REAL Differences Between Ionia And St Louis Bodies

[Joe C.]

Other than the overspray/quality(???)/options/zinc chromate issues, were there any other quantifiable differences between these two animals.
A nameless "expert" indicated that there is a subtle difference in the door jamb area. I have not been able to discern this, after looking at numerous examples of both. Was I misinformed, or do I need more powerful glasses?

Joe

[Mike M.]

Re: REAL Differences Between Ionia And St Louis Bo

He may have been refering to the dimple between the hinges on the STL bodies that was a pilot position for the Power Window conduit cutout.
Many will say there are visual differences in the coupe door fit and the leg between the door and the rear wheel as well.
Others will probably come up with others.
H. a. N. D.

[Mike M.]

Re: REAL Differences Between Ionia And St Louis Bo

as mike notes, the dimple on door pilar for the power window conduit. also , the st louis doors utilized pop rivets wheras ao smith used flat rivets. mike

[John H.]

Re: REAL Differences Between Ionia And St Louis Bo

I've always been curious about the "dimple" issue between plants, as there was only one supplier for both the pillar cover panel (on the body side) and the door inner panel (on the door) that supplied both plants; do you suppose A.O. Smith skived some resin in the dimple on non-power window cars so it didn't show on their bodies?

Are the rivets that differ the big ones that attach the inner steel hinge reinforcements to the front facing of the door inner panel?

[Mike M.]

Re: REAL Differences Between Ionia And St Louis Bo

john: if ao smith smeared some resin in the dimples, the guy doing it was definitly the best body man they had as if it was repaired, you'd think we'd have seen the shoddy work on the judging fields.the lg flat rivets i refered to are easily seen in the vicinity of the vent window and the door main weatherstrip in that area. mike

[John H.]

Re: REAL Differences Between Ionia And St Louis Bo

Thanks, Mike - those are the rivets I thought you were referring to. The dimple thing is interesting - gotta get into that one; both the Chevrolet A.I.M. sheets and the A.O. Smith detail process sheets call out dimensions for the conduit holes (and the A.O. Smith sheet calls out an applied drill fixture); neither mention anything about a dimple, and Chevrolet always called them out for drilling when they existed. Another project...

[Mike M.]

Re: REAL Differences Between Ionia And St Louis Bo

I think you're on the right track John, with common mold, but, wouldn't it seem more logical that St. Louis added the dimple?
The stripped Dow-Smith bodies I've seen have no evidence of dimple repair.
BTW as Mike McCagh pointed out, I have judged more than one car with and STL door on one side and a Smith door on the other. NO, they were not born that way!
H. a. N. D.

[Michael H.]

Re: REAL Differences Between Ionia And St Louis Bo

Mike,

I think you're right. I would guess that St. Louis did the "drill start" on the raw panel, before assy., but Smith did not.

[Bill B.]

Re: REAL Differences Between Ionia And St Louis Bo

I have a A.O. Smith body and my 65 coupe came down the line in early sept.64. My body has the dimples in the door jambs your referring to. A survey was being conducted last Nov. on this very subject. I responded to it. According to several responses to the survey, that I am aware of, several A.O. Smith bodies have the dimples. I hope this helps and doesn't add confusion to the thread.

Bill Bonnichsen

[Wayne W.]

Re: Dimples, Pimples and Pauples

Does this look drilled to you?

http://www.members.aol.com/wombvette/Dimple1

It could be, but I see no swirl marks.

Also, indeed they do show up on some AOS cars, but it is not as common as St. Louis.

[Mike M.]

Re: REAL Differences Between Ionia And St Louis Bo

Implications were there was only one common mold. Could there have been more than one mold or supplier or plant with sporadic use between the two plants? VIN series could also be a factor in determining location and time span. Interesting to see what the survey shows.
H. a. N. D.

[Bill B.]

Re: REAL Differences Between Ionia And St Louis Bo

My 65 coupe is vin#100671. It has the dimple on both driver and passenger side. The plate under the glove box says A-134 as body style which is a A.O. Smith body, I believe. The dimples are exactly as shown in the previous post. I hope this helps.

Bill Bonnichsen

[John H.]

Re: REAL Differences Between Ionia And St Louis Bo

Just to clarify, are we talking about the dimple being on the body side pillar panel, the forward facing on the door inner panel, or both?

[Bill B.]

Re: REAL Differences Between Ionia And St Louis Bo

John, My responses are for the dimple on the body side pillar panel. I just checked my 65 Coupe with A.O.Smith body and the dimples are on the body side pillar panel. No dimples appear on the door panels. However, on the door panels, in approx. the same position as the dimple on the body side pillar, is a large, round, flat head rivit. This rivit is on both door panels. I hope this helps.

Bill Bonnichsen

[Michael H.]

Re: REAL Differences Between Ionia And St Louis Bo

John,

Just looked at the 66. (St'Louis build) I see only one drill start/dimple and that's in the hinge pillar. Nothing at all on the door itself. Really does look like a drill start, can almst see the circular lines inside the hole but could have been molded in the panel. Hard to tell. I'm going to try a close up pic. I'll send it if it comes out decent.