[YNOBIL]

Originally Posted by Jeff Hamlin

last '67 was also a 6;

When I worked at Kole Pontiac back in '67 I remember a new '67 GTO with the HO option that the factory had built with an air cleaner for the standard engine. Now I know it was probably Nadine Kuenzer who made the mistake. I pointed the mistake out to the dealership but they didn't care and delivered it to the customer the wrong air cleaner.

[Chris65LeMans]

Originally Posted by Drag Star Le Mans

Pontiac powered slingshot.

I wouldn't stand that close to those big spinning tires - that's for sure.

[72TAMAN]

Old pictures with some Pontiac in them

[muscle_collector]

theres quite a few Pontiacs in the one with the Texaco sign

[Keith Seymore]

Originally Posted by Saubrenner

Hayden Proffit drove a Corvair convertible funny car in 69.

Mearl

So did Pete Seaton.

K

[Keith Seymore]

Originally Posted by YNOBIL

Now I know it was probably Nadine Kuenzer who made the mistake.

...IF...it came from the Pontiac plant....on the shift that Ms Kuenzer was working.

K

[Alvin]

Wonder if this 1973 option is available on current model?

[Chris65LeMans]

Finally - someone made a Vette that's useful for something!

[MikeNoun]

What the heck are they doing to this Chevy?

[Greg Reid]

Looks like they're putting the 'doghouse' on.

[YNOBIL]

I wonder what plant this is. I've never seen the hood already attached to the front end when it's added to the body.

[John V.]

Bill, I don't think that was the case. Pretty sure hood went on separately.

I bet this was at Flint. Maybe Keith can tell exactly what is going on here.

But looks to me that they may be installing the hood and/or making the final hood & fender adjustments with that contraption.

[Sidponcho]

Originally Posted by John V.

Bill, I don't think that was the case. Pretty sure hood went on separately.

I bet this was at Flint. Maybe Keith can tell exactly what is going on here.

But looks to me that they may be installing the hood and/or making the final hood & fender adjustments with that contraption.

Its a jig for cutting in the blower

[Sidponcho]

Originally Posted by Jeff Hamlin

Note the board with production numbers!

Today, we collect real-time data automatically and display on large flat screens around the plant

[YNOBIL]

Originally Posted by John V.

Bill, I don't think that was the case. Pretty sure hood went on separately.

I bet this was at Flint. Maybe Keith can tell exactly what is going on here.

But looks to me that they may be installing the hood and/or making the final hood & fender adjustments with that contraption.

John I still think they're installing the complete front end assembly. If you look by the right tire you can see the support arm they lifted the assembly, and on top of the devise there are small rods that would swing that arm out after the installation. Plus the guys at the rear of the fenders seem to be lining it up with the firewall. Note: page 81 of "Echoes Of Norwood" has this photo, so maybe it was at the Norwood, OH plant.

[Greg Reid]

Originally Posted by YNOBIL

John I still think they're installing the complete front end assembly. If you look by the right tire you can see the support arm they lifted the assembly, and on top of the devise there are small rods that would swing that arm out after the installation. Plus the guys at the rear of the fenders seem to be lining it up with the firewall. Note: page 81 of "Echoes Of Norwood" has this photo, so maybe it was at the Norwood, OH plant.

I still think so too...I'll bet they had some type of jig to mount the hood to the fenders. What's funny is there doesn't seem to be any inner fender in place?

[Keith Seymore]

Originally Posted by MikeNoun

What the heck are they doing to this Chevy?

Yep - they are setting the front end on the chassis via "buck build".

Some plants did it as shown (the LIFE magazine Tarrytown photos show a buck build front end); some plants did "piecemeal".

In fact: sometimes it varied within the same plant.

When I was at Flint the Line 2 vehicles (Suburban and Blazer) were buck built; Line 1 (pickup) was piecemeal. Essentially the same architecture in the same plant - two different processes.

My first "real job" out of GMI was running the Line 1 Fender set area (2nd shift).

K

[YNOBIL]

Originally Posted by Keith Seymore

Yep - they are setting the front end on the chassis via "buck build".

Some plants did it as shown (the LIFE magazine Tarrytown photos show a buck build front end); some plants did "piecemeal".
K

Thanks Keith I learn something new every time you do a posting. The new words of the day are "Buck Build"(makes sense but I never new that's what it was called). When I worked at the Chicago Ford plant in '67 they did the Buck Build and as you know Janesville, WI. installed the core support and grille as a unit then added the fenders. Like I said earlier I've never seen the hood go on as part of the front end assembly.

[MikeNoun]

Great info guys, thanks. I never saw this before, so I thought I'd ask.

Interesting that it appears there are 6 guys involved in this step (including the guy in the pit), plus a 7th guy watching.

[John V.]

Bill, my bad. I have seen pix and video of earlier big Chevys being built with the complete front end assembly going on the frame all at once but without the hood in place. I missed that support arm thru the right fender. So I have to agree with you on review!

Keith mentions the Life Tarrytown article/pix. The hood was NOT part of the assembly in those pix, but that was a '59.

Could be Norwood. I know Lordstown (but not Norwood AFAIK) built big Chevy's in '69, but this is pre-F car, not surprised that Norwood also was building big Chevys prior to taking on the Camaro. Looks like the all new '65 Chevy to me. Quick google search says Norwood was building '65 big Chevys.

I figured Keith could explain the buck built concept.

Always something new to learn. I wonder if maybe this rig was something new for '65? I'm sure they were always (and still are) looking for ways to speed the process and reduce the labor input. Despite the no. of guys in the pic, I bet the man-hours were reduced (or if not, maybe they were trying something out and abandoned the idea if it didn't help).