Pontiac GM Fisher Body 1970

[Keith Seymore]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: SS427</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I learned several things about the assembly process that was different than I thought ... </div></div>

Just to elaborate a bit: when setting up an assembly line, just like anything else in life, all the work tends to slip to as late as possible in the process (everybody wants to be &quot;last&quot. It takes a disciplined approach and conscious effort to plan for the work to take place farther upstream but you end up with some processes that are not the way your or I would do it in the garage.

Examples of things that surprised me as a young car guy many years ago: painting the two tone color first, masking it off and spraying the primary color over the top. Having a complete brake system before installing the body. Completely trimming out the body before installing on the chassis. Starting out with the frame upside down. One operator putting the nuts on the bolts but someone else torquing them down. Driving multiple fasteners at the same time, etc.

I have heard the suggestion that the auto industry took advantage of the slow times/low volume of the Great Depression and used that time to move away from the vestigal &quot;stall&quot; or stationary build order and completely revamp the way vehicles were built. We are still using that same basic build order today.

K