Intro from an old Assembly Plant guy

[MalibuSSwagon]

My 86 C10 with 305/SM465 also has a 2 piece driveshaft, I thought it had more to do with the trans than anything else.

[Keith Seymore]

It has to do with propshaft (aka "driveshaft") critical speed.

What you guys might be missing is that propshaft critical speed not just based on wheelbase but is also based on trans type (length), rear axle ratio, tire size, and engine type (larger engines allowing a higher top speed) AND/OR any strange resonances in that particular combination (camping out on that resonance will break the trans/transfer case tailshaft housing).

So - a long wheelbase truck with a low (numerical) rear axle ratio spins the shaft slower and might get a one piece, but an otherwise comparable truck with a high rear axle ratio might get a two piece.

One other comment - critical speed is not directly related to balance, but rigidity. When the shaft exceeds it's critical speed it begins to bow in the middle and swing like a jump rope. Hence the disturbance and durability concerns.

You can get around it by going to a larger diameter steel tube - or more expensive alternative materials like aluminum, carbon fiber or "metal matrix" (an aluminum/carbon wrap).

So - on the two 350 trucks - there could have been a tire difference that put it over the edge, or perhaps a different horsepower rating which would allow for a higher top speed. I can assure you there was something different there that is not obvious to us after the fact.

And - relative to the 454 - that's the setup. In fact, those are the parts we ordered and duplicated when we converted our little white '85 stepper into the race truck.

By the way, I hate the complexity and mass of a two piece setup and go out of my way to order my trucks such that they get a one piece shaft.

K

[esbstuff]

[quote=Keith Seymore;5198257]It has to do with propshaft (aka "driveshaft") critical speed.


So - on the two 350 trucks - there could have been a tire difference that put it over the edge, or perhaps a different horsepower rating which would allow for a higher top speed. I can assure you there was something different there that is not obvious to us after the fact.



Thanks for the reply, I never thought about it that way. These 2 trucks were scrapped 15 plus years ago, an all my records of them are gone too...

[1967ChevyC50Flatbed]

Hey Keith enjoyed reading your post about your GM career but do you have any connections to 1978 chevy sport stripes my truck was originally midnight black with gold stripe design haha
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[Keith Seymore]

Been pretty quiet as far as updates, but that doesn't mean it's been quiet on the home front (or the work front)!

Here now, the news:

I haven't been really explicit about this, but my truck has never been in an accident.

So - I suppose I should have known this day was comin'......



Anyway, one of the occupational hazards of being a GM engineer is that you sometimes need to take a conference call, even when on the road. I've gotten into the habit of diving into a local McDonalds, in order to find a safe haven, use their free wireless and perhaps enjoy a late brunch or snack while conferring.

I was on the road the other week and did just that. Naturally I park way out in the boonies, so I won't be bothered by other traffic or those pesky door ding-bats.

So I'm angle parked, engine off, and on the phone, when this young lady pulls in nearby - about 4 parking spots to my left. First thing I noticed was that her radio was so loud that I couldn't hear my phone - I had to roll my window up to hear the conversation. So she is sitting there - I don't think she ever got out of the car - and after a half hour or so starts to back out of her spot. I had a bad feeling, a premonition for some reason, and - sure enough - she cuts the wheel super tight to the right and BOOM backs right into me.

It was one of those moments that was so unbelieveable and yet so believeable. I hollered "I gotta go" into the phone (...they heard the hit, so they already knew...) and hopped out of the truck.

Sure enough, her taillight was in several large pieces and her fascia was all bashed. Slowly I turned (...step by step...) and started looking at lil Red to assess the damage. And .... I looked. And then....I looked a bit more. Finally, I noticed some scratches on the end of the bumper (that may have already been there) and I noticed the rear taillight lens was cracked. She must have nailed the bumper pretty squarely - no red paint on the truck was harmed in the making of this accident. I figured at that point that a taillight lens would fix me up and that was all that would be required.

So - I gathered up the pieces of her taillight and handed them back to her and suggested she be more careful. She seemed rightfully embarrassed (I think she was on her cell phone while backing up) and got out of there as quickly as she could.

As for Red - $16 later and I'm good as new.

;o)

K

[Keith Seymore]

Next up: Quest 200K update -

I rolled over 199,000 miles a few weeks ago - and then promptly parked the truck.



I'm currently driving a company car, through about mid July, and then will pick up a different one for a few months after that.

The pursuit of 200K will have to continue a little later in the summer and into the fall, I guess.

Lastly - Square Body Calendar:

Yep - that's me. You can call me "Mr January 2013".



I saw the thread soliciting input for the calendar and, sort of on a lark, submitted a couple different photos. I didn't really expect anything to come from it - but - after the votes were tabulated I managed to weasel my way in. That is sort of a first for me, so I've already made a purchase and will have a nice keepsake for my kids (assuming they are interested).

Here's a link to the thread, which contains a couple locations to go if you'd like to purchase one as well:

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...age=4~original

K

[JohnC]

Sorry to hear about the impact. Guess the engineers did a better job back then than do now. J/k

Congrats on the 199,000 mark and the calendar! Both worthy accolades!
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[Keith Seymore]

Today marks the start of my 33rd year with General Motors; It was 33 years ago today I walked through the doors at Chevrolet Flint Assembly and the rest, as they say, is history (...except the stuff that hasn't happened yet. That wouldn't be history - lol).

So - I celebrated by going to a Pontiac car show yesterday. Beautiful weather and lots of nice cars.

First time in many years that it did not rain during this event. I had been waiting to do this, so it was my first opportunity to display the GTO hooked to the Grand Prix by using the old towbar. My brother in law also brought the Lemans convertible down making it the first time all the family Pontiacs had been in the same place since dad passed away.





