Cool Assembly Line Photos - Page 3

Keith Tedford · #21 01-31-2009, 07:57 AM

See the guy grinding the roof lead joint. I did that job for six months in 1971 while on lay off from tooling. It sure made me appreciate my job. You no sooner had one done and the next one was coming into the tunnel.

m22mike · #22 01-31-2009, 04:18 PM

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Man I love that action Mr. Chevy...When you and BIG comin' on down...BKH

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Brian, don't know Big and I have not talked about it yet, hopefully soon.. He might be sore at me because I am routing for the Steelers Sunday!!

Rich

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No kidding he should be P..O'ed at you...But I won't hold it against you Rich

By the way...where the heck is BIG

Go Stiller's..Yuk..can't believe I said that

Mike

**bergy** · #23 01-31-2009, 05:41 PM

Thanks for the post Rich. I co-opt (GMI) out of the St. Louis Assy plant back then. As students, we had to work nearly every job on the lines on the Chevrolet side of the plant (also Corvette). If one of you guys has a Corvette with cross threaded body bolts - it was probably me - sorry!

Allen · #24 01-31-2009, 06:13 PM

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Thanks for the post Rich. I co-opt (GMI) out of the St. Louis Assy plant back then. As students, we had to work nearly every job on the lines on the Chevrolet side of the plant (also Corvette). If one of you guys has a Corvette with cross threaded body bolts - it was probably me - sorry!

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Cool! I graduated from GMI in '93. BSME.

427TJ · #25 01-31-2009, 08:53 PM

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Great photo. I guess I'll have to get my NOS PO1 covers out and put them on my '67.

Donutblue · #26 01-31-2009, 09:53 PM

I noticed that grinding on the lead roof joint right away. Today OSHA would have a field day -- That airborne lead has to be just as bad as asbestos. Look at the guy spraying the clear coat also, no mask -- wow. Makes you wonder how their health is today.

Keith Tedford · #27 02-01-2009, 06:26 PM

In the lead booth, air was fed to the helmet but lead dust still got in around the arm openings and you could see it on your skin by the end of the day. You wouldn't go home without showering first. The paint booths were down draft so most of the over spray was sucked away. The painters weren't covered with paint as we were with lead. They still had to be breathing a lot of bad stuff. It was common knowledge/myth that the average retiree lived 2 1/2 years. So much for the big pensions if this were actually true. The guys in the bodyshop probably breathed more dirt than anyone. The sparks form the spot weld guns turn to dust when cooled and create a haze in the air.

**bergy** · #28 02-01-2009, 09:23 PM

How about the poor final repair guys! Leading in minor body bumps all day in the repair area with no ventillation. The plant was clean enough - we just weren't aware of the dangers back then.

The Dude · #29 02-02-2009, 04:31 AM

Lansing Mi Olds Plant circa 64-65

Fremont Ca plant

Keith Tedford · #30 02-02-2009, 06:01 AM

When I started my apprenticeship in Oshawa, I walked into a stamping plant of presses like the Danly shown above. There were Brown & Boggs, Verson and others. Pretty intimidating to a kid right off the farm. A hood draw die weighed 30-34 tons. After a while you get used to the cranes moving them around and don't think twice about the size of the stuff that you are working with. I guess ships and skyscrapers make this stuff look pretty small, but it was pretty big at the time for this kid.

Most of the methods seen in these pictures were used into the '80s when AGVs and robots really started to take over and change the way cars were being built. When I left the truck plant robots were even installing valve stems in the rims. Neat pictures.

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