Buildsheet Locations
 

Hiya gang,

I made this video to help peeps try to search for a buildsheet in their 2nd gen Firebird:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7BwCoA4Jr9A&t=853s

I've gotten a few questions since I had made it,
1. Is there any truth to Norwood cars having a much smaller chance of finding a buildsheet due to the factory having rubbish bins they could use throw the sheets away as they weren't meant to be in the car?
2. Is the reason they can be found stuffed anywhere inside the car because the workers had no where else to put them when building the cars and it was easier than throwing them out?

I hope I wasn't wrong about anything in the vid, I'd like to get some feedback because i'm asked all the time about where to find buildsheets in the interior, and I'm not sure if there's anywhere else they could be found.

The build sheets were not "stuffed" away in obscure places, as much as "left" there.

They were used anywhere where components were built up remotely and then conveyed to the main line. That's why you see them under the carpet, in the seats, on top of the fuel tank, behind the headliner, inside the door trim panels etc.If they were too difficult to remove then they remained where they lay - often covered in tar or with a screw shot through them.

And they were never meant for the owner's eyes. They were an assembly aid that was meant to be thrown away at the end of the line, along with coffee cups, love notes, inspection/repair tickets, extra screws and other pieces of paper.

All plants had rubbish bins at the end of the line. If you are seeing variation then it is just random variation based on who was cleaning the car out.

K

Sorry - half the time I can't get past the verification, making it difficult to reply.

I worked in about a dozen GM plants across 46 years in the industry, starting at Flint Assembly in 1979.

If you don't already have it "Echos of Norwood" by Phillip Borris would be a good reference.

https://www.norwoodassemblyplant.com...f-norwood.html

And, although this was written for 1st gen Camaro the Camaros.org overview written by John Z Hinkley is the best process review I have seen, and can relate to any GM product, include Firebird.

https://www.camaros.org/assemblyprocess.shtml

Understanding why and how the buildsheets were used will give you insights into where they can be found (or not found, usually).

It's kind of a crap shoot.

I have only found one in all my collector cars: there was one above the fuel tank on my Pontiac Michigan built GTO.

None in my Grand Prix; none in my Oshawa built Chevelle (and I've had it all the way apart).

None in my pickup, and I followed it down the line as it was built and drove it to the shipping building myself. It never occurred to me to keep any of the papers.

K

It seems the 1977 and up Birds they were plentiful in the cars both Van Nuys and Norwood.
Norwood in earlier years were rare.


I have never found a buildsheet in any of my cars, majority Norwood cars 70-74.


:(

I have found most of the build sheets in 77-81 on top of gas tank or behind the back seat.

81 TA Black SE from Van Nuys was on gas tank

79 TA Black 4 spd hardtop from Norwood was back of back seat, loose . ( good condition)

My 78 had one masking taped to the firewall-pulled it when I picked up the car at Gay Pontiac(best prices around after Smokey and the Bandit premium prices at most dealers). One under the driver's seat cushion. Don't remember if one on the gas tank. I know the 79 Camaro project had one on the gas tank.
You can even see the piece of tape at the top.