GM Assembly Plant processes

[Keith Seymore]

For those who might be interested I have taken the liberty of compiling some links about the GM vehicle assembly process. These are in depth first-hand accounts from inside the various GM assembly plants and can be helpful when doing an accurate total restoration of a classic vehicle.

Eric White is an author, illustrator and Pontiac enthusiast. He had the opportunity to interview a Pontiac Michigan assembly line worker, Mr Carl Papke, and recorded that exchange for our benefit.
(Scroll down after the page loads)
“Made in Pontiac” part 1 http://wildaboutcarsonline.com/cgi-b...=9990286562979
“Made in Pontiac” part 2 http://wildaboutcarsonline.com/cgi-b...=9990404596316
“Made in Pontiac” part 3 http://wildaboutcarsonline.com/cgi-b...=9990404601846
“Made in Pontiac” part 4 http://wildaboutcarsonline.com/cgi-b...=9990286562979
“Made in Pontiac” part 5 http://wildaboutcarsonline.com/cgi-b...=9990408229209

Camaro Research Group: Camaro Assembly process, written by John Z Hinckley. John was the assembly launch manager for the new in 1967 Camaro and Corvettes and has meticulously recording the steps to create those cars in the assembly plant. Although specific to Camaros (in this case) most of the techniques and processes will translate into any other vehicle of interest, like trucks or Firebirds.
http://www.camaros.org/assemblyprocess.shtml

John’s documentation is so thorough that I have no motivation to create anything similar to this for truck. I just send folks with questions to this site to start the conversation.

73-87 Photos: http://www.73-87.com/7387info/Assembly%20Line.htm
Nice photos of some pre 1980 pickups going together at my alma mater Chevrolet Flint Assembly. Make sure and scroll down for insightful commentary.

K

[mikewoods]

Thanks for compiling this Keith! This is very interesting to me as my Grandfather worked in Plant 6.

[J Knight]

Awesome info and pics. Just curios, how long after the paint was layed on did the body start to get handled for assembly. I would think they would have to sit a while to dry or get baked.

[Keith Seymore]

Bodies were baked at 350 degrees for 1/2 hour before being handled.

K

[Keith Seymore]

Originally Posted by mikewoods

Thanks for compiling this Keith! This is very interesting to me as my Grandfather worked in Plant 6.

Plant 6 in Pontiac?

Is he still living? We would be willing to talk to him.

K

[mikewoods]

Originally Posted by Keith Seymore

Plant 6 in Pontiac?

Is he still living? We would be willing to talk to him.

K

Yes and Yes!

Eric and Paul Deesen spoke with him not too long ago at a car show at Golling in Lake Orion. I believe my Grandfather is going to put together a sketch of the plant layout for them.

[Keith Seymore]

Very good; I was just with Eric at Golling on Saturday for breakfast (didn't see Paul there, though).

K

[mikewoods]

Hi Keith,

I this video in an email this morning and thought you might enjoy it. Its a compilation of Pontiac Assembly plant photos set to music.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=02eULOTP6CA

[Keith Seymore]

Originally Posted by mikewoods

Hi Keith,

I this video in an email this morning and thought you might enjoy it. Its a compilation of Pontiac Assembly plant photos set to music.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=02eULOTP6CA

Thank you; those were compiled by my Pontiac buddy Mike Noun.

K

[y5mgisi]

Really cool!

[Keith Seymore]

Originally Posted by mikewoods

Yes and Yes!

Eric and Paul Deesen spoke with him not too long ago at a car show at Golling in Lake Orion. I believe my Grandfather is going to put together a sketch of the plant layout for them.

There are many (many!) funny Paul Deesen stories but here is my most recent one:

(Post 220): http://forums.performanceyears.com/f...560524&page=11

K

[Hiluxxulih]

Originally Posted by Keith Seymore

There are many (many!) funny Paul Deesen stories but here is my most recent one:

(Post 220): http://forums.performanceyears.com/f...560524&page=11

K

My mom and dad had about 5 GTO,s I remember my mom dropping me off at school in a 1969 GTO judge she also had an old tempest with the transmission on the rear axle when it rusted out she had it cubed at the junk yard and its up by the fence in her yard she still has the 4 cylinder engine in the garage .

[Keith Seymore]

Originally Posted by Hiluxxulih

My mom and dad had about 5 GTO,s I remember my mom dropping me off at school in a 1969 GTO judge she also had an old tempest with the transmission on the rear axle when it rusted out she had it cubed at the junk yard and its up by the fence in her yard she still has the 4 cylinder engine in the garage .

We had enough GTOs around that we usually referred to them by the model year, ie: "are we takin the '65? or the '68?

K

[Keith Seymore]

Originally Posted by Keith Seymore

There are many (many!) funny Paul Deesen stories but here is my most recent one:

(Post 220): http://forums.performanceyears.com/f...560524&page=11

K

Paul designed the front end for the early 60's Chevy full size cars, the distinctive concave rear window for the '63 Pontiac Grand Prix, the original GTO emblem, the redline tire, the mid 80's S/T pickup/blazer, and the interior for the GMC motor home (among other things).

He is in our local Pontiac club, the Widetrackers Chapter of POCI.

K

http://deansgarage.com/?s=paul+deesen

[Hiluxxulih]

I just know the 1969 the other GTOs were the older mid 60s goats , sadly my brother sold Judge for $300 and it was totaled a few months later , I remember driving it a few times when I was in elementary school ( on my parents property )

[jrblanke]

This is just too cool! Thanks for taking the time to post this.

[wraprail]

Originally Posted by Keith Seymore

Paul designed the front end for the early 60's Chevy full size cars, the distinctive concave rear window for the '63 Pontiac Grand Prix, the original GTO emblem, the redline tire, the mid 80's S/T pickup/blazer, and the interior for the GMC motor home (among other things).

Whats with the tow bar Keith?

[Keith Seymore]

Originally Posted by wraprail

Whats with the tow bar Keith?

That's how we rolled.

If you didn't drive your car to the race track then you flat towed. Only the biggest name teams had car haulers or trailers. We didn't get our first open car trailer until 1967.

K