Work stations on St. Louis assembly line

[Harmon C.]

I would like to know in 70-73 when they built 100-150 Corvettes per day how long it was after the trim tag was put on the body till it came off the final line.

If some one has an idea how may work stations ther was it will be easy.
If they made 150 per day each worker at a station had to put parts on 150 cars.

My guess is some came off the line the day the trim tag was put on and the rest the next working day.

Thanks Lyle

[Terry M.]

Re: Work stations on St. Louis assembly line

Consider when doing your math that sometimes there were two shifts and thus more than 150 cars per day. I'm sure there were two shifts during at least part, if not all, of MY 1972 production.

[Harmon C.]

Re: Work stations on St. Louis assembly line

Terry

I may have not worded it correct but only X amount of Corvettes would fit from where the trim tag was put on till it was started and driven off the line.
I think the bodys were trimed and flowed to the body drop at the same time the frame arrived for final assembly as I have seen in other plants but I'm not sure of this. If they built more cars more would roll off the end.

Lyle

[John H.]

Re: Work stations on St. Louis assembly line

Lyle -

There were roughly 60-70 units between the Trim Tag station and the end of the Final Line, or about 7-8 hours (one shift, +/-).

[Anthony F.]

[Harmon C.]

Re: Work stations on St. Louis assembly line

Thanks Tony

The information about how the lines were not a direct feed is interesting and clears up for me why the time frame was not always the same.

If I understand what you said the car was a complete body and frame in the Paint Repair Area. When the paint was repaired it was put on the Final line where Soft trim was installed. Were the cars driveable in the Paint Repair Area?

Again Thanks

Lyle

[John H.]

Re: Work stations on St. Louis assembly line

Lyle -

Yes, it was drivable (went through roll-test and water-test that way), but it didn't have any carpets/seats/door trim in it.

[Harmon C.]

Re: Work stations on St. Louis assembly line

John

I now understand how Corvettes were built.

Thanks All
Lyle

[John H.]

Re: Work stations on St. Louis assembly line

Lyle -

The interior trim was left out until after water test in order to simplify water leak path detection and repair without having to tear the interior out; the interior trim was installed last, on the "Final Trim Line".

[John H.]

Re: Work stations on St. Louis assembly line

Lyle -

The interior trim was left out until after water test in order to simplify water leak path detection and repair without having to tear the interior out; the interior trim was installed last, on the "Final Trim Line".