IML : Autolite : Was Why G.M Parts are unnecessary.

["Bill Watson" <wwatson@xxxxxxxxx>]

Sorry, but the Dana Corporation is not now, and never has been, owned by
Chrysler.

The firm began in 1903 with one Clarence Spicer, who designed the
cross-style u-joint.  His designs became the standard for auto manufacturers
and the Spicer Corporation grew along with the acceptance of the Spicer
u-joint.

In 1914 Spicer Corporation was in financial trouble, trying to expand
capacity to meet demand but not having the financial foundation to proceed.
Along came one Charles Dana, who liked what he saw and had the cash to
invest to expand the firm.

Mr. Spicer died in 1939, and Mr. Dana continued to run the firm into the
1950's.  In response to Mr.Dana's efforts, the Spicer Corporation became the
Dana Corporation in 1945.  Over the years the firm took over such firms as
Perfect Circle (manufacturers of Chrysler's Auto Pilot), Victor Gaskets,
Auburn Clutch, and Rzeppa (constant velocity joints).

Dana was like any other parts supplier.  They would work with their clients
to produce the needed products, even if they had to get their hands dirty in
the design process.   Chrysler's Sure-Grip was actually a Dana design -
Powr-Lok.   Dana also made the unit (Twin-Traction) for Packard and
Studebaker.

For more details visit :

http://www.dana.com   and   http://www.spicerdriveshaft.com


Bill
Vancouver, BC



----- Original Message -----
From: "Don Nonnweiler" <dnonnwei@xxxxxxxxx>
To: <mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Wednesday, December 18, 2002 4:18 AM
Subject: Re: IML: IML : Autolite : Was Why G.M Parts are unnecessary.


