Alternator & Bracket Restoration

I wouldn't worry too much about the dates codes, they are hard to see once the alternator is installed anyway. If you have a correct dated one, would be a plus though. The main thing is you have the rounded bottom with the correct shapes on the back of the alternator.

Only seen semi-gloss black used on both alternator brackets. The Ford engineering drawing calls for phosphate/oil on the adjusting arm, but this is not what has been found on production cars.

Was your car built at Dearborn? If so, your original alternator fan may have been blue.

I understood that Ford did not start "casting" datecode on the round alternators until later - like '67 or '68 - '65 and '66 were ink stamped on the side of the housing and there are no part numbers or dates cast into the housing visible on the outside.

I have an AMK repo that looks awesome with the correct ink stamp and an original fan / early pulley set. Both were semi-gloss black, but no way to tell if they were originally on a 'stang. The original early "C" part number pulley with the correct fan was hard to find and expensive! I have seen only one other correct set for sale -- on ebay as part of a complete alternator.

You may be right on the casing date stamps. The last example I saw was a '68 version that was dated like "8 E" on the back with the characters stamped on each side of the rear cap. Don't recall, specifically, any earlier casting dates. I suppose Mike M. could check his 3 unrestored '65's.