What is this

[Twturbo]

I saw this red car today at a cars & coffee ,low miles 2400 & noticed this bracket on both sides by the rear window ,I had to double check my car but yea I don't have them ,both cars are "05"

 

[drilling]

So called band aid. Only on early cars with clam shell integrity issue. Correct me if i am wrong.

 

[KennethClay]

So called band aid. Only on early cars with clam shell integrity issue. Correct me if i am wrong.

Wasn’t an integrity issue, but rather a panel fit issue. Solution? Cover up the panel gap with a bandaid clip! Both of my 2005 FGTs were early cars and had them. The later cars did not.

 

[nota4re]

Neither an integrity or a panel fit issue but rather a "rule" inside Ford at the time that any visible body seam had to be covered. I think the first 500 or so 2005's had these before common sense said that the band-aid looked worse than the exposed seam.

 

[Twturbo]

Ok cool thanks for the info, so also a good indicator that it's likely to have the Billit A arms then ? i'll have to check my buddies car for them.

 

[nota4re]

Ok cool thanks for the info, so also a good indicator that it's likely to have the Billit A arms then ? i'll have to check my buddies car for them.

Yes, positively, any car with the clips will have the billet a-arms.

 

[GTinTN]

Mine had it too. Read somewhere that the first 500 or so cars built in 2004 but titled 2005 had this.

 

[PeteK]

Data point: My 2005, with a May build date, #1677, has billet arms. Apparently, there were some later 2005 cars with them too.

 

[GKW05GT]

# 1725 with 8/11/25 build date has billet arms

 

[Mark McGowan]

Very early 2005 cars the sealant would crack, this was the short term fix till a different sealant was found that did not crack.

 

[extrap]

My '05 red 400442 built 12/6/04 had the bandaids, whereas my '05 silver 401459 built 9/22/05 doesn't. Both have the billet control arms.