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I continue to see the term "BIRDCAGE" used in many posts. Being a new member & 1st time restorer, I think I know what you all mean but I'm not 100% sure. Could someone give us newbies the official definition of the "BIRDCAGE"?
Rory, to my knowledge, it was not called that by GM. I believe the terminology "birdcage" was invented by, and is frequently used by, enthusiasts..the correct nomenclature is "body frame" or "cab frame". It is the central steel structure to which all the fiberglass panels are bonded.
Chuck, You are sort of right, but we did use the term "Birdcage" verbally and written all the time within Chevrolet Engineering when referring to this structure.
But, man, am I disillusioned! Just the thought of all those highly educated engineers, technicians, and managers having written communication using an informal, coarse, privyesque invention like "birdcage"!! I guess a Corvette is JUST a car like all the rest. Only, kidding.
Actually, I was talking about terminology used for the first time with the first level of management you didn't drink beer with...or GM's communication with the buying public.
I certainly enjoy and appreciate your (you, John, Mike, Duke, et al) insights into life as a car guy at GM. It must have been pretty much like being an engineer at GE's Aircraft Engine Group. We had our pet shop names for things...but the GE technocrats writing the sales literature would never have used them.
All of our assembly tooling and welding fixture drawings referred to it as the "cab frame", but nobody ever called it that; it was always referred to as the "birdcage". The "cab frame" moniker/nomenclature on the drawings came from the Chevrolet drafting room background in designing truck cabs (passenger car bodies were designed by Fisher Body, not Chevrolet).
And speaking of "pet shop names", the entire Corvette assembly plant had one of it's own. It was known as something other than the plant. Bet John hinckley remembers. (hint: has to do with the history of the building)
The "Mill Building" was pretty much ignored by the old-timers that worked in "the big plant" next door; "Behind the coal pile" was also popular
The "big plant" next door was, at the time, the biggest assembly plant in GM - Fisher Body plant for passenger car bodies, separate Chevrolet passenger car (Impala/Caprice) and truck assembly lines, and the Corvair trucks (Greenbrier van and Rampside pickup) were built on the 7th and 8th floor. Whatever the guys in the "Mill Building" ran out of, there was usually something somewhere on one of the lines in the "big plant" to use as a temporary substitute.
I knew you would remember John. Seemed like most of the guys called it "The Mill". I once asked where that name came from and was told that many years ago, possibly in the 20's, that facility actually was some sort of mill. Would be interesting to learn it's history.
The "Mill Building" that eventually became the Corvette plant in 1954 was originally built in 1920 as part of the main assembly complex; its original function was to fabricate and supply wooden body framing components to the main complex's body assembly department. Lots of (ash) wood went through that building in the 20's.
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