Performance Build Center in Wixom to close

[Michael J.]

I got some sad news from my friends at the PBC in Wixom, where Vinnie and I built our engines for our ZO6 and ZR1 respectively, and where all the high performance Chevy engines were built by hand by the engine masters over the last few years, that they will close. I would guess this means no high performance Corvette engines anywhere in the foreseeable future, and certainly no way to build your own engine anymore. That is sad and the end of a unique era for Corvettes and their gear-head customers, maybe in a few years the GM suits will think better of it, we can only hope.

[Roy S.]

Re: Performance Build Center in Wixom to close

Michael see Dick W post I beleive it is moving to Bowling Green

[Michael J.]

Re: Performance Build Center in Wixom to close

Michael see Dick W post I beleive it is moving to Bowling Green

Right, it is moving physically, but many of the builders may not be, and the only performance engines they will build will be crate engines, as I understand it, so it has no mission at this point.

[Vinnie P.]

Re: Performance Build Center in Wixom to close

Michael...besides you and I there are a number of other members who have experienced the engine build too...for privacy, I won't post the names...spoke to my builder, Don Henley, yesterday and he said they were told shortly before the public announcement...he wasn't sure whether anyone from Wixom would be moving to Bowling Green, as details have to be worked out...he did say a good number of them can retire if they so choose...or he also said they can move to GM Engineering...Too bad you missed Barrett Jackson as they were there and put on demonstations Thursday thru Saturday on the engine build and it was great to see and talk to them again.

[Vinnie P.]

Re: Performance Build Center in Wixom to close

Right, it is moving physically, but many of the builders may not be, and the only performance engines they will build will be crate engines, as I understand it, so it has no mission at this point.

Michael...that leads me to believe that they have something planned and perhaps might be expanding the engine build experience to vehicles other than Corvette and perhaps phase in the Corvette engine build in the near future...once again, this is just my opinion...nothing concrete.

[Roy S.]

Re: Performance Build Center in Wixom to close

Right, it is moving physically, but many of the builders may not be, and the only performance engines they will build will be crate engines, as I understand it, so it has no mission at this point.

[Michael J.]

Re: Performance Build Center in Wixom to close

Michael...besides you and I there are a number of other members who have experienced the engine build too...for privacy, I won't post the names...spoke to my builder, Don Henley, yesterday and he said they were told shortly before the public announcement...he wasn't sure whether anyone from Wixom would be moving to Bowling Green, as details have to be worked out...he did say a good number of them can retire if they so choose...or he also said they can move to GM Engineering...Too bad you missed Barrett Jackson as they were there and put on demonstations Thursday thru Saturday on the engine build and it was great to see and talk to them again.

Thanks Vinnie, that is about the same story I got from my builder/trainer. Some can also move to GM Powertrain in other positions as I understand. I was supposed to be at BJ, but couldn't make it, just as well the car I wanted went for too high anyway......

[Michael J.]

Re: Performance Build Center in Wixom to close

Michael...that leads me to believe that they have something planned and perhaps might be expanding the engine build experience to vehicles other than Corvette and perhaps phase in the Corvette engine build in the near future...once again, this is just my opinion...nothing concrete.

I would certainly hope this is the case, we can all hope for this, that experience is just too good to see go away, a real competitive advantage for the Corvettes and GM.

[Michael J.]

Re: Performance Build Center in Wixom to close

Well said Roy, and let me see, 35 years ago, Ford, I hope you were involved with the two greatest engines Ford ever built, the 428 Cobra Jet and the NASCAR 429 semi-hemi....

[Howard T.]

Re: Performance Build Center in Wixom to close

Check out the news from Corvette museum.

http://corvettemuseum.blogspot.com/2013/01/gm-performance-build-center-relocating.html

[Michael J.]

Re: Performance Build Center in Wixom to close

Check out the news from Corvette museum.

http://corvettemuseum.blogspot.com/2...elocating.html

Interesting, but does it say that now customers can build the LT1 for the new C7, or not????? Not sure what this all means.

[William C.]

Re: Performance Build Center in Wixom to close

this is a good thing. It is all going to bowling green and you will be avle to build your engine right there. GM has it all in the works :cheers:

[Michael J.]

Re: Performance Build Center in Wixom to close

this is a good thing. It is all going to bowling green and you will be avle to build your engine right there. GM has it all in the works :cheers:

Perhaps this is correct, but if all they are building is the LT1, which is mass built in Tonawanda anyway, I do have to wonder what the attraction would be to charge people for doing it in BG.

[Vinnie P.]

Re: Performance Build Center in Wixom to close

I'm sure in due time the announcement will be made as to the future of the program. No sense in speculating or trying to guess what the plans are at this point. Perhaps there will be an answer at the regional at the museum in April.

[Stuart F.]

Re: Performance Build Center in Wixom to close

I don't see much of a furure for a crate LT-1 (C-7). Ror that matter, I don't an aftermarket future for it either other than some fancy plastic engine covers.

Stu Fox