Intro from an old Assembly Plant guy - Page 21 - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

Keith Seymore · 05-29-2010, 09:49 PM

In spite of considering myself to be an "old school" mechanic, I couldn't find the bottle opener that I thought was in my tool box.

Fortunately, it's times like this when it pays to be "mechanically inclined"...

Keith Seymore · 06-11-2010, 07:29 AM

Today is a special day; it's my "Seniority date".

It was 31 years ago today that I started at Chevrolet Flint Assembly!

K

*BGRAFX* · 06-11-2010, 07:44 AM

Congrats Keith! You've been an inspiration to us all!

tucsonjwt · 06-11-2010, 08:14 AM

Congratulations. Is that a 31 year old bottle of Coke? Here in the southwest, the Mexican supermarkets sell Coke in an old style bottle like that - imported from Mexico made with real cane sugar, not high fructose corn syrup. They cost about $1 per bottle.

Keith Seymore · 06-11-2010, 06:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tucsonjwt

Congratulations. Is that a 31 year old bottle of Coke?

Yes - I was saving it for my daughter's wedding....

...I'm kidding, of course. I got that at Costco, and it is as you say - bottled in Mexico with real cane sugar. In spite of my highly specialized Coke tastebuds, I haven't been able to tell much of a difference so far (other than the bottles are so danged cute).

K

USSkoval · 06-11-2010, 09:13 PM

The Mexican Cokes have been sold around here for a while now too. I can tell a difference and it makes for a nice change of pace every now and again.

And like you said, it's cool to drink it from a bottle

turbo350 · 06-11-2010, 09:16 PM

Dig the tow bar pics. Cold beverages taste much better out of glass than plastic or aluminum imo

1985-GMC · 06-11-2010, 10:11 PM

A little truck just like yours passed me today, it looked pretty nice but im sure it wasn't as nice as yours.

glimmertwin01 · 06-18-2010, 10:38 AM

Hi Keith
Great post... i was reading it at work yesterday but it blocked pics so i sent it to my laptop
you are a resource for info! im restoring an old 74 K5 ... NY has taken its toll on an old GA truck but its worth saving IMO.
hey BTW you can open those cokes with a Bic Lighter ( I know from my old days drinking Bud Longnecks and Blues....LOL ill show ya sometime..
nice to meet a real GM guy...

Keith Seymore · 06-24-2010, 08:54 AM

A couple notable updates:

a) I forgot to mention, but back more towards the first part of the month I participated in a car show with the truck.

It was hosted by a friend of mine, and he was always supportive of me when I was doing a local church sponsored show, so I wanted to be there and show him support for his show. The weather was really awful, so rather than taking one of the Pontiacs I decided to take the truck. Drove it over there (in the rain) and didn't even wipe it off during the judging.

You probably have already guessed where this is heading:

I won "Best Truck"...

b) Also - I'm now a "double member" of the board. I bought a '97 Suburban earlier this week. We have enough drivers at home that we needed one more vehicle, and decided this one needed to have passenger carrying capability. Bought it from the original owner, super well maintained - and - it didn't hurt that it was "black"!

Should have no problem hauling kids or (...hidden agenda...) pulling the trailer.

K

86454k30 · 07-14-2010, 02:05 AM

Did you use the Duplicolor aerosol cans to paint the metal on your interior and door jams? How is it holding up? Getting ready to do my 87 V2500 and am curious.

Thanks

Keith Seymore · 07-14-2010, 07:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 86454k30

Did you use the Duplicolor aerosol cans to paint the metal on your interior and door jams? How is it holding up? Getting ready to do my 87 V2500 and am curious.

Thanks

Yes - it is holding up fine.

K

*BGRAFX* · 07-14-2010, 08:39 AM

Keith- I have a couple of questions for you about my newly purchased suburban...How can I get the paint codes from the custom paint job that was done I assume by a dealership as a conversion package? And Do All trucks have the VIN# etched into every window. This is the first time I've actually noticed the etching in the lower corner of all 8windows. (Barn doors)

Keith Seymore · 07-14-2010, 08:46 AM

Regarding paint codes: you'll have to get those through the dealer (or whomever did the "conversion", like Starcraft). Those paint stripes happened some time after final assembly.

