyone trying to help, this seems to be somewhat of an unknown?

The 6J12 is off the Fairlane, built November 22, 1966, four days behind schedule.
 The 6J22 off the Shelby, built Jan. 11 1967, 20 days behind schedule. Was scheduled to be built Dec. 22, 1966, serialized November 23.
Title: Re: C60A-6394-D bellhouse
Post by: Bossbill on January 10, 2021, 05:55:00 PM
Both of mine are C5DA-A.

My 65 A-Code 2+2 has a clock style date code of 3/65 on a 5/18/65 door tag date car.
My GT350 also has a clock style date code with a 7/66 on a 3/2/67 Ford build date.
With a correct vin numbered trans I suspect the bell housing is original. 
I've owned the car for 35+ years.

Add pic of date and cast number. It could 6/66 if you don't count the little dot at 8 o'clock.