Getting closer to installing my tail light panel and got to looking at the rear cross member. Should this be straight? I have a new one for another 66 that I am comparing to the one on the GT. I'm thinking it should be straight judging from the new panel and cross member.
That appears to be a definitive answer, yet both the tail light panel I received and the new floor cross member that I already had are straight. Any other thoughts or opinions on this?
No thoughts or opinions needed. Look at your photo which shows the curved original. PB is absolutely correct. Welcome to the world of mis-formed Taiwan replacement panels. Rick @ NPD seems to have influence over the repop manufacturers. Maybe he can pressure them into making correct parts.
I went back out and put a straight edge on the cross member, mine is straight as is ONLY the lower portion of the tail light panel that gets welded to the cross member. Once you get up to the body line mine is curved and matches the bumper and trunk lid. Weld er up I'm sure it's fine.
I thought the same thing- maybe the crossmember and lower part of the taillight panel would be straight since they're hidden behind the bumper. So inside the trunk I measured from the 90* roll on the crossmember to the taillight panel and the measurement is 1-3/8" at the ends and slightly over 1" on each side of the brace that the gas filler passes through. The crossmember is definitely curved.
I used to think my trunk and tail light panel had a bend in them from some rear-end crash before I bought the car. Then I started noticing that 9 out of ten 65-66 mustangs I see have the same bend. It must be factory.
the trunk lid , tail light panel , and bumper are curved inward on all 65-66 mustangs. i'm not sure what kind of illusion it was suppose to produce. the front of the mustang is curved outward. maybe they wanted a slight arrow design illusion. its called styling like the way the Shelby over the car stripes not the same width front to rear.
The cross member should be straight. The taillight panel where the cross member and the taillight panel meet is straight. The curve is built into the taillight panel. If you have a new taillight panel fit it up to the cross member that is on the car. You will see what I'm talking about.
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