Author Topic: 68 Shelby GT-500 Convertible Project and Retrospective  (Read 33460 times)

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Bolted to Floor

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Re: 68 Shelby GT-500 Convertible Project and Retrospective
« Reply #120 on: December 15, 2020, 01:04:01 PM »




I took the left front spring out for these pictures, and also to check clearance between the front tire and the fender.  Once I had it jacked up to ride height, I checked the camber, and it is currently set exactly at zero.  Clearance is very tight.  There is no interference when the suspension is up against the bump stop and the wheel is straight, but I do start to get some interference when the suspension is up against the bump stop and the tire is turned about 15 degrees in either direction.  I plan to run a half degree of negative camber on the front suspension, so that will help a little, but only about a tenth of an inch if my trig calculations are correct.  I have already trimmed the fender lip and the wheelwell trim as much as I can, so no help there.  I may look at thinning down the brake rotor hat (which is really thick at over 1/2") to get more clearance, but I think I will drive the car cautiously at the start, and see if there are any obvious problems.  Outside of thinning down the brake rotor hat I don't know what else I can do, and I'm kind of married to the tire/wheel combination, so hopefully it will be good, or very close to good, as is. 


What about taking material from the mounting pad of the rim? I contacted American Racing about mine and they said it was possible. They referred me to a guy here in Houston that could do it and tell me how much could be removed. That guy said 1/4 was possible, I settled for an 1/8". Cost me $45 a rim.
John D -- 67 Mustang 390 5 speed

Keith Stevens

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Re: 68 Shelby GT-500 Convertible Project and Retrospective
« Reply #121 on: December 15, 2020, 03:19:04 PM »
I also went with the WCCC tail Plasma LEDS in my Shelby.

Not to split hairs, but the term "Plasma LED" annoys me. There is no such thing as a "Plasma LED". You can have a LEP (light emitting plasma), or you can have an LED (light emitting diode), but you can not have the 2 together, especially in the confines of a small automotive bulb. It's nothing more than a selling gimmick aimed at misleading the buyer (in other words, a blatant lie). Those lights are nothing more than a high output LED, with controlled directional light by the use of a lens.

I couldn't agree with you more!  They were changed for safety/awareness for other dunderheads who have to live with their faced planted in a mobile device or one variety or another.   I am used to multi-tasking because it's part of the job.  Looking down at the floor because you feel the need to read a facebook post, text  or even watch TV is simply dangerously negligent and irresponsible, especially in heavy traffic.

My next task is a set of obnoxiously loud electric train horns.
Regardless of correctness of the  name, They are a fine product. I have them in my White 70 XR-7. Much brighter then the original 1157's and have not had a bulb fail in 5 years. I use to have to replace an 1157 about once a year.

jayb

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Re: 68 Shelby GT-500 Convertible Project and Retrospective
« Reply #122 on: December 15, 2020, 07:02:17 PM »

What about taking material from the mounting pad of the rim? I contacted American Racing about mine and they said it was possible. They referred me to a guy here in Houston that could do it and tell me how much could be removed. That guy said 1/4 was possible, I settled for an 1/8". Cost me $45 a rim.

I think Doug mentioned this earlier.  Surprisingly, there is not much meat on the wheel mounting surface.  The wheels use conical seat lug nuts, and the distance between the wheel mounting surface and the start of the conical mounting surface is only 1/4".  I just don't feel comfortable cutting anything off that surface.

As long as we are talking about LED lighting, I used the ones linked below.  I like them because the sequential electronics is built right into the LED light assembly.  There are three different bulb assemblies, an inside, a center, and an outside for the three sections of the tail light panel.  They must have some kind of a timer built into the electronics, because they work flawlessly, even though they are wired like a standard non-sequential taillight.  Screw them into the standard 1157 socket, and you're done.

https://www.npdlink.com/product/led-sequential-taillight-conversion/176372/200447?year=1968


Jay Brown
- 1969 Mach 1, Drag Week 2005 Winner NA/BB, 511" FE (10.60s @ 129); Drag Week 2007 Runner-Up PA/BB, 490" Supercharged FE (9.35 @ 151)
- 1964 Ford Galaxie, Drag Week 2009 Winner Modified NA (9.50s @ 143), 585" SOHC
- 1969 Shelby Clone, Drag Week 2015 Winner Modified NA (Average 8.98 @ 149), 585" SOHC

   

gdaddy01

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Re: 68 Shelby GT-500 Convertible Project and Retrospective
« Reply #123 on: December 15, 2020, 11:04:10 PM »
thanks Jay and Keith , I have a 67 and would like to upgrade , repair , get them working correctly after 40 years .