Similarly, the VIN etching is not something that was required at the time nor was it done at the assembly plant. Probably something the dealership did as well.

K

PS - I was just thinking about those power mirrors the other day. In hindsight, I can't believe we actually did that (lol).

*BGRAFX* · 07-14-2010, 08:53 AM

The previous owner said he took the ground effects step piece off the spanned from the from wheel well to wheel well. There are no stickers that indicate where the conversion was done. I'm in the process of changing to white painted bumpers and white grill. I think will give it a nice clean appearance. As always thanks for your insight.

1987GmcSierra · 07-14-2010, 01:42 PM

Wow What a resume Keith U rock sir u will defintely be an asset Welcome to the Site i know my self i have built 3 of these trucks my favorite year is the 87 i love the tbi i have an 87 GMC and a custom deluxe I love my Chevy IM A BOWTIE DRIVER AND LOVER FOR LIFE GM ROCKS nothin runs like a Chevy

IM makin a truck even GM would envy lol 87 GMC sierra Swb 2wd TBI 7.4 454 all my favorite numbers in the same sentence Donor 1987 Gmc 3/4 ton Suburban freshin the motor up new gaskets and intake and headers i can so taste it lol

D13 · 07-14-2010, 07:46 PM

Which ones are you bringing to the car show on the 28th? I know the truck will be there LOL! I thought about bringing mine (hoping to get ugliest truck) but right now the trans is down and the diesel has a serious miss (I'm hoping injector...)

Keith Seymore · 07-15-2010, 07:59 AM

I was thinking about bringing the Grand Prix/GTO combination, but didn't get a response from car show organizers about special parking.

As such, I signed up yesterday to bring the truck...

K

PRUNEDA · 07-20-2010, 03:48 PM

Hello Keith, I have a question. Do you know if GM ever produced a truck like ours with fog lights in the air dam? I have a friend that says that he has seen some and was once asked if his truck had fog lights when buying an air dam replacement at the dealer. Let me know what you think. Thanks

Keith Seymore · 07-21-2010, 07:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PRUNEDA

Hello Keith, I have a question. Do you know if GM ever produced a truck like ours with fog lights in the air dam? I have a friend that says that he has seen some and was once asked if his truck had fog lights when buying an air dam replacement at the dealer. Let me know what you think. Thanks

No; fog lights in the air dam would not be a production option.

Must have been an aftermarket part.

K

tucsonjwt · 07-21-2010, 11:25 AM

Keith - are you back in Flint building pickups again?

http://www.wnem.com/news/24325833/detail.html

Keith Seymore · 07-21-2010, 02:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tucsonjwt

Keith - are you back in Flint building pickups again?

http://www.wnem.com/news/24325833/detail.html

Yay! Assemble on, my Flint Assembly brothers!

Actually, I'm building Volts in Hamtramck and Opels at the PreProduction site in Warren.

But - as the saying goes - "once a trucker, always a trucker".

junkyardjohn · 07-22-2010, 04:57 PM

WOW!! FLINT ASSY. IS UP & RUNNING AGAIN. IT'S BEEN ABOUT 20 YEARS SINCE I'VE EVEN BEEN BY THERE, & I THOUGHT THE OLD BUILDING HAD BEEN TORN DOWN. THATS GREAT NEWS. THERE WAS AN AWFUL LOT OF GOOD PEOPLE THERE. IT'S TOO BAD WE DIDN'T KNOW EACH OTHER BACK IN THE EIGHTIES WHEN WE WERE BOTH THERE. I BET WE WOULD HAVE BEEN FRIENDS.

