<VV> Headlamp switches

[Vairjer at cs.com]

snip>you have to remember that there were many other headlight switches in 
production at the same time and that the switch is an assembly made up of a 
number of different parts. <

Padgett is correct that almost all of the headlight switches were very 
similar, with primarily the molded bakelite( thermoset molded) back and the 
terminals/pads staked into those backs made up the bulk of the variation for whichever 
car line/model was being assembled.  There were several different rheostats 
in resistance/wattage, but only a small number of the contact carriers and 
contacts that slid inside the switch to make contact with the various pads staked 
into the molded back.  Almost all of the switches used the same headlight 
circuit breaker (15 amps forever, open in 8 seconds at 39amps as I remember).    
Ahh, good old department 710....  In any case the cost to Chevrolet to choose 
one of the already designed rheostats, terminal backs, etc was most likely a 
few cents and no new tooling charges.

As to the use of one part number to cover several for "service" applications, 
that was a general policy to reduce parts inventory at the parts division and 
at dealerships/parts stores...Policy was always equal to or better than, and 
as long as the form/fit/function was met, that was all that was required.  
Examples are in the Alternator (Delcotron to Delco Remy folks) the pulleys could 
be reused off the old unit, the mounting locations could be "rotated" to one 
of any four positions as designed in the system, and only where the output at 
low speed or high speed outputs were special requirements or drove cost up due 
to the extra copper in the windings, did they have a service part 
variation....so a handfull of models could cover the total GM Line...Of course CORVAIR was 
a different drive end unique unto itself, so it wasn't always possible to 
reduce the field inventory.

Jerry McKenzie
QC General Supervisor (1969-1971)
Plant 7 Delco Remy