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Old 11-01-2023, 12:07 PM
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Default Factory block machining process

Does anyone have any pictures of any of the machining processes used to manufacture small or big block Chevy blocks from Flint or Tonawanda? As a toolmaker I'm always interested in the way things were made, and the broaching process for decking the blocks is something I would like to see, along with other machining processes.
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Old 11-01-2023, 12:54 PM
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I've seen some pictures of the broach machine, but do not have any. It was a giant machine about the size of a van going over the rough surfaces of the block. It left broach marks on all the rough casting areas that were smoothed out on the block.
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Old 11-01-2023, 01:25 PM
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This is the only photo of the broaching machine that I have seen.
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Old 11-01-2023, 07:00 PM
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Great photo.
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Old 11-01-2023, 07:39 PM
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Thank you Rick. Looks like it cuts both decks and the center at the same time. It would be very interesting to go back in time and watch the whole process from casting to finished block. Maybe the other one is for the bottom of the block? Looks like it might rough cut the main bearing bore too.
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Old 11-01-2023, 07:53 PM
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It just amazes me that they could make such precise cuts to the decks and top of the block like that.
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Old 11-01-2023, 10:08 PM
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I watched the progressive broach in operation at Tonawanda, but it was totally enclosed - so it wasn’t possible to see it cut. It was the first machining station just adjacent to the foundry finishing department - so the blocks would come out of the foundry & could be positioned on the broach indexing conveyor while they were still warm.
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Old 11-02-2023, 01:15 PM
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At 15:41 mark of this video, you can see the ford raw cast block broaching & machine process.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vMlPonSrqVo
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Old 11-02-2023, 01:37 PM
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I have a vintage 16mm movie called TONAWANDA that shows the infancy of the engine building process too.
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Old 11-02-2023, 01:43 PM
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I don't care how much they were paid, a foundry had to have been a miserable place to work even in the best of conditions.
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Last edited by SS427; 11-02-2023 at 01:50 PM.
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