<VV> Headlamp switches

[Kent Sullivan]

Thanks--very cool. 

Any chance of getting copies of drawings if they still exist in Anderson?

--Kent
-----Original Message-----
From: virtualvairs-bounces at corvair.org
[mailto:virtualvairs-bounces at corvair.org] On Behalf Of Vairjer at cs.com
Sent: Wednesday, November 02, 2005 6:04 PM
To: virtualvairs at corvair.org
Subject: RE: <VV> Headlamp switches

snip>you have to remember that there were many other headlight switches 
snip>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
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