71 429 Mustang

429 CJ-R Engine Compartment

This is the J-code with the 429 Cobra Jet engine with Ram Air.

 429 SCJ-R Engine Compartment

This is the J-code with the 429 Super Cobra Jet engine with Ram Air.

429 CJ Engine Compartment

This is the C-code with the 429 Cobra Jet engine (non Ram Air).

429 SCJ Engine Compartment

This is the C-code with the 429 Super Cobra Jet engine (non Ram Air). Duplicate photo at right is larger version for better detail.

429 CJ-R Engine Compartment

This is the J-code with the 429 Cobra Jet engine with Ram Air.

Valve Cover "OK"

If you look closely, you can see the remains of the yellow factory "OK" stamp on the front surface of the driver's side valve cover on this original 22,000 mile SCJ Mustang (also, the remains of a second sample we found on a 429 CJ Cougar and also an NOS 429 CJ are shown below). A template (of correct font) for anyone wanting to reproduce this mark is shown at center. Size the OK letters to 3/4" wide by 3/4" tall. Print it out and take it to a rubber stamp shop to have a stamp made. Use yellow Acrylic Paint as shown on the original above. At center right is the "OK" stamp mark we reproduced with a rubber stamp based on the template at center left  using the 3/4" size and the shade of yellow of the original and then stamped onto a 429 Mustang valve cover. Our rubber stamp we made is at far right.

Date codes were stamped on each front headlight support. Samples of factory stampings on two different 71 429 Mustangs show the stampings could have been either on the back of the headlight support (top left) or on the side support (top right). It was originally thought that these stamps were the actual vehicle build date, however, the samples above (one with Marti Report determined build date, other with the invoice build date inset), show that the build date was actually 6 to 7 business days after the dates stamped on the headlight supports. More research is needed to understand what this date represents.  Shown below are these same type of date stamps on an unrestored 72 Mach 1 and at bottom, the single photo shows this mark reproduced on Jeff Ford's 72 Lazarus Mach 1.

Wiper Motor

This is an original wiper motor at left. Note the yellow part number (or could be white - depending on motor supplier) and date stamp as well as the colors of the components. A beautifully restored motor is shown center. Also, a  yellow paint dab was placed on the end of the housing (red arrow) as shown in the photo at right.

A closeup of the date code/part number is shown below. A view with a scale is shown below for those who want to make a stamp to reproduce this mark. Two members wiper motor date codes were recently checked against the build date of their cars and were found to precede the car's build date by 6 to 8 days.

Engine Inspection Marks

In this period photo of a 71 429 Mustang at left, there appears to be a "B" marked on the front of the passenger side head (I have enhanced it because it was difficult to make out in our scan). The picture at center also shows a mark in this same place (yellow crayon) on a 1970 N code 429 in a Cyclone. The picture at right shows a mark found on a 71 429 CJ Mach 1. We speculate that these marks may be inspector initials.

Below are some additional  photos we received (thanks Jake from ProBodyShop.com !) of an original 71 429 SCJ factory replacement engine. Note the yellow crayon markings on the heads on both the front and rear of engine;

Front of Block

Rear of Block near VIN Stamping

Snorkel Part Number

The part number for the snorkel (D0GF-9D626-) is stamped in white ink on the underside as shown. The photo at right shows a closeup with a scale in case you would like to make a stamp to reproduce this.

If you have checked out concours Mustangs of many different years on the showfield, you have doubtless seen lots of coils with the white chalk "X" on the end as shown in the photo above. So did the 71 429 Mustang ignition coil have the chalk "X" marked on it? Based on our evaluation to date of low mileage, unrestored 429 CJ/SCJ Mustangs, the answer appears to be no. Two example photos below show no indication of an X.

In addition to the yellow stripe/"AUTOLITE" lettering, the original heater hoses bore the part numbers. Examples from a Boss 351 shown above D0OA-18472- or D1ZA-18472- were stamped in white ink. The reproduction heater hoses currently being sold do not have these parts numbers, so you will have to be creative if you would like to add them to your hoses.