I BOUGHT A NEW 86 SUBURBAN BACK THEN (KINDA FELT LIKE IT WAS MY DUTY) & HAVE NOTHING BUT CHEVY TRUCKS. (A 69,71,72,80,82 & A 84 CUCV BLAZER THAT I JUST FINALLY BOUGHT) GENEROUS MOTORS WAS VERY GOOD TO ME & I DON'T HAVE A SINGLE BAD THING TO SAY ABOUT THEM. P.M. ME (IF YOU WANT) WITH YOUR PHO.# & I'LL CALL YOU (I HAVE AN UNLIMITED CALLING PLAN) & WE CAN REMININCE ABOUT THE OLD DAYS. YOU SURE TRIGGERED ALOT OF OLD MEMORIES.

JOHN RILEY (2nd Shift Layout Insp. Line 1)

franky69c10 · 07-22-2010, 06:24 PM

wow love your story

i bet it was nice watching your truck being built

Keith Seymore · 08-01-2010, 05:10 PM

I forgot to mention here that last Wednesday was the GM Tech Center Employee car show...

It was supposed to rain late in the day, so I took the truck -

Not much attention paid to the lil Red pickup; certainly not as much as the Lotus Seven to my left, or to the original owner '58 (that had been drag raced since '58) on my right.

As if on cue, here came the rain!

Complete set of show pics can be found here, if any are interested:

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=414059

K

05-29-2010, 09:49 PM	#501
Keith Seymore Registered User Join Date: May 2009 Location: Motor City Posts: 9,165	Re: Intro from an old Assembly Plant guy In spite of considering myself to be an "old school" mechanic, I couldn't find the bottle opener that I thought was in my tool box. Fortunately, it's times like this when it pays to be "mechanically inclined"... __________________ Chevrolet Flint Assembly 1979-1986 GM Full Size Truck Engineering 1986 - 2019 Intro from an Old Assembly Guy: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=342926 My Pontiac story: http://forums.maxperformanceinc.com/...d.php?t=560524 Chevelle intro: http://www.superchevy.com/features/s...hevy-chevelle/ Last edited by Keith Seymore; 02-20-2018 at 11:02 PM.

06-11-2010, 07:29 AM	#502
Keith Seymore Registered User Join Date: May 2009 Location: Motor City Posts: 9,165	Re: Intro from an old Assembly Plant guy Today is a special day; it's my "Seniority date". It was 31 years ago today that I started at Chevrolet Flint Assembly! K __________________ Chevrolet Flint Assembly 1979-1986 GM Full Size Truck Engineering 1986 - 2019 Intro from an Old Assembly Guy: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=342926 My Pontiac story: http://forums.maxperformanceinc.com/...d.php?t=560524 Chevelle intro: http://www.superchevy.com/features/s...hevy-chevelle/

06-11-2010, 07:44 AM	#503
BGRAFX Account Suspended Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: kansas city Ks Posts: 1,970	Re: Intro from an old Assembly Plant guy Congrats Keith! You've been an inspiration to us all!

06-11-2010, 08:14 AM	#504
tucsonjwt Registered User Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Tucson, AZ Posts: 3,188	Re: Intro from an old Assembly Plant guy Congratulations. Is that a 31 year old bottle of Coke? Here in the southwest, the Mexican supermarkets sell Coke in an old style bottle like that - imported from Mexico made with real cane sugar, not high fructose corn syrup. They cost about $1 per bottle.

06-11-2010, 09:13 PM	#506
USSkoval Registered User Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: West Jefferson, OH Posts: 999	Re: Intro from an old Assembly Plant guy The Mexican Cokes have been sold around here for a while now too. I can tell a difference and it makes for a nice change of pace every now and again. And like you said, it's cool to drink it from a bottle __________________ -Andy '77 K5 Blazer '78 K10 Shortbed '78 C20 Suburban '79 K30 Crew Cab Dually '84 C10 Short Stepside '88 K20 Suburban

06-11-2010, 09:16 PM	#507
turbo350 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Twin Cities, MN Posts: 316	Re: Intro from an old Assembly Plant guy Dig the tow bar pics. Cold beverages taste much better out of glass than plastic or aluminum imo