Keith Stevens

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Re: 68 Shelby GT-500 Convertible Project and Retrospective
« Reply #124 on: December 15, 2020, 11:32:39 PM »
Here is the bulb-style I'm using.
« Last Edit: December 15, 2020, 11:37:05 PM by Keith Stevens »

cjshaker

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Re: 68 Shelby GT-500 Convertible Project and Retrospective
« Reply #125 on: December 16, 2020, 01:15:31 AM »
As long as we are talking about LED lighting, I used the ones linked below.  I like them because the sequential electronics is built right into the LED light assembly.  There are three different bulb assemblies, an inside, a center, and an outside for the three sections of the tail light panel.  They must have some kind of a timer built into the electronics, because they work flawlessly, even though they are wired like a standard non-sequential taillight.  Screw them into the standard 1157 socket, and you're done.

https://www.npdlink.com/product/led-sequential-taillight-conversion/176372/200447?year=1968

If you haven't also considered replacing the dash bulbs with LEDs, you might give it a thought. I switched mine out and am very pleased with them. The factory dash lighting is pretty dim and the LED upgrade makes them look really nice. I also changed out my taillights at the same time. I definitely like them better also.
Doug Smith


'69 R-code Mach 1, 427 MR, 2x4, Jerico, 4.30 Locker
'70 F-350 390
'55 Ford Customline 2dr
'37 Ford Coupe

jayb

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Re: 68 Shelby GT-500 Convertible Project and Retrospective
« Reply #126 on: December 16, 2020, 09:55:58 AM »
I may do that, but I'll be using all Autometer gauges in the car, and they are not that bad to begin with, certainly not as dim as the factory instrument lighting.  Might try it with and without the LED bulbs on an instrument or two and see what it's like.  Not sure where I can get a replacement LED bulb for the Autometer gauges; I guess I'll have to look into that...
Jay Brown
- 1969 Mach 1, Drag Week 2005 Winner NA/BB, 511" FE (10.60s @ 129); Drag Week 2007 Runner-Up PA/BB, 490" Supercharged FE (9.35 @ 151)
- 1964 Ford Galaxie, Drag Week 2009 Winner Modified NA (9.50s @ 143), 585" SOHC
- 1969 Shelby Clone, Drag Week 2015 Winner Modified NA (Average 8.98 @ 149), 585" SOHC

   

Royce

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1955 Thunderbird Competition Coupe Altered Chassis "War Bird" 383 Lincoln Y block 520 hp
1955 Thunderbird 292 275 hp Y Block
1956 Ford Victoria 292 Y block

1957 Mercury 2dr Wagon "Battle Wagon" drag car 
1957 Thunderbird Glass body Tube Chassis drag car 333 cu in 500 hp Ford Y block
1961 Starliner 390/375 clone
1965 GT40 tribute w/FE
1966 Falcon Pro Touring project
Kaase Boss 547. 840 HP 698 Torque  pump gas
1992 BMW V-12 5.0
2001 Lincoln 5.4 4 cam.
1968 Cougar XR7

cjshaker

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Re: 68 Shelby GT-500 Convertible Project and Retrospective
« Reply #128 on: December 16, 2020, 11:29:56 AM »
It probably is a non-issue with the Autometer gauges. I was assuming stock gauges. All the Autometer stuff I've used seems to be bright enough.
Doug Smith


'69 R-code Mach 1, 427 MR, 2x4, Jerico, 4.30 Locker
'70 F-350 390
'55 Ford Customline 2dr
'37 Ford Coupe

TomP

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Re: 68 Shelby GT-500 Convertible Project and Retrospective
« Reply #129 on: December 21, 2020, 02:05:27 AM »
That paint job looks amazing. Not many guys could do a paint job like that and yet know enough about mechanical things to build engines.
 I am eager to see the car in person.