Repairing 70 Interior Quarter Trim

[John H.]

Re: Repairing 70 Interior Quarter Trim

If any such modification was done, it was done by the supplier; that sort of thing wasn't done at St. Louis. The part number molded into the back side of the panel was in the mold, and doesn't identify the finished part - it's like a casting number. The finished parts had their own individual part numbers (based on color and configuration), and were usually shown in the A.I.M. as "chart" rather than listing all the permutations and usages on the A.I.M. sheet.

[Chuck S.]

Re: Repairing 70 Interior Quarter Trim

If any such modification was done, it was done by the supplier; that sort of thing wasn't done at St. Louis. The part number molded into the back side of the panel was in the mold, and doesn't identify the finished part - it's like a casting number. The finished parts had their own individual part numbers (based on color and configuration), and were usually shown in the A.I.M. as "chart" rather than listing all the permutations and usages on the A.I.M. sheet.

The supplier making such modifications would make more sense, John. Lack of vinyl cladding on ALL convertible trim panels would then make sense too if the supplier was routinely converting the shoulder belt panel to the standard trim panel by "sawing" it off...sawing would will really mess up the vinyl along the sawed edge.

Dohp!...The introduction of colors actually does make the part numbers of secondary importance. I had seen the "chart" notations in the AIM before; I wish I had remembered that fact. Where did the "chart" document reside?...You don't happen to have a sample of such a "chart" document would you?

[John H.]

Re: Repairing 70 Interior Quarter Trim

Dohp!...The introduction of colors actually does make the part numbers of secondary importance. I had seen the "chart" notations in the AIM before; I wish I had remembered that fact. Where did the "chart" document reside?...You don't happen to have a sample of such a "chart" document would you?

The "chart" was an Engineering drawing carrying that part number, and it listed all the released permutations of a given basic part by color and configuration, with a part number for each version; it might have only two or three finished parts, or it might have twenty or more. Most "charts" related to trim parts affected by color and with/without other option conditions (like door trim panels with/without power windows), hardware parts like trim color-painted midyear shifter console plates with/without Powerglide or power windows (there were 24 part numbers of these), or pistons (there were 8 different sizes of 4" base pistons and 8 different sizes of 4" domed pistons based on air-gaged bore diameter tolerances).

For the guy on the line, the Broadcast Copy showed him the correct part to install on that car - the box he looked at either had an alpha code or the last 2 digits of the part number. The scheduling computer converted the ECL code for that option into part numbers when it printed the Broadcast copy for each car.

[Chuck S.]

Re: Repairing 70 Interior Quarter Trim

...For the guy on the line, the Broadcast Copy showed him the correct part to install on that car - the box he looked at either had an alpha code or the last 2 digits of the part number. The scheduling computer converted the ECL code for that option into part numbers when it printed the Broadcast copy for each car.

I was most curious about how they identified all the different trim combinations...using broadcast codes like all the other components makes sense. So ALL the trim parts had broadcast labels on them somewhere at one time?...or, were bulk parts just packed in boxes with the broadcast code on the outside?

And, how did they have all the possible broadcast codes available? Did they have a box of "Bright Blue" windshield pillar moldings, and a box of black, of red, of green, of saddle, of gun metal, etc.?

After that, then another set of boxes for the different colored pillar moldings on the right hand side?...Then the same for the kick panels, dash panels, etc.?

It would seem the logistics of having all the possible trim combinations available close to the assembly line would be an unmanageable, space-consuming nightmare. Is it possible the appropriate trim parts were staged by job number for some number of units, or by shift, to limit the space consumed along the assembly line?

Sorry for all the questions, John...I just can't pass up a chance to learn about this stuff from hands-on experience.

[John H.]

Re: Repairing 70 Interior Quarter Trim

I was most curious about how they identified all the different trim combinations...using broadcast codes like all the other components makes sense. So ALL the trim parts had broadcast labels on them somewhere at one time?...or, were bulk parts just packed in boxes with the broadcast code on the outside?

And, how did they have all the possible broadcast codes available? Did they have a box of "Bright Blue" windshield pillar moldings, and a box of black, of red, of green, of saddle, of gun metal, etc.?

After that, then another set of boxes for the different colored pillar moldings on the right hand side?...Then the same for the kick panels, dash panels, etc.?