06-11-2010, 10:11 PM	#508
1985-GMC Chevy Enthusiast Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Canyon Lake Texas Posts: 2,024	Re: Intro from an old Assembly Plant guy A little truck just like yours passed me today, it looked pretty nice but im sure it wasn't as nice as yours. __________________ Tony 1985 GMC K2500 restoration Project: Rust, White & Blue 1989 Chevy R3500 CC Cummins & 4X4 swap some day... 1989 Burb (D60, 14BFF, 12V, NV4500, NP205, 37" tires in progress)

06-18-2010, 10:38 AM	#509
glimmertwin01 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Rochester NY Posts: 1,022	Re: Intro from an old Assembly Plant guy Hi Keith Great post... i was reading it at work yesterday but it blocked pics so i sent it to my laptop you are a resource for info! im restoring an old 74 K5 ... NY has taken its toll on an old GA truck but its worth saving IMO. hey BTW you can open those cokes with a Bic Lighter ( I know from my old days drinking Bud Longnecks and Blues....LOL ill show ya sometime.. nice to meet a real GM guy... __________________ 67/68 K/20 "The BEAST" 68 K15 V6 LWB. 73 K20 GMC Burb "The Bomber" 74 K/5 74 K20 Custom Deluxe 86 K10 Shorty 92 K2500 Burb 95 K2500 GMC Life is what you make it Live each day like it was your last Old GM Trucks never go out of style

06-24-2010, 08:54 AM	#510
Keith Seymore Registered User Join Date: May 2009 Location: Motor City Posts: 9,165	Re: Intro from an old Assembly Plant guy A couple notable updates: a) I forgot to mention, but back more towards the first part of the month I participated in a car show with the truck. It was hosted by a friend of mine, and he was always supportive of me when I was doing a local church sponsored show, so I wanted to be there and show him support for his show. The weather was really awful, so rather than taking one of the Pontiacs I decided to take the truck. Drove it over there (in the rain) and didn't even wipe it off during the judging. You probably have already guessed where this is heading: I won "Best Truck"... b) Also - I'm now a "double member" of the board. I bought a '97 Suburban earlier this week. We have enough drivers at home that we needed one more vehicle, and decided this one needed to have passenger carrying capability. Bought it from the original owner, super well maintained - and - it didn't hurt that it was "black"! Should have no problem hauling kids or (...hidden agenda...) pulling the trailer. K __________________ Chevrolet Flint Assembly 1979-1986 GM Full Size Truck Engineering 1986 - 2019 Intro from an Old Assembly Guy: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=342926 My Pontiac story: http://forums.maxperformanceinc.com/...d.php?t=560524 Chevelle intro: http://www.superchevy.com/features/s...hevy-chevelle/ Last edited by Keith Seymore; 02-20-2018 at 11:03 PM.

07-14-2010, 02:05 AM	#511
86454k30 Registered User Join Date: May 2008 Location: Spokane, Washington Posts: 596	Re: Intro from an old Assembly Plant guy Did you use the Duplicolor aerosol cans to paint the metal on your interior and door jams? How is it holding up? Getting ready to do my 87 V2500 and am curious. Thanks

07-14-2010, 08:39 AM	#513
BGRAFX Account Suspended Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: kansas city Ks Posts: 1,970	Re: Intro from an old Assembly Plant guy Keith- I have a couple of questions for you about my newly purchased suburban...How can I get the paint codes from the custom paint job that was done I assume by a dealership as a conversion package? And Do All trucks have the VIN# etched into every window. This is the first time I've actually noticed the etching in the lower corner of all 8windows. (Barn doors) Attached Images Last edited by BGRAFX; 07-14-2010 at 08:44 AM.

