Rally-Pac ProfilingI am trying to restore my '65 Mustang GT coupe. It's an April 5th San Jose car that originally had a Rally-Pac. However, when I received this car it was gutted on the inside. National Parts Depot offers reproduction Rally-Pacs. What's the difference between a Hi-Profile and Low-Profile Rally-Pac? The only difference I see is the Low-Profile comes with color options. What's the correct color and "profile" for an April 5th '65 Mustang GT with white and aqua interior?Al JovanellyVia the Internet
Your GT requires a Low-Profile-style Rally-Pac so the five-dial GT instrument dash gauges are visible to the driver.
The early style Hi-Profile Rally-Pac is narrow and was used with the earlier Falcon-type instrument panel that did not have oil pressure or amp gauges. In March 1965, with the introduction of the GT model and Interior Dcor Group with the new five-gauge instrument cluster, a wider Low-Profile Rally-Pac was provided. The original-style Rally-Pac blocked the view of gauges if used with the new dashpanel, thus a second-style Rally-Pac was necessary.
The Low-Profile and Hi-Profile Rally-Pacs are different in appearance and easily recognized. The early Hi-Profile utilizes hooded gauges with 120 degrees of sweep and the words "Rally-Pac" embossed on an emblem between the gauges. The wider Low-Profile has 270-degree sweep gauges set in a circular bezel and does not have the Rally-Pac emblem. Your Rally-Pac is color-coded to the steering column since your car has the Interior Dcor Group, or "Pony Interior," and should be painted white. Most GT cars with standard interior received black Rally-Pacs.
All '66 Mustangs used the five-gauge dash and corresponding Low-Profile Rally-Pac.
Electrical BasicsCan someone help a Mustang Monthly subscriber with limited electrical knowledge? I have a '67 Mustang coupe with a 289, a C4 automatic, air conditioning, and power steering. It also has the alternator gauge instead of the warning light. I recently replaced the alternator wiring harness and noticed there is no wire for the stator terminal. Why is this, and what output comes from the stator?
Also, when working on the electric system, I've seen instructions for removing the negative battery cable. Why not the positive?AaronVia the Internet
The stator terminal on a Ford-style alternator is used on vehicles equipped with an amp warning light. It is not considered an output for charging purposes and is connected only if the car has an indicator light. Fords with amp gauges, such as yours, simply have the stator terminal open. This can be a problem for Mustang owners, as the cars used both style instrument panels (Falcon-style and five-dial), and the correct alternator wiring harness must be utilized to match the instrument panel style. Either alternator harness has a three-prong connector and plugs directly into the engine-bay harness, so mistakes can occur. Your parts vendor has supplied you with the correct-amp meter-style harness. Later Ford vehicles equipped with an electric carburetor choke use the stator terminal regardless of dashboard style. However, early Mustangs do not utilize an electric choke.