It would seem the logistics of having all the possible trim combinations available close to the assembly line would be an unmanageable, space-consuming nightmare. Is it possible the appropriate trim parts were staged by job number for some number of units, or by shift, to limit the space consumed along the assembly line?

Sorry for all the questions, John...I just can't pass up a chance to learn about this stuff from hands-on experience.

Chuck -

Yes, all those parts were stocked adjacent to the line, in boxes and racks, where the operator could get to them and select them; some had alpha broadcast codes on them, some didn't, but the container they were in always had a big sticker on two corners with the part number.

These days, those parts are delivered just-in-time or sequenced by job sequence number by the supplier or by an outside warehouser so the plant isn't overflowing with material stacked to the ceilings (in Chrysler assembly plants, we didn't allow anything over 54" high adjacent to the line, to maintain line-of-sight visibility through the plant). In the 60's, material was more "just-in-case", with stock stacked in racks 20' high all over the place, with a week or more of material in the plant; these days, there's less than a day's worth of stock in the plant, with major items like fully-assembled seats and instrument panels delivered by the supplier in line sequence, with only an hour or two worth of material in the plant at any one time. Most newer assembly plants don't even have rail service - it takes about 700 trucks per day to deliver production material to a plant.

Yes, it WAS a logistical nightmare in the 60's, inventory control was one notch above non-existent, and nobody paid any attention whatever to "dates"; just "get it to the line".

[Chuck S.]

Re: Repairing 70 Interior Quarter Trim

...Most newer assembly plants don't even have rail service - it takes about 700 trucks per day to deliver production material to a plant...

Caramba!!!...The stress of the "unmangeable nightmare" has been shifted to the loading docks!!!

Thanks for the mini-education.

[Harmon C.]

Re: Repairing 70 Interior Quarter Trim

The rear trim for a convertible is one very hard part to find at swap meets in an unbroken form. I have been buying up this part at swap meets for ten years. I have never seen an original part that did not have the cut out in all my shoping. I have bought the Corvette America replacement part and it was offered with no cutout and you could do it yourself. If they made the cutout the price was $20. more. I have not seen this part covered with vinyl. That part on E-bay could be a bargain as I have not been interested in parts for a 68-69 and I think the shoulder harness was mounted in a different location. A 68 convertible with a shoulder harness is rare as only 350 were made and 69 - 600 were made so the trim could be different but I don't know. My parts vendor catalog lists 68-69 as one part and 70-75 as another with a $20. charge for the holes in the 70-75 part so this may be a clue that 68-9 have no hole.
Lyle

[Robert C.]

Re: Repairing 70 Interior Quarter Trim

Just for the record; My 71 conv. ,black STD int. qrtr pannels were vinal covered fbrglas, folded over about 1/4" on the inside.

[Harmon C.]

Re: Repairing 70 Interior Quarter Trim

Bob would your quarter trim have the cut outs and do you have the shoulder harness option?

[Bill C.]

Re: Repairing 70 Interior Quarter Trim

The missing/damaged threaded inserts and the correct chrome plated screws (the only source for these as far as I know as I have them made) and blind inserts as original only supplied in brass to prevent future problems are available in a kit form and include intructions. Kit covers 68-77 Available thru Ecklers, Corvette Central, Zip, ebay, etc. I put the kits together and sell them to all of them so you can find them there in the catalogs or e-mail me directly. Easy inexpensive fix
Bill Caldwell

[Chuck S.]

Re: Repairing 70 Interior Quarter Trim

Just for the record; My 71 conv. ,black STD int. qrtr pannels were vinal covered fbrglas, folded over about 1/4" on the inside.

Dangit!!!...There's a trouble-maker in every crowd!

Just when you think you've figured it out, some guy gives an exception to the rule! I'm beginning to think that you convertible guys don't have any idea what you're looking at. HaHaHa...Only kidding you, Bob

Are you sure your quarters are original?...Are there any date stamps on the backside of the quarters? Does the 1/4" margin exist continuously around the ENTIRE perimeter of the part?...to wit, has the part been "saw" modified from a prior configuration?

[Robert C.]

Re: Reba, please!

There are no cut-outs for shoulder belts. There are no part numbers that I can see. The fold over is very neatly done with the exact overlap etc. up and down and around the top. The same material is on the center consol/ emergincy brake box.
Reba, where are you?