1967 Camaro assembly line

[Keith Seymore]

Here's the build sequence number on this one: Number "62".

The full build sequence number would be much longer, like six digits, but the last two or three digits would be written in a form of shorthand. I would expect any other component built up remotely (front end sheet metal, rear axle, seats) to have a "62" scribbled on it somewhere.

This was intended to keep everything in sequence. It goes pretty easy as long as nothing gets disrupted, but get out of sequence and all hell breaks loose. You start seeing wrong color fenders (or bodies that don't match the frame) and you have to assess what went wrong and what has to be done to fix it, typically while the line continues to move.

At Flint, we had 1/2 ton 2wd (5 lug axles), 1/2 4wd (6 lug axles) and 3/4 and 1 ton axles (8 lugs). We used to keep a library of "wrong" tire/wheel assemblies at the tire install job so that if you had a wrong axle come down you could install the corresponding "wrong" tire/wheel assembly in order to keep the line moving. The vehicle would complete the process and then head out back to heavy repair to have the correct axle (and tire/wheels) installed.

Back to the sequence number - my red truck was apparently "number 87".

K

[Keith Seymore]

You guys remember “pocket protectors”?

I don’t think I have any of mine, but I do have this one of dad’s on display.

Part of our daily arsenal, including these VIN cards we carried everywhere (for some reason; I guess in case we had to de-code a nasty VIN while we were in the bathroom or something) and a folded piece of paper with our notes for the day. Our nerd uniform would not be complete without it.

Also – the shirts for the foremen were provided by GM. Available in the lovely pastels of the time (coral, blue, green, yellow) and, of course, white, they were emblazoned with the person’s name and the Chevrolet bowtie.

I used to wear dad’s to school. I thought I was so cool.

K

[Keith Seymore]

Working in "the pit" was not great.

If you were very tall at all you had to be perennially hunched over, or you would bang your head on every sharp corner passing by (perhaps I should have said "...and you would bang your head..."). Stuff gets dripped or dropped on you all day and, truth be told, not all of it is accidental.

Since it is deer season I am reminded of a story:

I used to have a pit repairman by the name of Garfield Hardy. He was a small black man that had to have a step stool to reach the bottom of the truck.

For everybody else's benefit: When deer season rolls around in Michigan the high rate of absenteeism (both excused and unexcused) very nearly shuts the plant down. In order to combat that we would solicit volunteers from those of us who were left to work double shifts to keep the plant running. Garfield was one of those guys who would work every extra minute of overtime that he could get. I swear he would have killed a man on my behalf if I would have paid him through lunch.

After about a week of 16 or 20 hour days they would begin to take their toll. After one particularly long day (or so it seemed) I looked down in the pit to see Garfield, sitting on his stool, nodding off - barely able to shake himself awake.

Taking pity on the man, I shouted, mostly to wake him up without embarrassment: "Garfield, what does your wife think about you working all this overtime?".

He shot back, without hesitation and without opening his eyes: "She jus say: 'see ya lata, honey - Ahm goin' shoppin'!".



It's become sort of a standard chorus around my house, especially among my daughters...

K

[Xplantdad]

Love the stories and the info, Keith!

[67since67]

Originally Posted by Xplantdad

Love the stories and the info, Keith!

X2!!

[Thomas]

Originally Posted by Keith Seymore

Here's the build sequence number on this one: Number "62".

The full build sequence number would be much longer, like six digits, but the last two or three digits would be written in a form of shorthand. I would expect any other component built up remotely (front end sheet metal, rear axle, seats) to have a "62" scribbled on it somewhere.

This was intended to keep everything in sequence. It goes pretty easy as long as nothing gets disrupted, but get out of sequence and all hell breaks loose. You start seeing wrong color fenders (or bodies that don't match the frame) and you have to assess what went wrong and what has to be done to fix it, typically while the line continues to move.

At Flint, we had 1/2 ton 2wd (5 lug axles), 1/2 4wd (6 lug axles) and 3/4 and 1 ton axles (8 lugs). We used to keep a library of "wrong" tire/wheel assemblies at the tire install job so that if you had a wrong axle come down you could install the corresponding "wrong" tire/wheel assembly in order to keep the line moving. The vehicle would complete the process and then head out back to heavy repair to have the correct axle (and tire/wheels) installed.

Back to the sequence number - my red truck was apparently "number 87".

K

My '80 Blazer still has some of those crayon marks visible. I always thought that they had something to do with the model number.

[Keith Seymore]

Nope; nothing to do with the model number.

1980 Blazer model number would be K10516 btw.

And - would have been built in Flint. I might have seen it go by

K

https://www.gm.com/content/dam/compa...let-Blazer.pdf
CC10516 = Chevrolet, 2wd Blazer
CK10516 = Chevrolet, 4wd Blazer
TC10516 = GMC, 2wd Jimmy
TK10516 = GMC, 4wd Jimmy