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Alright I finaly have time to at least start the story of the homecoming trip.
At first we had to wait and wait for the registration to open (seemed like forever). Once the registration was opened, the flood gates poured with all that wanted to be a part of this wonderful event.
Folks were scrambling for time off, hotel rooms, directions to get there, and a possible place to park at Wooodward which followed the day after our Homecoming.
We soon found out that, all who attend would be treated to a Tour of the GM Heritage Museum in Detroit on Thursday night. As the event got closer we learned the one of Detroits SSR owners (Hotrodgirl) would be putting on a BBQ on Thursday night after the Tour.
Contacts were being made via Pm to MarcNY, Devastator (Chris Bellis), and myself (FUZZY), to compile a list for everyone attendig so that if they had any problems they could contact anyone on the list for assistance.This works out well if everyone has a username, contact number, state, color of your SSR, and a plate number listed. You can contact those that are in your state or on route to Detroit to hook up for lunch and travel plans.
I was rather busy right up till the day of Departure, as I was finishing a 55 chevy to deliver on Wednesday evening (4:30- 4:45), and cleaning the road bugs off my own SSR for the trip. Focks called requesting some famous Wisconsin cheese curds, which I made a trip to the local cheese shop and aquired for him. Kroozn (Ross) had called wondering if he could possibly hook up with us for the route around Chicago, and on to Detroit. I said most certainly you can. As Rick418 cars and I had been talking back and forth for a few weeks now about when we were leaving and what was the best route.
On Wednesday night Kroozn and his Nephew arrived in Janesville about 7:30 pm. Figured since they were in town I take them through the Janesville GM assembly plant (where they build the Tahoes, Suburbans, Yukon's, and Denali's) if they wanted. And of course the response was "sure we would". So I made arrange ments to Tour the plant at about 8:00 pm. After we watched the Saftey video were on our way (sorry no photo's for this part),
We toured the Heritage center in the plant where the first 1923 Chevy Superior was built in Janesville (completely restored by voluntary members of the Janesville plant and myself).
Then it was off to the Paint department where we donned our dust free suits and Hair nets, then through the evacuation booth, before asscending the stairs to the computer controlled paint areas. As we walked down the main hall area where all the computers were, we could veiw through the glass walls what was happening with the vehicles. The Computers controlled numerous robotics from Applying Primer, too dusting the finish, to paint aplication, and finaly the clearcoat. What a wonderous system here at Janesville.
We then walked to the Body shop where they Build many of the Metal components of the vehicles. Some of this is completely computer controlled like the system the call the FIRE. This is the system of robots that weld from every angle imaginable in the Body of the vehicles all with in seconds. While running it has sparks flying in every direction and appears to be on ffire as it operates with such speed.
Off to the body line where they assemble the other metal parts on the vehicles to assure propper fit, and remove defects in the metal sufaces before paint. This area is very bright so that every defect (body wave, dimple, etc) will show up.
Now down to the first painted assembly area, where the interior wiring and flor mats, jacks etc. are installed Saw the Wife in action installing Vin plates and the other dod dads she has on her job. Looked pretty busy. We cut over a few lines and showed them the cushiest job in the plant where the employee has a comfortable chair mounted on a swing arm that sets him inside the vehicle to install rosebuds and other items without touching the floor of the vehicle. the swing arm follows the line for a ways to allow the person to install all the items and never bumps the vehicles.
At this point we walk to the IP line (dash). Kroozn is impressed by the number of electrical components in the dash (the IP's are assembled then installed later).
Went over to the Door assembly line and seat instalation area. Doors area ssembled of the vehicles and then attached to the vehicle after the seats are installed. (makes sense to install the innerds before you install something in the way).
Next was the chassis assembly area. All the frames are up side down to ease in installing all the undercaridge parts without having to look over head to do it. Once that was completed they go to the Brake deck where the engine and trans are installed and then the brake systems. Which are completelyassembled, filled and bled without the body any where in sight yet.
We've seen the body assembled. and the chassis asembled, btu now we finally get to see them married together. This is truely an amazing process. A short time later we arrived at the final ine where the vehicles are tested. Computers are checked, alignments, radios, HVAC, everything. If it doesn't pass, it goes to repair. This is quite the facilty area in itself. Hoists, Paintbooths, what ever they need to changed can be accomplished here in a timely manner.
