Assembly plant drivers instuction

[Ralph S.]

Driving cars on plant property

[Mark F.]

Re: Assembly plant drivers instuction

Hi Ralph - and where were car assembly plants 8 and 16 ?

Speaking of "driving" - I spent a fair amount of time in assembly plant toe-in pits and the area between the final line driveoff and the pit was a very dangerous place to be.

After engine start, Drivers would typically slam them into gear (most were automatics) at the same time they were stomping on the gas...and you thought your car was babied before it left the plant - NOT !

the driver's side door was held open and most drivers would dangle their left leg between the open door and the rocker...
Speed to, and then harsh braking at the pit were both excessive (IMO)...all designed to save fractions of a second so more time to "rest" after bailing out...

and yes, a few were wrecked before they ever left the Plant...

[Kenneth B.]

Re: Assembly plant drivers instuction

At the Fort Wayne Truck Assembly they would get in the new trucks & floor it over the offset speed bumps to align the bolts & panels at least thats what I was told. They drove a truck off the line every 56 seconds. Friend was a electrician there so I got to see everything.

[Ralph S.]

Re: Assembly plant drivers instuction

I worked in Framingham Mass. for the railroad unloading new GM cars from 1972 -- 1979 so i know how all the new cars were abused

[E S.]

Re: Assembly plant drivers instuction

Hi-In reference to procedure F- I ordered my 69,and was present when it was delivered from St. Louis to central Ks. via Jackie Cooper Semi-Transport. After taking delivery and arriving home, I found two used paper coffee cups and sandwich wrappers in the Jack Stowage Compartment.
The coffee cups had 4 poker playing cards printed on the sides,with the "hole" card printed on the bottom.
The sandwich wrappers were wax paper.
I ruled out the dealership as the culprit, because it was very small,and did not have a coffee vending machine; and I did not see how the transport driver could have done it either, so I have always felt that someone at the factory was responsible. (There was a lengthy U.A.W. strike that year, and I am sure there were plenty of unhappy workers on the lines.)
By the way- Do you think W.J. Mitchell could be THE Bill Mitchell?
E.J.

[Bill B.]

Re: Assembly plant drivers instuction

To the question of W.J. Mitchell is THE BILL Mitchell... THE Bill held the position of VP of Styling at GM from about 1958 to 1977. His middle initial was "L", not "J". Good thought though!

[Mark F.]

Re: Assembly plant drivers instuction

Hi-In reference to procedure...By the way- Do you think W.J. Mitchell could be THE Bill Mitchell? E.J.

I was typing my response the same time as Bill B...
EJ - Nope. that Bill Mitchell's middle initial was "L."

[Ralph S.]

Re: Assembly plant drivers instuction

At the plant in Framingham Mass.they built Cutlass, Chevelle. Pontiac , Buick in the sixties the guys that drove the cars off the line and parked them in the lot on the overnight shift used to take the cars out on the road in front of the plant and drag race.

[Mark F.]

Re: Assembly plant drivers instuction

At the plant in Framingham Mass.they built Cutlass, Chevelle. Pontiac , Buick in the sixties the guys that drove the cars off the line and parked them in the lot on the overnight shift used to take the cars out on the road in front of the plant and drag race.

Dump the clutch at 5 grand and see if we can break it...So much for the "gentle break-in" period, eh ?

[Bill M.]

Re: Assembly plant drivers instuction

I was at the assembly plant a few weeks ago and the cars are accelerated over rumble strips at the end of the line