Bfg

Would a 1965 Cutlass with a build date 04A be considered a early or late build?

jensenracing77

About in the middle of the run. week 4 of January.

joe_padavano

Sorry, you have that bass-ackwards. 04 is the month (April) and A is the week (first week of April). This is not an early car. Production ran late Aug 1964 to July 1965.

TK-65

Production of 65s ran into the middle of August.

joe_padavano

So Sept 64 to early Aug 65? In any case, the OP's car is still an April 65 build.

jensenracing77

Wow, I have no idea why I did that. I know better.

TK-65

Pretty much. I have some data plates saved from August. I'll have to check when I get home to see what my earliest one is.

Koda

I wish we could retool like that now. Very rarely can we shut down for anything more than a holiday week.

joe_padavano

Yeah, but the annual model changes aren't usually as dramatic as they were in the 60s. They also don't all take place in the summer anymore, either.

Besides, how hard is it to load new software into your assembly robots?

TK-65

Shutdown was also the time when everyone went on vacation. Mandatory. We don't stop at all now, at least my plant doesn't.

Koda

Joe, a Toyota assembly shop typically has only 3 robots, and they all put urethane on windows. Now, weld, paint, plastics, stamping, and powertrain, they got a bunch. Year models aren't usually that much, more like 71-72 Olds than 70-71. A minor model change would be like 70-71 Olds, and we have those every few years on each car. A major model is every 5-8 or so and would be like a 67-68 Olds change.

TK, I think all the Toyota plants typically stop for a week in the summer, and a week in the winter. They give the plant guys 4 days mandatory off then, and those of us with corporate just get a few extra vacation days, because we work the shutdowns. Nothing like it turning Christmas after you've been on the clock for 36 hours.

TK-65

Our two weeks in July went to one in June and one in August, to eliminating the weeks altogether. My area ran over Christmas too.

In a transmission plant there is not much model year difference. We launch, run it into the ground, balance it out and start new.

Bfg

Thanks for your replies guys. My second question is would a car with this build date have the smaller or larger hole cut in the floor for the 4 speed?