Front Decal and Element Decal

"FRONT" stickers often show up on 429 Mustang air cleaners. Research to-date suggests this sticker is not correct for the 71 429 Mustang air cleaner. They appear to have been only used on 65 - 68 Mustang air cleaners. However, since this sticker comes in a 12 piece kit sold for "1971 Mustangs", a lot of people think they are correct and put them on. The air cleaner filter sticker (orange/white) sticker shown above, did come on the 71 Mustang air cleaner. The location shown above is correct for this sticker.

1970 Service Spec Decal

'70 sticker location without rev limiter was on passenger side shock tower. Photo at right is from original engine compartment taken in 1974 confirming this location.

'70 sticker location with rev limiter.

Service Spec Decal

There were two different Service Spec Decals used on 71 Mustangs depending on when the car was built. The 1971 Mustangs built in the Fall of 1970 used the 1970 Service Spec sticker (as shown above). The 70 sticker was placed on the passenger side shock tower unless the car had a rev limiter - then it was placed above windshield washer tank. Sometime between* the  last few days of September and the 3rd week of October. 1970, the Service Spec sticker was changed to the 1971 version (shown in next section below) and placed on the radiator support.  

*Group member Mitch Lewis was able to help us narrow down the changeover time with his September 30th built vehicle (lower left) and his October  20th 1970  built vehicle (lower right) showing the change occurred in this timeframe.

             

'71 Service Spec Decal and correct location on radiator support. Note how the hood latch support bracket goes on top of the decal on an original car.

Build Sheet Tape Mark

In the two photos of original cars above you can see the remnants of a piece of masking tape at the center of the top of the radiator support. On original cars, the tape is usually still left there or the paint was removed when it was peeled off. It is believed that this piece of tape was used to affix one of the build sheets as the car went down the assembly line.

Inspection Decals

Four Inspection Decals were used in the 71 Mustang engine compartment  - P, B, T and F. It is likely that the P stood for Paint, the B for Body, the T for Trim and the F for Final as these are the names of the major areas in an auto assembly plant. The T and B letter decals are red while the P and F are black. The following is our recommended placement* for these decals;

* Note that it is certainly possible that these decals were placed in other locations in the engine compartment as well (different assembly plants (Dearborn/Metuchen), different assembly line workers, etc.). However, we are presenting the locations we have observed most often for them on multiple original and correctly restored MCA concours gold 71 Mustangs.

Make Your Own Inspection Decals

Inspection Decal Template

Most of the reproduction Inspection Decals sold at Mustang supply-houses are incorrect for the 71 Mustang (wrong size, font, color, rounded instead of square edges), so we have made the template below to be as close as possible to the originals based on careful examination of original '71 Mustang decals. To make your own decals;

1) Click on the template below, which will open a Microsoft Word file which you then save to your computer.

2) From Microsoft Word, open file InspectionTemplate2.doc. It is already sized to print out each letter to the correct 14 mm height. Load your printer with white sheet adhesive label paper (example - Avery #6573) and print out.

3) Trim each of your 4 Inspection Decals to be 20 mm by 20 mm as shown in the diagram below. You may wish to cover them first with clear plastic adhesive tape (I used shipping tape because it's wide enough) to provide a water proof seal. Once done, add them to your engine compartment as shown above!

Below - Engine Compartment with decals made using the process above and located according to information presented above;

Caution Fan Decal

Did the 429 Mustang come from the factory with an orange "Caution Fan" sticker on the fan shroud? The aftermarket certainly has sold a lot of these stickers and many people have added them, but is it right? The picture at above left is of a 429 SCJ engine compartment taken in 1973 which does indeed show a "Caution Fan" sticker. However, we also have the photo above right of an original, unrestored, 22,000 mile SCJ engine compartment which does not have the "Caution Fan" sticker. One theory we have bandied about is that when Ford had problems with flex fan blades breaking off in the 70's that perhaps they instructed dealers to install these stickers. Bottom line: Don't know. 

