I worked on this junk as a mechanic in a Chev/Old/Caddy dealership from 1972 to 1980 before I got into heavy equipment. The fellows I worked with could see the drop in quality as GM tried to bring in more fuel efficient cars. Uni rust bodies...plastic parts on brakes (yeah Chevy Vega)... Stamped steal starter motors....super thin metal on the body panel...Aluminum blocks with cast iron heads with gaskets that were garbage....removal of the 12 bolt differential....super cheap window transmission assemblies ...etc
We had Chev trucks that came to our dealership with GMC tailgates. We had decomposing lunches left in door panels on new vehicles. We found bolts dangling from strings strategically placed inside compartments that would rattle. Some even placed notes on them. Intake manifolds with the casting flash still in place blocking the flow of water. Water pumps with the same problems. Talk about no quality control. No wonder GM got into the predicament they were in.
I even had a fellow who worked for GM state that workers would grind the zinc coating away from the fender wells, lower door sills and fuel fill ports to cause owners to purchase new ones because the vehicles would rust in these places. Condoned by the union and management....
Having said all this, I have purchased some of the newer GM vehicles and they appear to be a lot better made than that junk I worked on in the late 70s.
