Re: scuff plates '49 - 2 dr

Posted by BH On 2013/11/4 9:30:39

Ah yes, hand-drawn (as opposed to the convenience of CAD). As such, the draftsmen would add changes, and needed, and edit the artwork, dimensions, and other details, and even adding subsequent parts numbers - all on the same drawing, and possibly multiple times. Yet, perhaps because current production was the priority, history could literally be erased in the process - unless they took care to preserve prior details.

I didn't take drafting classes back in HS (and looking back, now, I wish I had), and most of what I know about automotive engineering drawings comes from combing the (sloppy) collection at the former Avanti works in Yo., OH, back on the late 80s. Nearly all of the Studebaker drawings in their possession were blueprints, which I suspect came from the original assembly line, rather than the engineering office/vault in So. Bend. Occasionally, I found not only 'A' sized drawings pointing to another vendor drawing/number, but some vendor-supplied drawing that had been relabelled with a Stude P/N.

However, let me reiterate the point, if only for the benefit of the viewing audience, that a blueprint is only a snapshot from a given point in time; only the original engineering (drawing white vellum) would tell the full story. I can only imagine what a task it must have been for an automaker, back then, to just store, index, and maintain a collection of engineering drawings, and distribute updated blueprints not only to the plant(s), but to and from the field.

Although I don't own an affected vehicle, I look forward to seeing how the story continues to unfold. Meanwhile, I think you're spot-on to want to redraw, specificaly for your application, once you're confident that you have all the details.

Keep up the good work!