Rear Leaf Spring Centering Bolts

These Rear Leaf Spring Centering Bolts are certainly very unique parts. It is almost impossible to find used ones in good condition. They are now in stock, and they are exactly like the originals. Our leaf springs come with very similar bolts already installed, but the heads on the bolts are not as tall as the original ones.

This picture shows the bolts in our leaf springs (head is not as tall as original.)

Now, the question is exactly what do these bolts do? Well, they obviously hold the leaves of the springs together, but they are really centering bolts. They just "center" the leaf springs to the pad on the rear end housing (see picture with arrow.) This "centering" is just that-they just center or "line up" the leaf spring assembly. They serve no major purpose in holding the springs in the Mustang. The front bolts, rear shackle kits and U-bolts do this job.



Click here to order the bolts.

65-66 Mustang Battery Tray

Unless you purchase one of our exact reproduction Autolite Batteries for your Mustang, the replacement battery will not have the "ledge" on the lower side of the case as shown . This "ledge" is necessary to secure your battery using the original tray and holddown clamp. If you don't have the proper battery; the original clamp does not secure it properly, and it simply is not very safe.

Our special 65-66 Battery Tray Kit has been a very popular part for good reason. It consists of a special battery tray that accepts the 67-70 style top holddown and bolts. I can remember many, many years ago welding tabs on an original tray in a 1966 GT350 Shelby just so we could use this type of set up. Now it is much easier. This is really a great idea and super product.

Our part number is EG2602.

How to Photograph Your Mustang-Part 2: Compostion

From the desk of Troy Kruger, the photographer of the 2008 catalog car.

This is the second installment of a series of articles, which will help you create that spectacular photograph that you yearn for. Last time we learned how to use both natural and artificial lighting to help achieve great shots. Click here to see Part 1 in the series of articles. This week, we’ll learn how to position your camera for that money shot.

When taking pictures of your car, please remember that the car is the star, so pick a good location/background that doesn't detract from your car and that contrasts with the car's color/paint nicely. Be aware of your surroundings. Look for reflections in your car showing parking lot stripes, telephone poles and wires, busy tree branch/leaf reflections, clouds, building windows, people, and the camera/photographer! If you can find an open clear area with a nice clear horizon behind you, you have a great spot. If choosing a location such as a store or gas station, always choose a location that appears OLDER than your car.

If you remember nothing else, remember this easy tip: Turn your wheels so that the wheel face of the front exposed wheel is aimed at the camera. Nobody wants to see your tire treads. This is a common mistake, and the easiest error to avoid.

For a great aggressive looking muscular shot, get down to the ground at bumper level and take some ¾ view shots of both front and rear. You will have to move your car around to get both front and rear, as you must keep the light behind you. Park the car on a LEVEL surface. Mount your camera down real low so that you can see all 4 tires touch the ground through the camera view finder. The more you can do to create an imaginary line touching the bottom of all 4 tires, the better. This is a good starting point for many spectacular shots. Move around and experiment from that point on. Try to avoid “hiding” one of the rear tires from the shot. Use a telephoto lens of about 120-180 mm and stand back far for this shot so as not to distort or “bulge” out the front of the car. Try tilting the camera 20-30 degrees to create another dramatic effect.

Use a ladder or climb on a roof and take some perspective shots from up high. This works great with convertibles and cars with stripes. The ladder is also very helpful for shooting the underhood shots, especially if you are a bit vertically challenged. You should always be using your tripod when you can.

When attempting a side view “profile” shot, you must use a tripod and get the camera set up so that you are looking through the side windows as cleanly as possible without seeing the other interior door through the window opening. Speaking of windows, roll up the windows during a photo shoot, except for convertible shots when the top is down.
Don't be afraid to take 100 pictures of your car - you may only get a dozen that you can actually use! Digital media is cheap - your time for a re-shoot isn't. Speaking of digital, we’ll discuss equipment in our next installment. Good luck, and happy shooting.

More tips are available on my website: http://www.customshowboards.com/

How to Photograph Your Mustang: Part 1

From the desk of Troy Kruger, the photographer of the 2008 catalog car.

Welcome the first part of a series of posts that will show you how to properly photography your Mustang. Whether it be for advertising it for sale, or just having fun with your camera and your favorite subject, you will appreciate these tips. We'll all appreciate seeing your great photos on the customer cars section of this website as well!

Today's topic is LIGHTING.


Good photography is 90% lighting. Since many of us don't have access to a studio large enough for our cars, we have to do with what natural light is available to us. Plan your photo shoot carefully. Avoid midday sun, as the light is very harsh and will wash out the top of your vehicle. Late evening/early morning horizontal light is the best. If you are lucky you can get some very good photos right at sunset. You have little time to get the perfect shot, though. That's why I recommend starting with sunrise time instead as you won't run out of time after the "perfect" moment. Make sure the light source is behind you, but don't let your body cast a shadow onto your shot!


Some have recommended using a fill flash, but I don't like it for exterior shots. It looks unnatural to me, and anything reflective on your car (like license plates and decals) will be way overexposed (Boss and Mach 1 owners know what I'm talking about). Instead, always use a tripod so that you can shoot without a flash. You can get a tripod at the local electronics store for under $50 - no need to break the bank if you are just getting started. A flash is often necessary for interior shots and underhood engine shots to fill in the shadows. I like to find some bright shade for these shots and use my flash. Watch out for harsh sun and shadows.



Another good time to take a photo of your car, especially if it is a darker color is during an overcast day. You have more time, and you can rely on your automatic settings with your camera if you are just getting the hang of things. Little can go wrong in this light (except rain!). You still need to use a tripod, so don't think you are going to get off that easy!


The pictures in this post show a car in both sunset, overcast, and flash lighting. You decide which is which, but in the end they all look good!


See more tips on my website: Custom Show Boards

Better Brakes 101

People often ask me what I recommend to improve the safety and drivability of the Classic Mustang. The best area for upgrade is the braking system. Brakes work by using friction, the contact of shoe to drum or pad to rotor, to convert motion into heat. The heat is then carried away by the air around the wheel. The brakes must cool in order to work again. Disc brakes do this job much better than drums. They do not make the car pull to one side if they get wet. The rotors can take and hold more heat than drums, and they get rid of the heat faster. This means you can stop again more quickly. Remember, hot brakes are fading brakes! On cars equipped with four wheel drums I highly recommend a front disc upgrade.

Our most popular kit is for the 65-66 V8 model with the Dual Reservoir Master Cylinder.

This will improve the safety and drivability of the car and make all your cruises more fun.