SAAC Forum

The Cars => 1966 Shelby GT350/GT350H => Topic started by: GT350Lad on March 21, 2020, 01:39:30 AM

Title: Oil pan bolts- RBW and Rockford
Post by: GT350Lad on March 21, 2020, 01:39:30 AM
Hi guys , I know we covered this in Forum 1.0 but still wondering about the Rockford marked bolts on the oil pans? Used in 66? Or RBW

Cheers
Title: Re: Oil pan bolts- RBW and Rockford
Post by: Brant on March 21, 2020, 12:14:05 PM
Quote from: GT350Lad on March 21, 2020, 01:39:30 AM
Hi guys , I know we covered this in Forum 1.0 but still wondering about the Rockford marked bolts on the oil pans? Used in 66? Or RBW

Cheers

I've mainly seen "RBW" marked bolts used, although I have seen a handful with "Rockford" marked 5/16" bolts on the larger 5/16" corners.
Title: Re: Oil pan bolts- RBW and Rockford
Post by: s2ms on March 21, 2020, 03:07:41 PM
Checked the originals on 6S1757. Smaller 1/4" bolts are "Rockford", the larger 5/16" corner bolts are "RBW".
Title: Re: Oil pan bolts- RBW and Rockford
Post by: GT350Lad on March 21, 2020, 04:34:15 PM
Thanks guys, from memory my car has a fair few Rockford but I'll have another look
Title: Re: Oil pan bolts- RBW and Rockford
Post by: Brant on March 23, 2020, 10:21:20 AM
Quote from: s2ms on March 21, 2020, 03:07:41 PM
Checked the originals on 6S1757. Smaller 1/4" bolts are "Rockford", the larger 5/16" corner bolts are "RBW".

Thanks for the info., Dave!

Apparently, both styles were used over the production time...maybe even more!
Title: Re: Oil pan bolts- RBW and Rockford
Post by: gt350hr on March 23, 2020, 10:57:07 AM
    I'm 99% certain these bolts were ONLY sourced by size and length from a local ( to SAI) industrial hardware supplier. SAI did not act like FoMoCo and "spec" every part. A friend has an original SAI "bill of materials" for '65 and the next time I visit him , I will look at the call out for the bolts.  "My guess" is 1/4 - 20 bolt X/X length , and nothing else.
   Randy
Title: Re: Oil pan bolts- RBW and Rockford
Post by: Bob Gaines on March 23, 2020, 08:17:50 PM
First in the beginning SA did the swaps later in 65 production saw Ford doing the swaps. The black painted intake blunder comes to mind. There may have been a short time after when SA swap out the intakes until they got Ford squared away to do it the unpainted way. But We are talking about oil pans and hardware. After things got ironed at with Ford in very early 66 production and from that time forward in 66 these items were installed by Ford Cleveland engine plant rather then SA. A lot of circumstantial evidence to support that and not a lot for SA doing it.  With that said regardless of if Cleveland plant or if one still believes that SA did the change out, my opinion is that the RBW or the Rockford hardware for the oil pan where supplied as a kit with gaskets and hardware. This is similar to the headers ,gaskets and hardware as well as the valve cover,gaskets and hardware. There was consistency with the hardware that is easier to explain as being supplied by the various mfg's rather then leaving it to SA to source the hardware on there own and the mismatch that would no doubt occur . Just my opinion based on what I have observed and until more definitive evidence suggests other wise. Others may agree (John Brown since you will not post much ;) ) and others may disagree.     
Title: Re: Oil pan bolts- RBW and Rockford
Post by: silverton_ford on March 23, 2020, 09:28:12 PM
Quote from: Bob Gaines on March 23, 2020, 08:17:50 PM
First in the beginning SA did the swaps later in 65 production saw Ford doing the swaps. The black painted intake blunder comes to mind. There may have been a short time after when SA swap out the intakes until they got Ford squared away to do it the unpainted way. But We are talking about oil pans and hardware. After things got ironed at with Ford in very early 66 production and from that time forward in 66 these items were installed by Ford Cleveland engine plant rather then SA. A lot of circumstantial evidence to support that and not a lot for SA doing it.  With that said regardless of if Cleveland plant or if one still believes that SA did the change out, my opinion is that the RBW or the Rockford hardware for the oil pan where supplied as a kit with gaskets and hardware. This is similar to the headers ,gaskets and hardware as well as the valve cover,gaskets and hardware. There was consistency with the hardware that is easier to explain as being supplied by the various mfg's rather then leaving it to SA to source the hardware on there own and the mismatch that would no doubt occur . Just my opinion based on what I have observed and until more definitive evidence suggests other wise. Others may agree (John Brown since you will not post much ;) ) and others may disagree.   

+1

I talked to John about this exact topic a couple nights ago.  The manufacture of the oil pans provided the hardware and required their hardware to be used with the oil pans.  The oil pan manufacturer would not warranty the oil pans if other hardware was used.  John said this is mentioned in the SAI meeting minutes.
Title: Re: Oil pan bolts- RBW and Rockford
Post by: GT350Lad on March 24, 2020, 03:43:02 AM
Great info. Does that mean that Rockford and RBW where involved with the manufacture of the original cobra oil pans? Didn't buddy bar make them?
Interesting discussion

Title: Re: Oil pan bolts- RBW and Rockford
Post by: J_Speegle on March 24, 2020, 04:57:50 AM
Quote from: GT350Lad on March 24, 2020, 03:43:02 AM
Great info. Does that mean that Rockford and RBW where involved with the manufacture of the original cobra oil pans? Didn't buddy bar make them?
Interesting discussion

No they were just the suppliers of the hardware
Title: Re: Oil pan bolts- RBW and Rockford
Post by: GT350Lad on March 24, 2020, 06:05:45 AM
Quote from: J_Speegle on March 24, 2020, 04:57:50 AM
Quote from: GT350Lad on March 24, 2020, 03:43:02 AM
Great info. Does that mean that Rockford and RBW where involved with the manufacture of the original cobra oil pans? Didn't buddy bar make them?
Interesting discussion

No they were just the suppliers of the hardware

Thanks Jeff, I suspected the oil pan was supplied with either Rockford, RBW or other combo but wasn't sure
Cheers