Factory Visitor - Build Seq
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 1,651
Likes: 11
From: Seattle WA
Factory Visitor - Build Seq
I have a friend who has a Vert on order and we were talking about the build sequence. The specific question he asked me was when does the car get painted? Are the panels pre painted? Where in the process does the car get painted?
I've seen picures of the frame with the motor and etc but not the body panels.
I know its one of those so what? questions but we're curious. It's the sort of stuff that guys who are waiting for a car talk about after all the other topics are exhausted.
I've seen picures of the frame with the motor and etc but not the body panels.
I know its one of those so what? questions but we're curious. It's the sort of stuff that guys who are waiting for a car talk about after all the other topics are exhausted.
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 205
Likes: 0
From: Palm Coast FL
We visited the assembly plant a couple of weeks ago. Had the same questions. The body parts are sequenced, numbered and painted away from the assembly line. They are sequenced so that a car is assembled with the dedicated parts that have the same painting match. For example, at an assembly point for front fenders, on one side of the assembly line is a cart with 8 right fenders with a matching cart on the other side. There may be 2 mag red, 1 dsom, 1 yellow, etc.... but the sequence matches the assembly line.
In other words, all the body parts are painted from the same paint batch, then seperated into the sequence of the assembly line. This was another mark of perfection for me.
On another note and unique to Corvette, is that the entire lower assembly (drive train/transmission/engine) is assembled separately while the body is assembled --- then the marriage occurs as the two complete systems are joined at 26 points. I thought that was cool.
Hey, I was listening on the tour..... hope this helps. Everyone should visit the plant, and if they arelucky, take delivery at the NCM. It was an awesome experience with the pride of the people on the line very evident.
In other words, all the body parts are painted from the same paint batch, then seperated into the sequence of the assembly line. This was another mark of perfection for me.
On another note and unique to Corvette, is that the entire lower assembly (drive train/transmission/engine) is assembled separately while the body is assembled --- then the marriage occurs as the two complete systems are joined at 26 points. I thought that was cool.
Hey, I was listening on the tour..... hope this helps. Everyone should visit the plant, and if they arelucky, take delivery at the NCM. It was an awesome experience with the pride of the people on the line very evident.
