How long does a build take?
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 4,980
Likes: 3,826
From: Bainbridge Island WA
How long does a build take?
How long does it take, start to finish, for a new vette to come off the line? I thought I read somewhere that it was a couple of days. So if the line stops for the weekend, do the half-built cars just sit (or hang) in limbo for the three day weekend? Is there any way to tell the precise time when a given car comes off the line? I've been told by NCM my car will come off the line approximately noon on Monday. If true, that means that she's hanging naked in the plant all weekend! 
4th Gear
Joined: May 2016
Posts: 4
Likes: 8
How long does it take, start to finish, for a new vette to come off the line? I thought I read somewhere that it was a couple of days. So if the line stops for the weekend, do the half-built cars just sit (or hang) in limbo for the three day weekend? Is there any way to tell the precise time when a given car comes off the line? I've been told by NCM my car will come off the line approximately noon on Monday. If true, that means that she's hanging naked in the plant all weekend!
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 4,980
Likes: 3,826
From: Bainbridge Island WA
I was referring to the physical build of the car, though. How long does it take from the time that frame hits the conveyor belt until they start the engine at the end of the run?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2000
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From: Pottsville, PA. USA Home Of America's Oldest Brewery Yuengling
If your car is coming off at noon on Monday it is somewhere on the line. Where ever it stops that is the last station that a part or assembly was put on. When it starts on Monday the next part in the build process is put on.
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 187
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From: Northern VA
I think it depends on how you measure "build time." If I recall correctly from my factory visit during my NCM delivery a few years ago, once they have the body painted, the parts all lined up, etc., I think it was about 7 hours of actual assembly line time.
Thanks to the wonders of modern engineering, the "build time" is less than you might imagine.
Thanks to the wonders of modern engineering, the "build time" is less than you might imagine.
Advanced
Joined: Feb 2017
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They say four days on the plant tour from start in the frame shop to roll test dyno. It can take more if you include the possibility its sent to the repair facility if defects are found.
Last edited by RunningHot; Feb 10, 2017 at 04:22 PM.
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Advanced
Joined: Feb 2017
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Like I said about 4 days on the line.
QUOTE:
Just wondering how long the whole thing takes from start to finish. ... It only takes around 3.5 days to build your car once it starts on the line. .... one half eight hour shifts from when body joins chassis - final assembly - to roll off.
QUOTE:
Just wondering how long the whole thing takes from start to finish. ... It only takes around 3.5 days to build your car once it starts on the line. .... one half eight hour shifts from when body joins chassis - final assembly - to roll off.
Advanced
Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 59
Likes: 20
And it can be even longer if your car is say started on Thursday then held over an idle weekend. My Grand Sport has a June build date on the door sticker and was not recorded as being "built" by the plant until July 13th so go figure.
Last edited by RunningHot; Feb 10, 2017 at 05:07 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 6,659
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From: FORT LAUDERDALE FL
Both times I was at BG my cars came out of "trim" (shell, windshield and dash) at ab-out 8+- in the morning. I followed them that shift (3-4pm+-). I picked back up the next morning at about 7 am and was sitting in the cars at the end of the line about 11 am. FWIW.