[nuch_ss396]

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Has enybody besides me seen differnt hardware from cars built at different factories? I have several unrestored 68 Impalas, mostly east coast, but one from California. When I look at the original hardware, the head markings are different. All the east coast cars say RBW on some things and the same parts on the California one are not RBW.
Steve

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Hey Steve!

I can't atest to different hardware being used between the
separate assembly plants, but I can tell you that they used
different hardware in the same plants.

Several hardware suppliers were used to ensure an adequate
supply during the assembly process. Once a bin of bolts
got low, more were added. No one cared about that. We
shouldn't either, as long as they are technically correct.

Case in point, I saw an original 69 RA-3 Firebird that was
totally unmolested. Never taken apart. I took particular
interest in the fasteners on this car. One item that struck
me was the 4 large bolts used to mount the Muncie 4-speed to
the bell housing. The left two were TR head markings and
the right two were RSC head markings. I know for a fact
that this particular car was never apart, so no chance of
the bolts being replaced.

I addressed a question concerning this to the Corvette guys
and they told me that both sides of the line had bins of
bolts. One guy grabbed bolts from one bin and the other guy
grabbed bolts from another bin. The Vette guys are all over
stuff like this. No need to look any further than the NCRS
on topics of this nature.

Steve