need help with shelby fiberglass frontend install

[65fastback2+2]

This is going on a 67 coupe.

#1. Do I keep my original grille??? The brackets that hold it on are not long enough so if I do put it back on there is a big gap between the front clip and the grille.

#2, If I am doing hood pins on this, can i get rid of that center support where the hood latch is that goes to the bottom of the clip? In pictures I never see it, so I figured I remove it since it doesnt attach to the shelby clip.

#3. How in the mess do you put headlights in this thing??? Nothing of the original ones will fit, everything is too big.

Thanks for da help

 

[67GTA-FB429]

which front end are you installing? picture?

 

[65fastback2+2]

which front end are you installing? picture?

67 GT350/500 Fiberglass

http://johnsmustang.com/Catalog/208/

 

[65fastback2+2]

ok i know a bunch of people have done this and have the answers to my questions

 

[zookeeper]

Here's the short version:every single piece of your stock front end except the fenders needs to come off and nothing except the turn signals can be re-used. For headlights you need to either get some 4 headlight system (smaller lights) buckets and brackets from Tony Branda. For the grille you need a Shelby repro. You also need the nose support bracket and the headlight trim rings as well as a new hood, since the Shelby hood is longer and the stocker won't work. Although the stock headlight plug-in will work fine for the low-beam (outside) headlights, you'll need to get a pigtail for the grille-mounted high beams and splice it into the existing harness, just as was done on Shelbys. The price for such a front end is not cheap, I have nearly $1,500 in mine and about 60 hours worth of 'glass work to get the ill-fitting Maier sh...I mean "parts" to fit. I realize this seems overwhelming, but if you need any pictures, info or advice on any specific items on doing this, let me know and I'd be more than happy to help.

 

[Edbert]

Yup, you've bit off a big one there my friend.

I was pretty serious about doing what you are doing in order to have a clone of the rarest Shelby of em all, the '67 convertible. It was attractive since all of the fiberglass was around $750 (at least thats what I found back then). The truth is that those bits are just the start, there's a ton more you need to buy to do it right. When I added the total cost up I came out to nearly $2,000.00. I chose to use the shorty hood and my normal grille and headlights.

 

[65fastback2+2]

Here's the short version:every single piece of your stock front end except the fenders needs to come off and nothing except the turn signals can be re-used. For headlights you need to either get some 4 headlight system (smaller lights) buckets and brackets from Tony Branda. For the grille you need a Shelby repro. You also need the nose support bracket and the headlight trim rings as well as a new hood, since the Shelby hood is longer and the stocker won't work. Although the stock headlight plug-in will work fine for the low-beam (outside) headlights, you'll need to get a pigtail for the grille-mounted high beams and splice it into the existing harness, just as was done on Shelbys. The price for such a front end is not cheap, I have nearly $1,500 in mine and about 60 hours worth of 'glass work to get the ill-fitting Maier sh...I mean "parts" to fit. I realize this seems overwhelming, but if you need any pictures, info or advice on any specific items on doing this, let me know and I'd be more than happy to help.

uh oh lol....

one thing, the shelby's didnt have quad lights right? just the normal 2??? And I can run without a grille for awhile. I already have the $650 longer shelby fiberglass hood.....soooo im kinda already 3/4 through this must finish, thanks for the info though

btw, oddly enough the front aligns great

 

[Edbert]

AFAIK all '67 shelby's had quad lights, the only difference was that some states required the inner pair to be moved outboard. Originally they were all supposed to have center-mounted lights in the grille. You can of course delete them, but if you have a shelby grille it will have two large openings for the lights. Maybe you could use some sort of ram-air ducting from them if you don't put all four in

 

[65fastback2+2]

oh my holy crap, sheesh this is nuts...i went with just low beams and no grille for now, and this front end has cost me $2100 now, if id a known i wouldnt have done it, but im too far in it now to back out.......not easy for a college kid....

 

[chepsk8]

Quad Lights! Time for re-wiring!!!

The 1967,1968, and 1969 Shelby GT-350/500's were styled on purpose as a preview of the New Mustang two years into the future!

 

[Ronstang]

The 67 Shelby's had center mounted racing lights and the 68s had square fog type lights mounted near the outside edge of the grill and neither will be required if you choose not to run them.

 

[Edbert]

Its never too late to back out, at least until you buy the last part. I know some folks in Houston that "might" be able/willing to buy you out if you decide to. PM me if you're thinking that way.

The 67 shelby front end is much more work and money than the catalogs indicate. I really wanted that nose on mine, Zookeeper and others here talked me out of it because I consulted SN before purchasing. So I went with the cheap route to Shelby-ize the car.

 

[1320stang]

oh my holy crap, sheesh this is nuts...i went with just low beams and no grille for now, and this front end has cost me $2100 now, if id a known i wouldnt have done it, but im too far in it now to back out.......not easy for a college kid....

What was it SuperDave said? Proper planning prevents poor performance?

 

[65fastback2+2]

What was it SuperDave said? Proper planning prevents poor performance?

i cant help john @ johnsmustang was wrong for once, he told me i had everything i needed....

 

[zookeeper]

I didn't intendto scare you out of this project, just trying to help you understand what you're getting into. I had no idea what was involved and absolutely nobody among the dozen or so "real" shelby owners I contacted stepped in to help me. That's most likely because they've never had their car apart themselves, so they don't have a clue as to what's underneath the front! Anyway, I'd do it again in a heartbeat. In my opinion, nothing looks as wicked as a center-light '67 shelby.

 

[66 BLAKE 96]

What was it SuperDave said? Proper planning prevents poor performance?

Good to see the old guy's wisdom still in use.

In my opinion, nothing looks as wicked as a center-light '67 shelby.

I couldn't agree more.