FYI, the reason why nobody has "factory" photos from personal cameras tucked away in albums is because cameras have always been forbidden on GM property, except for "official" photographers. GM has an unbelieveable warehouse of photos documenting their history and they are beginning to realize the commercial value! Here is a link to a gold mine of GM factory photos;

http://www.gmphotostore.com/prodinfo.asp?number=P7156

The odd thing about this pic is the HEI and round port heads and the tall valve covers.

Nice pics.

On the engine pic, you can see the IV or HO intake. Can anyone make out the head by the over all look of it. The don't have the added bolt hole on the side up next to the intake, what year did that start. And any idea what the valve cover says?

Looks more like a 72 455HO to me....based on the intake, distributor and casting numbers in the center ports of the heads.

The thing that threw me a curve was posting the pic while posting factory pics, and on top of that probably converted it to B/W. I'm now thinking that it's just a current pic, but still not sure.

Maybe the Perses would be so kind, as to set us straight?

I don't think it is(production picture) based on all the dirty stuff around that engine and the aftermarket valve covers.

The B/W photo in the middle of the other factory pics threw me, plus the SD motor. I'd still like to know the story behind, probably interesting.

Absolutely. Just to reiterate, there is no way you should or could bring a personal camera into a GM facility.

K

This is a great thread, but kind of bittersweet for me.

I worked in Pontiac for a number of years and I don't recognize ANY of those buildings. I'm sure they are all gone.

In fact, after we moved from Pontiac to here at the Tech Center in Warren they bulldozed all of the cool old buildings, like the Administration building on South Blvd. I went back to the Pontiac Centerpoint complex for a meeting a couple weeks ago and literally got lost - because those landmark buildings are GONE, without a trace.

The old administration building on Widetrack Drive and the Engineering building on Joslyn are still there; if I can I'll take some pictures the next time I'm up that way and post them.

K

I believe this is the PMD brass circa 1962.

....and boondoggling on a Pontiac plant tour.

Wow. That's quite a nice little "tram thing" they got there....

at Chevy, you had to WALK!

:D

I don't think any GM plants even give tours anymore, correct?

I don't think so. If there is, they are the exception rather than the rule.

K

GM still gives tours. Employees only I believe.

Looks like they do give tours, at least at their Wisconsin truck plant.....But by the looks of the rules, you may be subject to a body cavity search before entering.

http://www.janesvillecvb.com/tourgm.asp

I thought I was going to have to stand corrected, but maybe not....

I pulled up this link for the Flint Truck Assembly plant, which seemed to indicate tours are still ongoing, including a contact person and even a nice biography of this person.

However, I called the number, which has been disconnected and also looked this person up on our org chart and he is no longer there.

http://www.reachoutmichigan.org/care...g/gmtruck.html

Incidently, the ironic thing is that I started my General Motors career some 29 years ago at.....

....Chevrolet Flint Assembly....

and one of my responsibilities at that time was....

(pause for effect)


...giving plant tours.

:D

Janesville's a good plant, by the way. Nice workforce, good quality...

K

The Corvette / XLR plant in Bowling Green, KY has daily tours that are open to the public (weekdays when the plant is operating). The BG plant is a small scale assembly plant as their production output is about 20% of a typical plant. Here is a link with some information. The museum tours are conducted in conjunction with "Museum delivery" which is for car buyers. There is also a free tour for everyone else....

http://store.corvettemuseum.com/services/buyertour.asp