GM Norwood Salaried Christmas Party

[70 copo]

Originally Posted by Paul_S

Anyone attending that worked back in 1963-64 for 1964 production? Not sure if these were asked in the past (maybe documented somewhere?):

Yes several in attendence were there for the Chevy II NOVA build

Originally Posted by Paul_S

-How did they feel about the Nova Convertible, Hardtop/Coupe and SS being cancelled for '64? -Coupe and SS did return few months after production started.

They were concerned about layoffs. Sales dropped off in 1964,and they looked at the plants building the Chevelle as having the product that would sell.

Originally Posted by Paul_S

-How did they feel about V8 finally being a regular production item/option (L32 2-brl 283 only for '64)? Any inquiries/responses why no 327 offered? This would have required additional training for the new V8 specific components (now offering four engines: 153 4cyl, 194 & 230 6-cyl & 283 V8).

All the V-8's installed the same way. Big engines usually were kind of rare then since the 6 was the majority seller.

Originally Posted by Paul_S

-Any info on the late '64 introduction of the L77 4-brl 283 (220HP)? Remember it being a short run or delayed introduction?

No information.

Originally Posted by Paul_S

-Any special builds or issues they remember during that time frame?

No information.

[70 copo]

I will ask, but I will likely need to reach out to UAW 674 personnel also for this one, they have their own Christmas party.

[Paul_S]

The late application of the L-77 (220HP 283) to 1964 Chevy II/Nova and the 327's to the 1964 Chevelle/Malibu has similar timing and delayed for some reason.

We had hit on some of the details years ago here:
https://www.yenko.net/forum/showthre...=124953&page=2

Paul

[JoeC]

another interesting thing was the white paint on some of the trim tags. I have seen original photos where it looked like a light spray of white paint just on the tag and one 1967 Camaro, original photo, and it was a heavy coat of white paint just on the trim tag.

[70 copo]

Originally Posted by JoeC

another interesting thing was the white paint on some of the trim tags. I have seen original photos where it looked like a light spray of white paint just on the tag and one 1967 Camaro, original photo, and it was a heavy coat of white paint just on the trim tag.

Joe,

The white paint on the 1967 body plate is already described in Echoes. If you would like I can revisit the topic within a thread here on this forum.

[Kurt S]

It was a visibility thing.
The twist is that not all cars got the whited tags.

[70 copo]

Originally Posted by Kurt S

It was a visibility thing.
The twist is that not all cars got the whited tags.

That's correct. There were multiple workforce issues driving this situation all occurring at the same time, Line speed increase allegations from the union, the new computer system increasingly setting production rates, and the pressure for all workers to use all of the new data technology universally to capture the increasingly complex RPO content. The old timers wanted to build them the old way, and it became a component of the larger "we are overworked" labor issue as a component of a series of protest strikes in 1967.

The situation was described to me as follows:

"When the workers that were most agitated by the changes were assigned to the element the body plates were painted white as a form of protest."

"GM removed the problem in 1968 by deleting the content from the plate."

This worker has since passed away.

[70 copo]

Party was well attended yesterday. I am looking at the replies I received to the questions asked within the thread and I did get some answers. I will begin to post later today.

Here is a couple of images... The highest three seniority production superintendents in attendance had start dates in 1957, 1958, and 1959. I also met another (new to me) superintendent that started in 1967. Very intelligent, his recall of the plant, its processes and the details were amazingly crisp. I am looking forward to interviewing him in detail.

[jl8z28]

Just saw this thread next time ask why the 11A late 69 Z28 got a 2003 distributor instead of the 480

[70 copo]

Originally Posted by jl8z28

Just saw this thread next time ask why the 11A late 69 Z28 got a 2003 distributor instead of the 480

Likely the same answer to Tracker 1's question. A salvage swap after the car wound up in AGR.