I am new to this forum but something has puzzled me as I restore my Korean War era Chevy truck.
Does anybody ever wonder how there came about the AD factory assembly manual?
The AD factory assy manual, which is in wide distribution reprint, is a wonderful collection of “A” size drawings of the final (and to some the zenith) version of the AD truck. From my experience (as a systems engineer in aerospace) “A” size drawings are not the preferred drawing size. Rather “C” and “D” size is what we use to typically use, especially for assembly type drawings which are prevalent in the manual.
Also why are most of the drawings dated toward the end of the AD production (May – Aug. 1953)? Logic would say that this is because the compiler of the drawings picked the most up-to-date versions. However, my experience is that drawings are only updated when the design is updated, and some of the designs shown in the drawings are unchanged from what we know of late 40’s trucks.
When these drawings where produced in 1953 the Task Force trucks must have been in full design mode (picture many engineers at drafting tables drawing out parts and assemblies for the NEW design truck). So why then update AD drawings?
In my romantic imagination, I can imagine Chevrolet hiring summer engineering interns to chronicle the assembly of one of the finest truck series in history before the tooling switched over. But maybe somebody who worked in the auto industry has a better explanation?
John Shonafelt
