Ross wrote:
Quote:
Even the rear door skins were stamped on the same die, they were just "short sheeted" and trimmed for the juniors.
I agree - at least for 56th Series.
What the casual observer may not know is that there are
several dies involved in producing any deep-drawn sheet metal part. Not only are seperate sets of dies used for forming, punching, and trimming operations, but several sets of dies may be required just for forming - depending on the complexity of the shape. I watched this, decades ago, on a tour of Chrysler's Twinsburg, OH stamping plant. Watching the panels being flipped from one die to the next so fast that it reminded me of someone rolling a coin across the back of their knuckles.
So, I can see where a rear door outer panel stamping destined for Junior, rather than Senior, would be diverted to a set of punching dies that excludes the pocket/opening for the courtesy lamp, then - if not simply "short-sheeted" - a set of final trimming and forming dies to establish the alternate perimieter and upset the edge (which would later be folded over the flange of the inner panel).
While this works perfectly for 56th Series, where the bulge is the same shape betwen Junior and Senior, the 55th Series Junior panel carried the lines from the 54th Series. They must have retooled forming dies for 55th Series Seniors, then extended that to include Juniors for 56th Series.
Bottom line, this example of production engineering was smart and economical, while delivering pleasing aesthetics.
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