Quote:
Originally Posted by jimbosprint
So in the case of my top AC bracket that bolts with the intake manifold, do they leave the bolts out of the intake at the engine plant or do they back them out and put them back in at the assembly line? Would the bolt heads be painted orange?
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The bracket would be assembled (for the first and only time) at the vehicle final assembly plant. Assembling and then dissassembling and then reassembling the same part is frowned upon and avoided, since it increases the amount of labor required.
The engine would be received at the vehicle assembly plant in a large rack of 6 or 8 engines, already painted orange from Flint or Tonawanda.
The brackets would be provided by some outside supplier, probably in a big shipping "gong", or wire basket. These would be painted black already (some small items were dipped or painted black at the vehicle assembly plant, depending on the specific arrangements).
Bolts are received in small cardboard boxes and dumped into breadpans for lineside presentation.
The engine is hung on the beginning of the motor line as determined by the vehicle manifest or broadcast sheet and the parts are added as it makes it's way down the Motor Line (transmission, carburetor, accessory drive including A/C and power steering bracketry, exhaust takedown pipes, etc).
So - bracket = black. Bolts = black (or cadmium/silver, depending on location/application).
K
Here's a good link highlighting some squarebody assembly practices:
http://www.73-87.com/7387info/Assembly%20Line.htm