Ken’s Cougars already makes the clear 68 side marker lenses. We sell Ken the housings for 68 front side markers but lets just say that Ken’s Cougars lacks a wholesale distributing program thus we can not offer them at this time.
Well, you know how Todd’s can be…not knowing their own strength, and all…
Ken’s in Edmond, OK?? Cool…thanks for the guidance, Don!
I was talking to a friend who worked at Fords between 1964 and 68. He said that he remembers working on the molds for the front fenders, since he was a machinist/die guy. I asked him what happened to all the old dies and he said Ford had a very large field that all this stuff got put in and just left to rot. Ford probably wouldn’t give it up anyway. It’s a shame some of what we need may be sitting out in a field to never be used again.
Actually… Much of that original tooling exists today and is available for lease. Unfortunately when folks like us have actually laid hands on it, they have in fact deteriorated beyond use or… the way in which they were designed is no longer useful with today’s manufacturing methods. Here is one example of Ford tooling still in use, with Ford’s blessing, made in Detroit.
This is cool, Many places still have big presses that would sill use these dies. The fenders and quarter panels could still be made. Do we know anyone here who has the inside on these dies?
Absofriginlutly!
Also, rear lower patch panels for 69/70, original styl floor mats in dark red 
, 69 & 70 door panels all trims, xr7 burl walnut vinyl aplic(sp? stick on stuff lol) just a few things I have struggled with locating latley.
Yes, we have the inside scoop with the right people, we just need capital to move forward. The floor mats are one of those things that just needs an infusion of investment capital. The tooling is done, the quality and price are already known, just need about $10-$12k to get the ball rolling. We are putting pen to paper right now and trying our hardest to define what the WCCC Acceleration Team will look like and how it will work.
I’m confused about the aluminum quality thing. I know that awesome aluminum is available today, all different versions of it. My buddy uses T6061 aircraft-grade aluminum to make his instruments which are incredible, and I’m certain he can get other flavors too. I also know a guy in Philly that’s a metallurgist who runs a forge and everything, so can make, like, anything. The metal can’t really be the issue, can it? I know quality of lots of things has declined since the 60’s/70’s but I cannot believe that elemental metals fall into that category!
I have a call out to my buddy that makes the aluminum guitars. He just recently picked up what is, from what I understand, THE CNC machine, it’s huge and super expensive and all that. It’s a Haas VF-3. I’m going to ask him if he could machine the moldings out of billet and have the cost not be extraordinary. I think it would all come down to minimizing waste metal and getting as many moldings out of each billet as possible and all that. But maybe that was the metal quality issue folks have run into, not that great-quality aluminum isn’t available so much as its not cheap enough?
If he says he can do it, and would be interested in doing it for that matter, I’m assuming there’s someone that would be up for providing him with an example set that he could generate a CNC program from?
I have a hidden agenda here too, I’ll come clean. My plan for my second Cougar (a couple years from now) includes all the chrome trim parts being not chrome, but rather finished in matte black/dark-grey either powder coat or anodize. He already has the connects to get that stuff done, but if I can get him making the parts, too…
Oh and he’s not a Cougar guy, but he is a car guy. His company car is a '74 Plymouth Satellite P-code, special order factory 400. 
I may be wrong here, but aren’t the moldings extruded? It doesn’t seem like CNC is really the way to go in trying to reproduce them.
I thought if the problem is the current repros showing bend marks and stress scratches and etc etc, then machining them would be a way to ensure they didn’t have any of those issues. But would they be useless to people if they didn’t show obvious signs of having been produced with the same machining process as the originals? I’ll be the first to admit I really don’t understand the crazy rules with all that stuff. If machined moldings would be pointless, then lemme know, cause that answers that question. And also means I’m unlikely to be able to get my buddy to make em, if I’d be the only one interested. :-/
You are correct.
I can only say the quality of the machine and setup is critical.
If there is any question, simply give Mort Burton at B&B Reproductions. He can tell you about the issues with aluminum sheet stock and making moldings from them. The repro 69/70 rocker moldings were originally targetted to be made from aluminum and anodized (as they originally were), but the aluminum showed a regular, repeating pattern in the metal once anodized. Mort has been unsuccessful in obtaining metal that does not have this issue. B&B subsequently gave up on the aluminum and went with stainless (which is FAR nicer, but incorrect). I have not heard of a change in the situation since that decision was made. I worked with B&B toward the end of their development helping them make refinements to the rockers in order to make them fit correctly.
Machining moldings is not going to be cost effective.
Also, I believe the moldings were stamped rather than extruded.
Its not that there is any type of shortage on aluminum its just that there is low demand for the raw material of that quality in sheet form. Most raw stock is metric these days for one so when you are trying to do a “spot on” reproduction that is your first hurdle.
Not sure if you are interested in doing “restomod” stuff, but there’s probably a market for a good DIN radio bezel for 69-70 Cougar/Mustang. There’s two out there now - an inexpensive one that’s too flimsy to use and an expensive one that doesn’t look right.
How about chrome door trim for at 69 XR7. They are listed on my Marti report. I saw a set 5 or 6 years ago on EBay, passed on them and have never been able to find them anywhere.
What about electrical parts, are they part of your plan as well? I think the under dash wiring harness with a fuse block would be much needed part.
Those are in pretty low demand actually. Next time you make an order mention it and we will give you a free pair. Once we filled a 55 gallon drum with them my kids started using them for sword fighting in the back yard. Keep throwing out the ideas though, you are bound to hit a good one!
I agree on this, except the expensive one (JME) is a billet machined part and is out of production, has been for a long time and is not likely to be made again (IMO). I spoke to them on the phone about a year ago and they said they did not plan to retool for the redesigned part until they had enough orders (at $360 a pop as I recall). You won’t be seeing this part again. Think it “looked right” though. And the other “cheap” thing (~$100) is crap (Ken Harrison as I recall).
So yeah, this would be a great part to make. I made my own from a repro bezel and correct XR7 woodgrain from JCC (when it was still available).