Update 3/28/09  from April 2009 Mustang Monthly, Bob Perkins "Resto Roundup" column;
Original question was about presence of "Caution Fan" decal on the 1968 Mustang. Bob Perkins replied:

"The "Caution Fan" stickers were typically not installed on '68 Mustangs and Shelbys at the assembly plant. More often, dealers added the sticker during dealer prep. Service shrouds often had the sticker on them. There was more than one Service Bulletin about the "Caution Fan" sticker telling dealers to add them during warranty repairs or general service if they were missing. Prior to 1972, the only factory photo showing a Mustang with the sticker was of a Boss 429, which had a finger guard and not a full shroud......."

SCJ Emission Decal  - Original at left in black & white photo. Osborn has just reproduced this decal (shown at right) and it can be found in the Osborn catalog under #DF1601.

CJ Emission Decal (repro)

Installed view

Valve Cover Emissions Decal

This is the emissions decal placed on the driver's side valve cover. The 429 SCJ used the one at top left. Note the SCJ decal lists "AI Exhaust Emission Control System". This refers to the Thermactor (aka Smog) pump used on the SCJ while the CJ decal lists "EM" in this same location for "Engine Management". 

Battery OK Decal

This is the Battery OK decal. It was placed on the flat area of the inner fender apron anywhere between the voltage regulator and the radiator support.  Want to get the correct markings on your Battery OK decal? 

Click this link to the special article on it by Mark Brandli:

 The Story on the Battery OK Decal

Trans Dipstick

The 429 CJ/SCJ C6 Trans dipstick was coded with yellow paint as shown above.

Details of Underhood Components

Battery

At left is the battery hold-down used on the 71 Mustang/Cougar. At right is the special bracket that secures the battery to the inner fender apron. It's Ford part # D0OZ-10A705-A.

Battery

Ford used a battery shield on cars with air conditioning or high performance engines (Boss 351 and 429 CJ/SCJ). The purpose of the shield was to deflect engine compartment heat away from the battery. Note how the shield is placed around the top and side of the battery. The part number for this shield (now obsolete) is D0OB-10A682-A . For 1971, Ford offered both a Group 24 and a 27 battery, but the 429 Mustang used only the 27F.

Battery  

This 1971 Battery area is detailed to MCA concours specifications. 

Battery Shield Airflow

The battery shield was not only designed to be a barrier to engine compartment heat but also a "cooling jacket" for the battery. Notice how Ford designed a clever little air scoop (top left and left center photo) onto the leading edge of the shield. This scoop captured fresh air through an opening in the radiator support sheet metal (center right and right photos above) and ducted it through the air space between the battery and shield to provide cooling.
 

Battery Support Bracket

Although this page is Under Hood Detailing, this part is actually an "under fender" part. It's located here since it's battery related and this is the only place we cover the battery here on the Megasite. The purpose of this bracket is to add structural support to the battery tray that rests in the engine compartment on the inner fender. With the substantial weight of the battery, it is understandable that Ford would add this additional support. To our knowledge, this part is not yet reproduced. If you need one, you'll have to find a good used piece or fabricate your own.
 

Fuel Line Bracket

The picture at left shows an installed view of a fuel line bracket/clip. The MPC shows 71 429 CJ/SCJ Mustang and Cougar came with these clips which bolted under the coil bracket (however, we have not found this clip installed on an original car to date). This same clip design was shared with the Boss 429. The picture at right is a detailed close up of the clip.

Engine Compartment Photos

Alternator Splash Shield     

This is an ultra-rare 429 Mustang Alternator Splash Shield. It was made of a sheet of rubberized material and was held in place by fasteners which mounted into the side of the passenger frame rail. 

Power Brake Booster Vacuum Hose Retention Strap

The vacuum hose was retain with a small bracket on the driver's side shock tower brace as shown in the photo above.
 

These are the acorn nuts used to secure the molding at the front edge of the NASA Hood. 7 were required.