Corvette Build Time

Reply Subscribe

Thread Tools

Search this Thread

Jan 7, 2020 | 12:30 PM

morear

Thread Starter

Instructor

Joined: Jul 2013

Posts: 148

Likes: 33

From: Texas

Corvette Build Time

Anybody know just how long it takes to build a Corvette from the time the first part (frame) is put on the line ? Second question: Are painted body parts pre painted and then put on cars already pre painted

Jan 7, 2020 | 01:01 PM

dingrao

Burning Brakes

Joined: Apr 2008

Posts: 914

Likes: 327

From: Margate, FL

St. Jude Donor '09

I believe Tadge said in an interview with Jay Leno that it takes 5 Minutes to build the car on the assembly line.

Last edited by dingrao; Jan 7, 2020 at 01:03 PM.

Jan 7, 2020 | 01:08 PM

Zymurgy

Moderator

Joined: Feb 2006

Posts: 39,165

Likes: 18,013

From: DFW Area TX

No, what Tadge said was that one rolls of the assembly line every 5 minutes.

Actually, the optimal production rate for the C8 is 11.6 per hour which is roughly 1 every 5 minutes.

Jan 7, 2020 | 01:10 PM

acrace

Drifting

Joined: Sep 2000

Posts: 1,889

Likes: 230

From: Livingston County, Michigan

Body panels are painted prior to assembly onto the vehicle.

C7 video:

Last edited by acrace; Jan 7, 2020 at 01:12 PM.

Jan 7, 2020 | 01:10 PM

Spamburger_Hamburger

Drifting

Joined: Dec 2019

Posts: 1,310

Likes: 1,836

Following a single car from the first step all the way through production is about 36 hours, so says the plant tour. Could be different for the C8.

Jan 7, 2020 | 01:14 PM

dingrao

Burning Brakes

Joined: Apr 2008

Posts: 914

Likes: 327

From: Margate, FL

St. Jude Donor '09

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zymurgy

No, what Tadge said was that one rolls of the assembly line every 5 minutes.

Actually, the optimal production rate for the C8 is 11.6 per hour which is roughly 1 every 5 minutes.

Thanks for clarifying!

Jan 7, 2020 | 05:08 PM

morear

Thread Starter

Instructor

Joined: Jul 2013

Posts: 148

Likes: 33

From: Texas

Thanks ,so it's about 1 and 1/2 days to build start to finish.

Jan 7, 2020 | 05:13 PM

Zymurgy

Moderator

Joined: Feb 2006

Posts: 39,165

Likes: 18,013

From: DFW Area TX

Well, the plant only runs 2 shifts per day (8 hour shifts unless they work overtime).

Corvette Stories

The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts

5 Best & 5 Most Overrated Corvette Track Packages of All Time!

Joe Kucinski

Every 2027 Corvette Engine Explained

Joe Kucinski

Designer Imagines A Corvette That Looks More Like a Corvette Than the Corvette

Verdad Gallardo

10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love

Joe Kucinski

Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer

Brett Foote

10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)

Michael S. Palmer

8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems

Pouria Savadkouei

10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years

Joe Kucinski

How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972

Joe Kucinski

Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!

Michael S. Palmer

Jan 7, 2020 | 05:38 PM

morear

Thread Starter

Instructor

Joined: Jul 2013

Posts: 148

Likes: 33

From: Texas

Production rates

My math(if it's right) tells me there can be 417 cars in the plant ,on the line being finished at full production rate but I bet it's lot slower now with the C-8 is just starting up

Jan 7, 2020 | 06:33 PM

#10

C8-Vette

Safety Car

Joined: Jul 2004

Posts: 3,867

Likes: 307

From: Wantagh,L.I. New York

Shifts

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zymurgy

Well, the plant only runs 2 shifts per day (8 hour shifts unless they work overtime).

I read somewhere that they moved workers from a closed plant in Ohio and intend to go to 3 shifts,may already happened.
I can’t remember where I read it

Jan 7, 2020 | 06:54 PM

#11

Stev-o

Drifting

Joined: Dec 2017

Posts: 1,664

Likes: 417

From: Central Texas

Quote:

Originally Posted by C7-Vette

I read somewhere that they moved workers from a closed plant in Ohio and intend to go to 3 shifts,may already happened.

Highly doubt that, the plant is still in tooling for the changeover. Hopefully production will start first week of Feb...

Jan 7, 2020 | 07:27 PM

#12

EasyLivin

Race Director

Joined: Dec 2012

Posts: 11,127

Likes: 3,222

From: Sunny Florida

I hope they take their time with mine so it's perfect when I get it...

Jan 7, 2020 | 07:56 PM

#13

Zymurgy

Moderator

Joined: Feb 2006

Posts: 39,165

Likes: 18,013

From: DFW Area TX

Quote:

Originally Posted by C7-Vette

I read somewhere that they moved workers from a closed plant in Ohio and intend to go to 3 shifts,may already happened.
I can’t remember where I read it

They moved workers from closed plants (and hired locally) so they could add the second shift. BG has had 1 shift for as long as I can remember.

Jan 7, 2020 | 09:00 PM

#14

pietro c7

Melting Slicks

Joined: Sep 2013

Posts: 2,235

Likes: 1,160

From: montreal quebec

I called the GM concierge (for the 56th time....)

He assured me that they’re building a new drive- through service exclusively for the C8....
We are looking at 4 minutes max for a car.

Jan 7, 2020 | 10:00 PM

#15

johnodrake

Moderator

Joined: Dec 2002

Posts: 40,900

Likes: 4,352

From: Lakewood Ranch, FL

C6 was time 34 hours. I was in the factory for the build of my 427 and spent over 20 hours on the floor

Last edited by johnodrake; Jan 7, 2020 at 10:00 PM.

Jan 7, 2020 | 11:10 PM

#16

blackmagicZ

Melting Slicks

Joined: May 2011

Posts: 2,072

Likes: 462

From: Lincoln, CA.

All these numbers, wow. I read somewhere that they can produce from 197 to a max of 234 cars per day.

you math guys can figure it out.

Jan 8, 2020 | 12:33 AM

#17

Poorhousenext

Melting Slicks

Joined: Nov 2007

Posts: 2,162

Likes: 649

From: Chattanooga TN

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stev-o

Highly doubt that, the plant is still in tooling for the changeover. Hopefully production will start first week of Feb...

I believe, they start building cars, in January, reportedly 300 Fleet Cars, before start of Dealer ordered cars in February.

Jan 8, 2020 | 03:09 AM

#18

TBIRD57

Race Director

Joined: Apr 2007

Posts: 16,052

Likes: 253

i'd just like to see one on the road already!

Jan 8, 2020 | 06:12 AM

#19

slvrY2K

Racer

Joined: Sep 1999

Posts: 422

Likes: 20

From: Upstate SC

Cruise-In I Veteran

Quote:

Originally Posted by morear

Second question: Are painted body parts pre painted and then put on cars already pre painted

Just an FYI - I work for a tier I that produces injection molded parts for cars. Many of our plants produce bumpers and other exterior body parts for a wide variety of automakers. In our US plants, we paint the bumpers and other parts before shipping to the OEMs. We produce bumpers for some luxury vehicles that have a higher price point than the even the top model corvettes.
Bowling Green may be different however, considering the recent investment they put into their paint shop.
I mainly bring this up because I was surprised to learn this when I got into the business. I expected that we would at most primer the parts and the OEM would spray the base and clear.
Ron

Reply Subscribe

Reply Share

First
Prev
1 / 1
Next
Last

Forum Jump