> But when it comes to dana and spicer they do own them as they developed
them
> in World war II for the 4x4 and 6x6, that I also looked up ,but from
working
> for Chrysler I know that go to any Dodge dealership and ask the parts
> manager
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Bill Watson" <wwatson@xxxxxxxxx>
> To: <mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> Sent: Wednesday, December 18, 2002 2:15 AM
> Subject: IML: IML : Autolite : Was Why G.M Parts are unnecessary.
>
>
> >
> > Chrysler never owned Autolite, ever.  It was an independent company
> > headquartered in Toledo, Ohio, prior to its purchase by Ford Motor
Company
> > around 1961, except for the time it was controlled by the Willys
> Corporation
> > (also of Toledo) in the late teens.   The decision to have Willys sell
> > Autolite (or more correctly, Electric Auto-Lite) was made by one Walter
P.
> > Chrysler when he headed the Willys reorganization team.  Willys also
owned
> > New Process Gear, which did become a Chrysler subsidiary in the 1930's.
> >
> > Autolite supplied auto electric parts to many manufacturers over the
> years,
> > such as Kaiser-Frazer, Packard, Studebaker, Hudson, Nash, Willys,
Checker,
> > Peerless, Reo, American Austin, American Bantam. Crosley, DeVaux,
> Hupmobile,
> > Durant, Star, Jordan, Moon, and, yes, Ford Motor Company.
> >
> > The purchase of Autolite by Ford marked Ford's entry into the auto
> electric
> > business, and Ford continued to use the Autolite name but was later
forced
> > to sell off the company.   The purchase by Ford also ended the use of
> > Autolite products in non-Ford products until it was spun off.  Autolite
is
> > still in business, as we all know, while Ford uses the Motorcraft name
now
> > for its electrical products.
> >
> > By the way, the purchase of Autolite by Ford in the early 1960's had two
> > reactions.  One was Chrysler moving into the auto electric market,
> producing
> > their own alternators, starters and distributors.  The other was the
sale
> of
> > Autolite's non-Ford business to Prestolite, which continued to market
> > Autolite products under the Prestolite name to such manufacturers as
> > Chrysler Canada, American Motors and Studebaker.   Prestolite is also
> still
> > in business and has merged with Leese-Neville, an early supplier of auto
> > alternators.
> >
> > General Motors used to sell its Delco line of electrics to many
> > manufacturers, including Chrysler back in the 1920's.  But AC Delco is
no
> > longer owned by General Motors.
> >
> > Chrysler purchased carburetors (Stromberg, Carter, Holley), radiators
> > (Fedders, McCord, Moline), brakes (Lougheed, Bendix, Kelsey-Hayes,
Budd),
> > clutches (Borg & Beck), steering (Ross, Monroe, Saginaw), u-joints
> (Spicer),
> > transmissions (Borg-Warner), axles (Dana) and other parts from a wide
> range
> > of manufacturers.   Spicer and Dana, for example, are not owned by
> Chrysler
> > and never have been.   But Chrysler was, and is, one of their many
> > customers.
> >
> > Bill
> > Vancouver, BC
> >
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "Don Nonnweiler" <dnonnwei@xxxxxxxxx>
> > To: <mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> > Sent: Tuesday, December 17, 2002 7:53 PM
> > Subject: Re: IML: Why G.M Parts are unnecessary.
> >
> >
> > > Chrysler owned autolite until the late 50's when they sold it to Ford
> > which
> > > later turned part of the company into Motorcraft.  I it wasn't for all
> the
> > > parts companies Chrysler owned or owns it might have gone under in the
> > 70's
> > > ----- Original Message -----
> > > From: "A. Foster" <monkeypuzzle1@xxxxxxx>
> > > To: <mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> > > Sent: Tuesday, December 17, 2002 8:03 PM
> > > Subject: IML: Why G.M Parts are unnecessary.
> > >
> > >
> > > > Doug;
> > > >  Through the process of going through my engine rebuild I have found
> out
> > > > that there is almost nothing that you cannot get for a 392 hemi, its
> > just
> > > a
> > > > question of where and how much. The whole idea behind putting a G.M
> > water
> > > > pump on an early hemi, according to the hot rod crowd, is to save on
> > > weight.
> > > > How this is accomplished, when you need to add an adapter plate to
use
> > it,
> > > > is unknown and I figure that its a waste of time when there are
> aluminum
> > > > after market ones available that will bolt right on.
> > > >  The true beauty of these older cars is that just about everything
on
> > them
> > > > can be rebuilt and rebuild parts are available. Before I joined this
> > list
> > > I
> > > > didn't have a clue that you could rebuild the factory brake boosters
> and
> > > yet
> > > > the parts are available along with services to do the job for you.
> > > >   One of the things that I have found easiest to get are electrical
> > parts.
> > > > Why? Because Chrysler, at least on the earlier cars, bought them
from
> an
> > > > outside supplier called "Autolite". Autolite supplied parts for just
> > about
> > > > every auto manufacturer outside of G.M and Ford so there lots of
after
> > > > market replacements out there. The same goes with their
carburettors.
> In
> > > the
> > > > case of my car the Carter WCFB carburetor was also used by
Oldsmobile,
> > > > Buick, and Cadillac as far back as 1952 and at least until the AFB
> came
> > > out.
> > > > If you are talking buying a complete NOS working carb you may have a
> > > problem
> > > > but as long as you have a core it can be rebuilt.
> > > >  There are people that have an enthusiesm for restoring early
Chrysler
> > > > products and there are more repro parts available all the time, you
> > would
> > > > just need to join a club to find out about them Quite often it
happens
> > out
> > > > of something as simple as needing a part for his project and having
> one
> > > made
> > > > when he can't find one, this is what Mr. Pittinaro did with the
> > cornering
> > > > lenses on his 67'. If there are guys making reproduction parts for
> > > > Studebakers and Kaisers there will also be ones doing so for
Chrysler
> > > > products, you can bet on it.
> > > > Best Regards
> > > > Arran Foster
> > > > 1954 Imperial Newport
> > > > Needing A Left Side Taillight Bezel and other trim parts.
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> >
> >
> >
> >