07-14-2010, 08:46 AM	#514
Keith Seymore Registered User Join Date: May 2009 Location: Motor City Posts: 9,165	Re: Intro from an old Assembly Plant guy Regarding paint codes: you'll have to get those through the dealer (or whomever did the "conversion", like Starcraft). Those paint stripes happened some time after final assembly. Similarly, the VIN etching is not something that was required at the time nor was it done at the assembly plant. Probably something the dealership did as well. K PS - I was just thinking about those power mirrors the other day. In hindsight, I can't believe we actually did that (lol). __________________ Chevrolet Flint Assembly 1979-1986 GM Full Size Truck Engineering 1986 - 2019 Intro from an Old Assembly Guy: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=342926 My Pontiac story: http://forums.maxperformanceinc.com/...d.php?t=560524 Chevelle intro: http://www.superchevy.com/features/s...hevy-chevelle/ Last edited by Keith Seymore; 07-14-2010 at 08:47 AM.

07-14-2010, 08:53 AM	#515
BGRAFX Account Suspended Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: kansas city Ks Posts: 1,970	Re: Intro from an old Assembly Plant guy The previous owner said he took the ground effects step piece off the spanned from the from wheel well to wheel well. There are no stickers that indicate where the conversion was done. I'm in the process of changing to white painted bumpers and white grill. I think will give it a nice clean appearance. As always thanks for your insight.

07-14-2010, 01:42 PM	#516
1987GmcSierra Registered User Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Jacksonville North Carolina Posts: 16	Re: Intro from an old Assembly Plant guy Wow What a resume Keith U rock sir u will defintely be an asset Welcome to the Site i know my self i have built 3 of these trucks my favorite year is the 87 i love the tbi i have an 87 GMC and a custom deluxe I love my Chevy IM A BOWTIE DRIVER AND LOVER FOR LIFE GM ROCKS nothin runs like a Chevy IM makin a truck even GM would envy lol 87 GMC sierra Swb 2wd TBI 7.4 454 all my favorite numbers in the same sentence Donor 1987 Gmc 3/4 ton Suburban freshin the motor up new gaskets and intake and headers i can so taste it lol __________________ CANT RESCUE ALL OF THEM BUT I CAN SURE TRY 1987 Gmc Sierra swb 2wd (soon to have a TBI 454) 1987 Custom Deluxe 2wd (Was a TBI 4.3 V6 Now TBI 5.7 350) DAILY DRIVER 1985 MILITARY CUCV M1008 Pretty much Stock 1987 3/4 ton GMC 2wd Suburban TBI 7.4 454(DONOR FOR 87 GMC SWB) BEING USED AS PARTS 1989 GMC SUBURBAN TBI 5.7 350 (MOTOR IS NOW IN 87 CUSTOM DELUXE)BEING USED FOR PARTS Gets More Chicks =GMC Got More Cubes=GMC Got My Chevy=GMC God Made Chevy=GMC Last edited by 1987GmcSierra; 07-14-2010 at 01:45 PM.

07-14-2010, 07:46 PM	#517
D13 Registered User Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Memphis MI Posts: 1,851	Re: Intro from an old Assembly Plant guy Which ones are you bringing to the car show on the 28th? I know the truck will be there LOL! I thought about bringing mine (hoping to get ugliest truck) but right now the trans is down and the diesel has a serious miss (I'm hoping injector...) __________________ 1987 2 ton 1982 250/TH350 beater in progress Dad's 1981 3/4 L6 3 on tree posi and no options, awaiting restoration or scrapping Plus a mess o' tractors Last edited by D13; 07-14-2010 at 07:47 PM.



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07-15-2010, 07:59 AM	#518
Keith Seymore Registered User Join Date: May 2009 Location: Motor City Posts: 9,165	Re: Intro from an old Assembly Plant guy I was thinking about bringing the Grand Prix/GTO combination, but didn't get a response from car show organizers about special parking. As such, I signed up yesterday to bring the truck... K __________________ Chevrolet Flint Assembly 1979-1986 GM Full Size Truck Engineering 1986 - 2019 Intro from an Old Assembly Guy: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=342926 My Pontiac story: http://forums.maxperformanceinc.com/...d.php?t=560524 Chevelle intro: http://www.superchevy.com/features/s...hevy-chevelle/

07-20-2010, 03:48 PM	#519
PRUNEDA '87 Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Katy, TX Posts: 632	Re: Intro from an old Assembly Plant guy Hello Keith, I have a question. Do you know if GM ever produced a truck like ours with fog lights in the air dam? I have a friend that says that he has seen some and was once asked if his truck had fog lights when buying an air dam replacement at the dealer. Let me know what you think. Thanks

