[SCG] 65 vs 66 coupe doors

Sun Nov 3 00:24:48 EDT 2013

All,

Concerning the tabs on the door skin, being a retired GM diemaker who has experience with similar parts, I would like to offer some possible explanations as to the change, as there are several. And when it happens, it's often called a style or design change. Also, some trimline or contour changes are the result of normal wear and tear of long term production and the reconditioning and repair of the die.

First, realize that any such changes would require clearance from engineering. My best guess would be that they found that there was some problem with having the tabs, maybe in assembly or handling the part after its stamping, possibly it caused a problem with long-term rust development, or with them causing any number of quality concerns. They'd also have to prove to be useless or just not needed.

However, there's an outside chance that there was an accident that damaged the trim die, and the repair was made, after engineering cleared the change, to just eliminate the tab and clean up the trimline. This would be applicable on probably only one side and only on one style. Check if the tabs were present but eliminated on all styles (2 door, 4 door, and both left and right hand parts).

I once got a hole punch eliminated in an inner wheelhouse for the Corsica, when I discovered that this problematic hole was totally unnecessary in assembly. The punch was always breaking because the hole was on an angled surface. That caused the punch to have trim problems (stress, wear, etc.), and the slug drop would clog up and break the punch, or it simply would cause burrs that would lead to Quality rejecting it. It simply was a royal PITA for me, the troubleshooter (diemaker) on the line. So when I found out it was useless, and that the assembly plant didn't even know why it was there, it was just a simple matter of clearing it with engineering, then pulling the punch out of the die. End of problem, and in the middle of a model year. I also should note that once when the punch broke in the middle of the run, the idiot stacker pitched a whole basket full of them because they didn't have the hole in it. What a waste of money! To this day, I have no idea why the die had that hole, or why the die was built with it. And I had worked on the die when it was built.

-Mark Corbin

-----Original Message-----
>From: 66vairman at comcast.net
>Sent: Nov 2, 2013 9:17 PM
>To: eamsquared at comcast.net
>Cc: vairshop at sbcglobal.net, scg-list at tiger.skiblack.com
>Subject: Re: [SCG] 65 vs 66 coupe doors
>
>Erich: 
>
>I inspected about thirty 1965 & 1966 Corvair 500, Monza & Corsa doors today at the Corvair Ranch. I have confirmed the 1965 doors produced from the fall of 1964 to around March of 1965 (5C cars)did not have the slot or regulator stop bracket. Also the "L" bracket welded to the lower inside panel had a very thin double ribbed pad attached to the bracket. Starting with April of 1965 (5D cars), the slot and regulator stop bracket was added, as well as, a larger pad (roughly 2" by 2"). Concerning the door skin tabs, I found most all 1965 & some 1966 doors had the skin tabs - some 1966 doors did not have the skin tabs. I am not sure if these door skin tabs were deleted somewhere in the later 1966 model year. Next time I go to the Ranch, I will inspect some 1967/68/69 door skins. If the tabs are present in the these later model year vehicles, I would then assume GM was using several suppliers for door skins. Hope this information is beneficial to you. (1st photo is early 1965 door with no regulator stop and outer door skin tabs. 2nd photo is regulator stop door with larger inner "L" bracket pad. 3rd photo is non regulator stop door with smaller inner "L" bracket pad) 
>
>Tom Rahochik 
>
>
>
>
>----- Original Message -----
>
>From: eamsquared at comcast.net 
>To: 66vairman at comcast.net 
>Sent: Monday, October 28, 2013 8:45:19 AM 
>Subject: Re: [SCG] 65 vs 66 coupe doors 
>
>Tom, 
>I would appreciate it if you could also look at the "L Bracket" and door skin tab issues as referenced in my original email. 
>Thanks in advance, 
>Erich 
>
>----- Original Message -----
>
>From: 66vairman at comcast.net 
>To: eamsquared at comcast.net 
>Sent: Sunday, October 27, 2013 8:42:52 PM 
>Subject: Re: [SCG] 65 vs 66 coupe doors 
>
>Erich: 
>Thanks for the photos. I will probably go to the Corvair Ranch this weekend. I will look at 1965 and 1966 door shells to see if any have this cut-out stop and let you know what I find. 
>Tom 
>
>----- Original Message -----
>
>From: eamsquared at comcast.net 
>To: 66vairman at comcast.net 
>Sent: Saturday, October 26, 2013 7:11:58 AM 
>Subject: Re: [SCG] 65 vs 66 coupe doors 
>
>Tom, 
>Attached are the pictures. The photos of my original door shows the regulator stop installed in slots to the right of the regulator. The purchased replacement door does not have these slots. 
>Thanks for your help. 
>Cordially, 
>Erich Meyer 
>
>----- Original Message -----
>
>From: 66vairman at comcast.net 
>To: eamsquared at comcast.net 
>Sent: Thursday, October 24, 2013 8:16:50 PM 
>Subject: Re: [SCG] 65 vs 66 coupe doors 
>
>Erich: 
>OK to send jpg. I think I know what slot in the door you mention. Once I receive your pictures, I hope to go to the Corvair Ranch next week to inspect some 1965 & 1966 door shells. 
>Tom Rahochik 
>
>----- Original Message -----
>
>From: eamsquared at comcast.net 
>To: 66vairman at comcast.net 
>Sent: Thursday, October 24, 2013 9:31:25 AM 
>Subject: Re: [SCG] 65 vs 66 coupe doors 
>
>Tom, 
>The word document has pictures of the various doors in it where I inserted arrows pointing to the features I am concerned about. I used word because it enables me to draw the arrows. What format can you view. I can send you the .jpg pictures but the arrows will be missing. 
>I would appreciate any information in this issue. Feel free to give me a call. 
>Erich Meyer 
>Cell: 732-245-2646 
>
>----- Original Message -----
>
>From: 66vairman at comcast.net 
>To: eamsquared at comcast.net 
>Sent: Wednesday, October 23, 2013 6:07:07 PM 
>Subject: Re: [SCG] 65 vs 66 coupe doors 
>
>Erich: 
>
>I was unable to view your attached word document. Can you send it to me in another format. I would like to view your items of concern. I will then plan on visiting the Corvair Ranch to view any differences between the 1965 & 1966 doors. Thanks. 
>
>Tom Rahochik at 66vairmah at comcast.net 
>
>
>
>----- Original Message -----
>
>From: eamsquared at comcast.net 
>Cc: "Larry Claypool" <vairshop at sbcglobal.net>, "Stock Corvair Group" <scg-list at tiger.skiblack.com>, "VirtualVairs" <virtualvairs at corvair.org> 
>Sent: Tuesday, September 17, 2013 4:48:55 PM 
>Subject: [SCG] 65 vs 66 coupe doors 
>
>
>Jeff, 
>
>Per our telcon today, attached is a WORD document showing the difference between the door installed on my car and the doors you sent me. I am the original owner of this car and am in the process of doing restoration work on the body. Note that your doors do not have the slots for the stop shown on my car. The restorer claims they can use my door as a template and cut the slots. The point is "What are these stops for and are they only on 1966 cars?" 
>
>The inside of the doors also has a tack welded "L bracket" with a rubber cushion to support the glass. The rubber cushion on my original car is twice as wide as the ones in the doors you sent me. I believe that the doors you sent me are 1965 doors which should work but are slightly different than 1966 doors. The bottom of door skins on the 1965 doors have numerous tabs tack welded to the door frames. These are not present on my 1966 doors. 
>
>Erich Meyer 
>Original Owner, 66 Monza Coupe 
>Bayshore Corvair 
>
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