[Keith Seymore]

Excellent thread; I apologize for joining late (just going back and reading some old threads...)

Originally Posted by citydesk175

Some of this fitting and engineering process may be obvious in retrospect but some is not and I don't know if it is done this way anymore.

Yes - it is still done this way (only across the street from the Tech Center rather than in Pontiac).

Even with all of our "math" based engineering data and rapid prototyping there is still no substitute for holding a solid part in your hand, or attaching it to an actual vehicle.

This is particularly true for hoses, electrical wires and other "soft" components that won't necessarily behave in real life like they do in the computer images.

We still build vehicles, developing through the "mule" process, on to "Integration" vehicles and then into the assembly plants with non saleable and saleable preproduction builds going down the actual line.

K