07-21-2010, 11:25 AM	#521
tucsonjwt Registered User Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Tucson, AZ Posts: 3,188	Re: Intro from an old Assembly Plant guy Keith - are you back in Flint building pickups again? http://www.wnem.com/news/24325833/detail.html

07-22-2010, 04:57 PM	#523
junkyardjohn Registered User Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: SOMERSET KY. Posts: 6,427	Re: Intro from an old Assembly Plant guy WOW!! FLINT ASSY. IS UP & RUNNING AGAIN. IT'S BEEN ABOUT 20 YEARS SINCE I'VE EVEN BEEN BY THERE, & I THOUGHT THE OLD BUILDING HAD BEEN TORN DOWN. THATS GREAT NEWS. THERE WAS AN AWFUL LOT OF GOOD PEOPLE THERE. IT'S TOO BAD WE DIDN'T KNOW EACH OTHER BACK IN THE EIGHTIES WHEN WE WERE BOTH THERE. I BET WE WOULD HAVE BEEN FRIENDS. I BOUGHT A NEW 86 SUBURBAN BACK THEN (KINDA FELT LIKE IT WAS MY DUTY) & HAVE NOTHING BUT CHEVY TRUCKS. (A 69,71,72,80,82 & A 84 CUCV BLAZER THAT I JUST FINALLY BOUGHT) GENEROUS MOTORS WAS VERY GOOD TO ME & I DON'T HAVE A SINGLE BAD THING TO SAY ABOUT THEM. P.M. ME (IF YOU WANT) WITH YOUR PHO.# & I'LL CALL YOU (I HAVE AN UNLIMITED CALLING PLAN) & WE CAN REMININCE ABOUT THE OLD DAYS. YOU SURE TRIGGERED ALOT OF OLD MEMORIES. JOHN RILEY (2nd Shift Layout Insp. Line 1) __________________ junkyardjohn 69 1 TON TOW TRUCK // 84 4WD CUCV BLAZER// 85 1 TON 4WD STAKE TRUCK// 86 M1031 5/4 TON 4WD CUCV// ALOT OF OLD TRUCKS FOR ONE OLD MAN TO DRIVE. THERES ROOM FOR ALL OF GODS CREATURES RIGHT NEXT TO MY MASHED POTATOES// LIFE MEMBER OF P.E.T.A (PEOPLE EATING TASTY ANIMALS) DON'T RENT U-HAUL ALWAYS TELL THE TRUTH IT WILL AMAZE PART OF THE PEOPLE & ASTONISH THE REST

07-22-2010, 06:24 PM	#524
franky69c10 chevy runs deep Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: PHOENIX AZ Posts: 1,074	Re: Intro from an old Assembly Plant guy wow love your story i bet it was nice watching your truck being built __________________ RAIDER NATION 1969 c10 swb soon 2 b on the road... My LWB is a SWB now http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=498241

08-01-2010, 05:10 PM	#525
Keith Seymore Registered User Join Date: May 2009 Location: Motor City Posts: 9,165	Re: Intro from an old Assembly Plant guy I forgot to mention here that last Wednesday was the GM Tech Center Employee car show... It was supposed to rain late in the day, so I took the truck - Not much attention paid to the lil Red pickup; certainly not as much as the Lotus Seven to my left, or to the original owner '58 (that had been drag raced since '58) on my right. As if on cue, here came the rain! Complete set of show pics can be found here, if any are interested: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=414059 K __________________ Chevrolet Flint Assembly 1979-1986 GM Full Size Truck Engineering 1986 - 2019 Intro from an Old Assembly Guy: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=342926 My Pontiac story: http://forums.maxperformanceinc.com/...d.php?t=560524 Chevelle intro: http://www.superchevy.com/features/s...hevy-chevelle/ Last edited by Keith Seymore; 02-20-2018 at 11:04 PM.

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