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Heavy Duty Suspension V. GT package

somethingspecial

Well-known member
Joined
Aug 13, 2005
Messages
1,795
I have had lots of inquiries lately concerning Heavy Duty Suspension V. GT Equipment Group. If you have a 2011 GT/CS Recognition Guide and Owners Manual, they are listed on pages 120-121. If not, they are as follows:

Heavy Duty Suspension:
Higher Rate front and rear springs
7/8" or 15/16" front Stabilizer bar (sway bar)
Larger higher rate shock absorbers.
Cost: $30.64

GT Equipment Group:
Fog lights (included in the GT/CS Package)
Dual Exhaust System of a special low-restriction type, including Chrome Quad Tips.
GT Stripe. (deleted and replaced with the GT/CS stripe with GT/CS Package)
Heavy Duty Suspension
Wide-Oval tires and 6-inch rims
GT styled steel wheels
GT flip open quick-action gas cap (with running horse emblem on GT/CS)
Power front disc brakes, required at extra cost, with 390GT or 428CJ engines.
Cost: $146.71

T code (six cylinder) and C code 289 engines did not qualify for the GT Package.

I could not find any reference to the 9" differential as being part of the GT Package.
 
Last edited:

Tim_morrison82

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 27, 2011
Messages
67
Thanks Mike.

i have HD suspension on my car, a J code, non GT, non CS car and have always wanted to know a bit more about it when replacing stuff for concours.

was there 2 size options for the HD sway bar??

seems a little ambiguous showing 2... was it plant specific?
 
OP
OP
somethingspecial

somethingspecial

Well-known member
Joined
Aug 13, 2005
Messages
1,795
Don't know how accurate this info is, but I found this:

.698" (approx. 11/16") 302-4V; Standard
.728" (approx. 3/4") 302-4V/390 GT; GT option; Paint daub, 1 yellow, 1 blue
.858" (approx. 7/8") 302-4V/390 GT; improved handling; Paint Daub, Green

.958" (approx. 15/16") 390 GT/ GT 350/ GT 500; Maximum Handling Package.; No Paint color given.
 

CougarCJ

Well-known member
Joined
Jul 17, 2006
Messages
2,186
Heavy duty suspension is a separate component of the GT Equipment Group.

HD Suspension, could have been ordered as a stand alone option.

Wouldn't there also be the "GT" chrome badging included with the GT equipment group on a non-GT/CS?
 

teamlo

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 28, 2006
Messages
259
I could not find any reference to the 9" differential as being part of the GT Package.

I too have never seen the 9" differential referenced specifically as being part of the GT package. Every 1968 GT car that I have observed over the years (J-code, S-code, X-code, R-code) has been equipped with a 9" axle.

Terry
 

dalorzo_f

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Joined
Jan 7, 2006
Messages
1,886
Location
Brisbane Australia
Would think the 9" was related to engine, not the GT group. I'd hazard a guess that every non GT J, S, X and R also had a 9"... I know my non GT X and S do... but not the C code...

So, by default, would think as a GT had to have the bigger V8's a 9" was already optioned to that engine... and would be on a GT as well, but not specifically as part of the package, just by default. Kinda an option (9") defined by the option (engine) required to get the GT option... :wink:

???
 

CougarCJ

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Joined
Jul 17, 2006
Messages
2,186
Would think the 9" was related to engine, not the GT group. I'd hazard a guess that every non GT J, S, X and R also had a 9"... I know my non GT X and S do... but not the C code...

So, by default, would think as a GT had to have the bigger V8's a 9" was already optioned to that engine... and would be on a GT as well, but not specifically as part of the package, just by default. Kinda an option (9") defined by the option (engine) required to get the GT option... :wink:

???

9 inch rear ends were standard with the FE engines: S - 390-4V, X - 390-2V, R - 428CJ (9 inch nodular with 31 splined axles).

In the Ford MPC, (for the small block V-8) the listing for the driveshaft calls out a difference in driveshafts between GT 50-7/32" long, and non-GT 50-31/32" long. The only error they show is that the GT package could be ordered with the 289-2V.

My non-GT J code 302-4V, has a 8 inch rear end.
 
Last edited:

Tim_morrison82

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 27, 2011
Messages
67
My J code is non 9" and i have seen a lengthy thread on VMF (i think) that confirmed beyond reasonable doubt that only GT J codes had the 9".

to add to that, my non J code which had heavy duty suspension, doesn't even have a dual exhaust... so they were pretty much just a warm version of a stock standard car.
 
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