> Michael Rowe wrote: "Remember when a car "Made in America" was a joke?"
Back in 1968 I bought a Plymouth Satellite, 318, 4 speed, 2 door coupe. Car
ran fine for about 2 months, after which it developed a clunk in the left
front end. Start fast, brake hard, or go around a corner hard and it would
'clunk'. Took it back to the dealer and after a test drive they confirmed
the 'clunk'. Mechanics went over the front end, checked everything,
tightened everything and the clunk was still there. Factory rep was asked to
come and inspect the car. Wasted trip back to the dealer as he was a white
collar guy who knew nothing but the 'rules'. Was sent to another dealer,
another test drive with their chief mechanic, after a few 'clunks' he said
back to the garage. Car was put on a lift, left front tire removed and then
the chief mechanic grabbed a torch and proceeded to cut out the rear portion
of the outer fender well. On the Plymouth there was a partial unity body in
various places. The inner and outer fender wells and part of the firewall
was one area, all welded together. He cut a 3" x 6" hole and there was a
coke bottle suspended by a sting. In the bottom of the fender well were the
remains of a few rubber bands. Seems someone on the assembly line was
hanging the bottles by their necks and then putting rubber bands around the
base of the bottle to soften the 'clunk' until they were worn through or dry
rotted.
Biff Jones
'Frogarri' '59 Bugeye
'Ole Gray' '61 AH Sprite
http://sprites2.homestead.com/
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