Was looking through my manual today and noting some revisions listed at the bottom of the page. Just wondering for those who really know their way around these things, what's the most interesting revision you have ever seen?

 

Thought this might make an interesting topic for discussion, but maybe not. Could be the revisions are something that nobody pays much attention to.

 

Section 6 page 0, A car engine color

 

What does not show in the manuals is the TMD (Temporary Manufacturing Deviation).

In order to keep the line running, temporary deviations from standard processes and parts were put in.

Example: The hardware for door hinges had an approved supplier list. If any of the approved suppliers were out of stock, the manufacturing engineers would find a replacement to temporarily keep the line going until the regular vendor could resupply.

Example: The dip line for small parts and brackets. The paint that was used was typically mixed from many batches. The color, sheen, and texture varied. So brackets on a Monday car could be different from a Thursday car.

So, for all of you folks who want to get your car 100% to how the factory did it, you can't. Cars built on the same day may differ.

And, there were no robots anywhere, so the variability of the processes depended on worker skill, knowledge, attention to detail, and attitude.

Friday cars were the worst, as lunch breaks on pay day meant more alcohol consumption.....

 

I could not have said this any better. My car is living proof of 2 different fasteners on opposite sides.

 

In my GM assembly line tenure from 1972-1974, I can say that it was a QUANTITY game over QUALITY. 60 cars per hour, come hell or high water.

The amount of TLC that these cars got was ZERO.

The bare minimum of paint was used on the chassis and suspension, just enough so the rust would come after it was sold.

It was just good enough.....and what folks did to these cars in terms of throwing stuff into them caused many an owner headaches due to rattles.