GUidelines YES!!! but famous for "in plant runouts" back in the 60's & 70's..... they had broadcast sheets for sure...but if they ran out of parts ona particular run it was not unusual for them ( or ANY domestic automaker) to use what was on hand as long as it exceeded the original specs. Which is why some 318 cars had the performace 727 or Dana rear ends etc etc etc heavy duty ( hemi) springs......if they didnt have the spec'd part they would substitute to keep the line moving...... ALL of the big 3 did that stuff not just Ma Mopar....... some buicks had chevy engines etc etc etc.... it happened all the time...... and anyone that thinks otherwise is grossly mal informed. Back then they didnt stop that line for Nothing...including death!.... thems the fax jak..... I worked for all of the big three in the 60's & 70's as a freelance quality inspector.....I saw them ( all three) put upgraded parts in cars I saw two deaths and the line didnt even slow down......using upgraded on hand parts to keep the lines moving was rather commonplace......altho it is difficult to explain this to purists who believe that if they didnt have a particular part they would "sidetrack" a vehicle..... Horsefeathers!! Flying PIgs!! the concept of stopping the line to make things right was not introduced until the mid to late 80's and even then it was very very "limited"....you had better have a damn good reason to smak the "red button" and YES people did get fired for doing it without due cause! in the late 80's & 90's they got way more serious about QUALITY and the red button got smaked quite often....and cars did get side tracked pending parts....but that did not happen in the 60's & 70's if broadcast called for an 8 & 3/4 and the rack was empty.... "grab that Dana and keep it moving" was the battle cry. ANYthing "bolt on" could be upgraded "in flight"
Hope I didnt POP any bubbles....but I saw this happen again & again with my own eyes!
