Getting tranny out

[59meteor]

I really have no problems with the welds on my actual car frame, but some of the welding on smaller pieces, most noticeably the transmission crossmember, and to a lesser degree, the upper rear shock crossmember, and a couple of the body mount brackets. But I suppose that we need to keep in mind, back then, much of the welding would have been stick Arc welding, by an actual human, not the sterile computer operated procedure, with everything held in perfect alignment with complicated jigs and fixtures. I like watching some of the auto assembly line films/videos on youtube, quite a contrast between a modern factory, and one 40,50, 60 or more years ago.

[Rancher]

Funny, I was just studying the welds on a frame cut that I'm using for a try-out mule.

I was wondering if it wasn't the weldor's first frame, on his first day? 

Stick welds. Looks like the current was set to 500 amps and the operator had to drag as fast as possible.

I'll snap a pic at my next work session.

[mustang6984]

When I had the body off my Courier and was removing 60 years of dirt/surface rust etc I noticed the the welds looked different in quality from side to side and in a couple of cases front to back. Almost like the guy was more awake by the time the tail of the frame got to him that when he started at the front.   

[Rancher]

Of course Hentry liked to keep it all in-house, but are  y'all familiar with the Mechanical Marvel?

http://smithpumps.com/news/1012/articles/worlds-first-automated-construction-assembly-line-the-mechanical-marvel-4/

"...By the spring of 1921, the Mechanical Marvel was ready for operation.  It was capable of manufacturing 10,000 frames per day.  Each frame required 552 separate operations and in an average day the Mechanical Marvel exceeded 4 million operations.  Every eight seconds a completed frame went to storage or into a railcar for delivery to the automakers.  This historic assemblage of machines and processes required 180 men to operate it.  In contrast, before the Mechanical Marvel was put into operation the Company could produce 3,000 frames per day with 2,000 operators.

The Mechanical Marvel manufactured frames for 37 years until further welding advances in frame making mandated retirement on June 24, 1958.  By 1978, the A.O. Smith Automotive Division had supplied in excess of 93 million passenger car frames and over 33 million truck frames.  The Mechanical Marvel received recognition by the ASME as a National Historic Mechanical Engineering Landmark in 1979."

[hiball3985]

Great info, thank you for posting. That link kind of confirms my thinking that the frames were made by a vendor..

[Ford Blue blood]

Interesting.  My uncle worked at A O Smith until he retired in the early 70s.

[59meteor]

...In addition to Ford frames, and later the 68-70 Shelby Mustangs , AO Smith also manufactured household appliances, like hot water tanks.