Why is a clamp position being used as an inspection result?

I'm reviewing a gusseted bracket job before we build fixtures for an FR10 cell. The old traveller says 'clamp reaches stop' under final inspection. A retained bracket rocks on its base when loose. There are shims in the old fixture with no drawing reference. Could be deliberate compensation. Could be several years of somebody making Friday happen. I don't know. I want to reconstruct what was located, what was restrained and what was actually measured before we reuse any of it. Has anyone found a good way to document that distinction from incomplete shop records?