Can somebody tell me if this part is right for my car?

[whwright]

This part was in the trunk of my 1972 convertible when I bought it. It was (and still is) loose, but there are obvious marks in the trunk where it used to be welded down. In the second picture, taken the day I brought the car home, you can see this part just sitting there, and if you look closely you can see amongst all the rust the place where it used to be welded.

Looking through the assembly manual, it looks like this part wasn't used in the convertibles, regardless of the type of spare. Did somebody add this for some strange reason? Maybe they got confused on the assembly line?

Can any of you other guys with 71-73 convertibles tell me what I'm supposed to have?

Thanks.

Wayne.

 

[whwright]

Here's a picture I took of the trunk on Sunday where you can see the "bumps" that I didn't get ground down completely. The "bumps" line up perfectly with "holes" in the part that I can't figure out.

 

[whwright]

BTW: Thanks in advance for any help you can give me!

 

[yeloxr7]

I bet it's where the j-bolt for holding the spare wheel down hooks on.

 

[1320stang]

No, the J-bolt hook is shown there in his last pic painted in grey down above the fuel tank. The part he's talking about sits up above the the leaf springs, or he thinks it does.

Hey Wayne, don't you want to know if it's the "Wright" part for your car? LOL!!

 

[whwright]

Hey Wayne, don't you want to know if it's the "Wright" part for your car? LOL!!

...like I've never heard THAT one before...

 

[whwright]

I bet it's where the j-bolt for holding the spare wheel down hooks on.

If I understand the assembly manual correctly, the j-bolt hold-down doo-hicky that is still in the trunk was used on all the convertibles, regardless of whether they had the space saver spare or not.

The part that I found loose in the trunk looks like the inflator holder that they used on the fastbacks -- or at least I think it does.

 

[whwright]

Here's two more pictures of the mystery part. The first picture is the back side of it so you can see where somebody broke away the four welds. The other picture is it sitting in the trunk where it appears to have been attached at one time.

Any 71-73 coupe or fastback owners recognize this part? Does anybody else have one in their convertible?

 

[jes72mustang]

That's an interesting mystery you have there. My 72 coupe does not have that part in the trunk, just the loop welded to the trunk floor for the J-bolt, do you have an owners manual? it might show it in there, I will check mine this evening if I get a chance. But IMO it lookslike it holds either the jack and handle or the inflator bottle for the space saver spare.

 

[Platonic Solid]

It's a spare tire/jack retaining bracket for a 71-73 Mach with the trap-door option.

73 Mach Trunk

 

[whwright]

Thanks for the responses guys.

YeloXR7: I think you're on the right track.

Jes72: I hadn't thought of looking in the owner's manual. It's so obvious I should kick myself. Thanks for the good idea.

Platonic: Do you think somebody at the factory got confused?

1320: Got any more good jokes?

Thanks again!

Wayne.

 

[1320stang]

I'll give you $12.50 for your Mach I flip down fuel cap and not a cent more.

 

[Edbert]

First of all I know nothing about 71-73s, but have you considered that the part might not be original? Maybe some PO back 30 years ago rigged a nitrous bottle stand or something, and after all these years it looks old enough to be original. Just a thought.

 

[Pakrat]

That or even an inner section had been repaired/replaced with a hunk cut out of an old mach that they fit to the car?!?!??!??!

My guess would be that it looks like it is designed for sure to hold a jack and handle of some sorts. Do you have a marti report for the car? Just maybe it was even ordered with some weird Mach options that led to that part being installed by accident or on purpose.

 

[whwright]

OK...I'm going out on a limb here...and I'm going to look stupid...

What's a marti report and how do I get one?

 

[whwright]

I'll give you $12.50 for your Mach I flip down fuel cap and not a cent more.

Well...er...let me think about this...NO DEAL.

 

[whwright]

1320: Got any more lame jokes?

 

[1320stang]

Your license plate is mis-spelled.

 

[ForceFed70]

Definately looks like it's ment to hold the jack and tire iron.

Sorry, can't tell you if it's original or if someone added it...

 

[whwright]

Before I got the car somebody had started doing some "stuff" to it, but they got sidetracked and it sat for about ten years.

I'm gonna guess that they welded that part in thinking it was supposed to be there, only to discover that it made it such that the spare tire wouldn't fit. Then they broke it out, tossed it in the trunk (with an old blanket, a vacuum cleaner, and a flat tire), and the rest is history.

I'm going to put some sort of mat in the trunk to cover up the rough spots and move on to my next project.

Thanks for all the responses!

Wayne.