When you are PPAP approved to revision 3 and there is a print change, which does not affect the part and you submit the default level 3 PPAP to revision 4 and it gets approved from the customer. What do you do with the level 3 PPAP? The tools, alloy and specifications have not changed, only the revision level.

What do you do with the level 3 PPAP?Are you referring to the paperwork and parts from the previous PPAP submission?

The part we retain if the tooling is not changed, however, we have files and files of PPAP PAPERWORK. Revision after Revision as far as the drawings are concerned, but the tooling has not changed.

I was thinking this was part of the 1 year after production ceases requirement. I'll have to check that out.

As I understand it as the PPAP components, control plan , FMEA and Flow charts are defined as "living documents" the approvals from the previous PPAP's should be saved but you only need to keep the latest set of documents.
The FMEA should be the same except for possible additions and the control plan features tthe latest procedures.
4.16.1 says "Production part approvals shall be maintained..."
but from the PPAP booklet VI. it could be interpreted that you need to keep all the documents.
After the change the part "as was" is not active and only needs to be kept for one year.
Does this help?