Subject: Labor classification/denotation, structural or non-structural

Make: All manufacturers

Model: Full frame and unibody designs

Year: All

Operation: Door pillar replacement and others structural components

Time allowance: Mitchell

Labor text note: None

Motor

Labor text note: None

ADP presently not known

CCC Same as Motor

Labor text note:

Date of Inquiry: March 8, 2004

Inquiry (as stated by inquirer)

The P-pages of all three data bases has a section that identifies unibody structural components, but does not identify structural components on full frame vehicles. If a door pillar is a structural component on a unibody vehicle, why is it not a structural component on a full frame vehicle; on both designs of vehicle the pillar-s are designed to protect the occupant by supporting the roof. Why should a pillar on a full frame vehicle not be designated as a structural component if it serves the same purpose as a unibody vehicle?

Dale Matsumoto, Auto Body Hawaii COO

Suggestion to all data providers:

Please review this designation.

Response:

Mitchell: In regards to your inquiry of structural component designation, I investigated your claims with I-CAR, Tech-Cor and many OE’s. I found I-CAR’s only information to be in their UPCR’s. Neither I-CAR’s UPCR’s nor any of Tech-Cor’s information identifies structural components on BOF vehicles. I was unable to locate any specific OE information regarding this issue.

If you are able to provide any manufacturer information to the contrary, I would very much like to see it. Until then, our position regarding structural components applies to unibody vehicles only as per our illustration and accompanying text supplied by Tech-Cor found in our Procedure Pages on Page P4.

MOTOR: I-CAR has recently identified additional components in their SPS03 course as structural; this covers body of frame vehicles not previously covered. MOTOR has been revising classification of these components as structural “S”. This has been an ongoing process since 2-1-04.