Link to the full compliment of car show photos is here:

http://forums.performanceyears.com/f...d.php?t=700643

K

[wyattglock]

Congratulations!

[Keith Seymore]

I attended a memorial service for my friend Steve today. He passed away suddenly on July 2nd of a previously undiagnosed heart condition. He was 61 years old.

Steve and I worked at the GM Milford Proving Ground together. He was a mechanic through and through, with an affinity for engines and machines of all kinds. The memorial was held at his farm, about an hour north of where I live. The family had asked any of us with "hot rods" to drive them for a small display. I thought it would be fitting for me to drive lil Red, since that's what he and I worked on when we were together. They also had his '67 GTO, his wife's '69 Chevelle (it was her car from before they were married) and his '72 Chevy pickup parked out in the grass.

Many of us heard Steve say, on more than one occasion, "...after I'm gone I want you to run my ashes through a Chevy big block, running at 4000 rpm. I want to see what the inside looks like." He even reiterated with one of his buddies: "you're gonna take care of that, right?"

So - today was the day. At the end of the service they fired up his '72, which has a 396 in it, and ran it up to 4000 rpm, while pouring some of his ashes down the carb throat. I cried a little.

Godspeed my friend. A hot rodder to the very end.

K

[Keith Seymore]

One of the things I have been I have been meaning to do is visit the dealership where I bought my pickup and take a few pictures. So, since I was out that way today, we stopped by on the way home from Steve's house.

Here it is, nearly 26 years after it was delivered, sitting on the same lot.

K

[Car'n'Guitars]

Very neat.

[wyattglock]

Sorry to hear about your friend. Sounds like he was a good man, God knows we need more of them.
The pics of your truck at the dealership are very cool!
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[beamn7]

Very sorry for the loss of your Friend Keith. Very Very nice that his wishes were carried out for him. I think that would choke almost any of us up....

[mosesburb]

Sorry to hear of your loss, Keith. He sounds like a great guy--especially with his request to see the inside of a BBC wrapping out at 4K. That is hardcore right there. Too cool.

Is the dealership you got your truck from still working under the same name as when you got it there?? Also, being that you drove it down the line, did you actually pick it up there or was that just a location to do the paperwork??

[1985-GMC]

Sorry to hear about your friend. I like his request, very cool.

[Keith Seymore]

Thanks, guys -

Originally Posted by mosesburb

Is the dealership you got your truck from still working under the same name as when you got it there?? Also, being that you drove it down the line, did you actually pick it up there or was that just a location to do the paperwork??

Yes - same name. In fact, I got my Chevelle from the same location, except at that time it was owned by Robert Uptegraff (aka "Uptegraff Chevrolet"). When he sold it to the Hank Graff family they left the original signs up for quite a while with a red line through the "Upte" (lol).

I drove my truck off the end of the line and over to the shipping building. From there it went through the process just like all the rest, meaning I did the rest of the business transaction at the dealership. In fact, in looking at the invoice (post#572 of this thread) I see that I still paid the $525 destination fee - even though it is about 9 miles from the assembly plant to the dealership!

K

[Telecasterjoey]

Originally Posted by Keith Seymore

(did I mention I have a hidden trailer hitch on my truck?).

Do you have any pics or info bout the hidden hitch keith? I'd like to put one on my 86' with a sport bumper!

[Keith Seymore]

Originally Posted by Telecasterjoey

Do you have any pics or info bout the hidden hitch keith? I'd like to put one on my 86' with a sport bumper!

Sure -

My platform hitch happens to be homemade, but the key is to get the receiver portion to be positioned directly behind the license plate.



Then I used a flip up plate mount (this one happens to be for a '74 Chevelle) to allow the ball mount stub to be inserted through a notch in the license plate bracket -





K

[V30 mongo]

Two questions to someone who might know..... On most K/V30's I have looked at there is a hole in the front cross member, drivers side. I enlarged this hole to run the PTO shaft fowards to power front mounted winch. Also, the transfer case cross mount has this "arch' in it's construction. Were these features placed there for PTO shaft clearance or for a diffrent purpose?

[86454k30]

The hole in the front crossmember was where the oil cooler lines that were an option on these trucks. I don't believe the "S" style crossmember had a purpose.

[Telecasterjoey]

Thanks for the hitch info Keith! I'm on a mission to build one!
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[JAA]

Keith, I am sorry it has taken me this long to get to this thread. It is great to read all these stories and to see the work you have put in on your truck. I am a member of performance years forum as well, so as soon as I saw this thread, I knew it would a good read. I haven't been on performance years in a while, since I sold my Trans Am. It's good to see you over here sharing your knowledge. After reading all of this, it seems to me, after you retire, you need to write a book! "The Memoirs of an Old Assembly Plant Guy" (And yes you can steal my idea for the title. )

[Keith Seymore]

Somebody has a birthday today.....a couple somebodies, actually.

My son Joseph turns 15 today and Red turns 26!

Actual build was Monday Sept 29, 1986 (shipped Tuesday Sept 30) but the warranty book says October 2nd so I just go with that.



Happy birthday to you both!

K

[Keith Seymore]

Originally Posted by JAA

Keith, I am sorry it has taken me this long to get to this thread. It is great to read all these stories and to see the work you have put in on your truck. I am a member of performance years forum as well, so as soon as I saw this thread, I knew it would a good read. I haven't been on performance years in a while, since I sold my Trans Am. It's good to see you over here sharing your knowledge. After reading all of this, it seems to me, after you retire, you need to write a book! "The Memoirs of an Old Assembly Plant Guy" (And yes you can steal my idea for the title. )

Thank you; for a title I'm actually leaning towards "Some Assembly Required"...

(lol)

K