Tour is almost complete. We have seen just about everything in the plant, but on our way back to the front of the plant we spied some bodies the were not like the other ones being assembled. We stumbled upon a few pilot models of the new vehicles to be produced here in 2006. These were not completely assembled vehicles, just bodies. The completed veicles were in Detroit being tested.
Plant tour is now completed and we retired for the night at 10:45, seeing as how 5:00 am would come rather quickly.
After I returned home, I realized I hadn't even started to pack yet. Went through the closet, grabbed a few shirts, then shorts, and other items. the for the bathroom items, everything but the tooth brushes and tooth paste. Oh almost forgot, where did I leave that darned cooler. Npoe not in the house, not in the garage, not in the shop, not in the lean too, not on the porch, ah here it is out by the tree near the fire pit. Better clean it, and put it in the SSR before I load it. OK, let's see... what am I forgetting? Oh yes, the laptop with the GPS, THE TWO CAMERA'S, AND THE RESEVATIONS AND TRIP INFO. I think I'm ready.
Better check the web site before bed. Chatted a while on line till about 1:30 am. OK that's good, now for a shower and some sleep.
That pretty much took care of preplanning. Next post will be on the road to Detroit.
At first we had to wait and wait for the registration to open (seemed like forever). Once the registration was opened, the flood gates poured with all that wanted to be a part of this wonderful event.
Folks were scrambling for time off, hotel rooms, directions to get there, and a possible place to park at Wooodward which followed the day after our Homecoming.
We soon found out that, all who attend would be treated to a Tour of the GM Heritage Museum in Detroit on Thursday night. As the event got closer we learned the one of Detroits SSR owners (Hotrodgirl) would be putting on a BBQ on Thursday night after the Tour.
Contacts were being made via Pm to MarcNY, Devastator (Chris Bellis), and myself (FUZZY), to compile a list for everyone attendig so that if they had any problems they could contact anyone on the list for assistance.This works out well if everyone has a username, contact number, state, color of your SSR, and a plate number listed. You can contact those that are in your state or on route to Detroit to hook up for lunch and travel plans.
I was rather busy right up till the day of Departure, as I was finishing a 55 chevy to deliver on Wednesday evening (4:30- 4:45), and cleaning the road bugs off my own SSR for the trip. Focks called requesting some famous Wisconsin cheese curds, which I made a trip to the local cheese shop and aquired for him. Kroozn (Ross) had called wondering if he could possibly hook up with us for the route around Chicago, and on to Detroit. I said most certainly you can. As Rick418 cars and I had been talking back and forth for a few weeks now about when we were leaving and what was the best route.
On Wednesday night Kroozn and his Nephew arrived in Janesville about 7:30 pm. Figured since they were in town I take them through the Janesville GM assembly plant (where they build the Tahoes, Suburbans, Yukon's, and Denali's) if they wanted. And of course the response was "sure we would". So I made arrange ments to Tour the plant at about 8:00 pm. After we watched the Saftey video were on our way (sorry no photo's for this part),
We toured the Heritage center in the plant where the first 1923 Chevy Superior was built in Janesville (completely restored by voluntary members of the Janesville plant and myself).
Then it was off to the Paint department where we donned our dust free suits and Hair nets, then through the evacuation booth, before asscending the stairs to the computer controlled paint areas. As we walked down the main hall area where all the computers were, we could veiw through the glass walls what was happening with the vehicles. The Computers controlled numerous robotics from Applying Primer, too dusting the finish, to paint aplication, and finaly the clearcoat. What a wonderous system here at Janesville.
We then walked to the Body shop where they Build many of the Metal components of the vehicles. Some of this is completely computer controlled like the system the call the FIRE. This is the system of robots that weld from every angle imaginable in the Body of the vehicles all with in seconds. While running it has sparks flying in every direction and appears to be on ffire as it operates with such speed.
Off to the body line where they assemble the other metal parts on the vehicles to assure propper fit, and remove defects in the metal sufaces before paint. This area is very bright so that every defect (body wave, dimple, etc) will show up.
Now down to the first painted assembly area, where the interior wiring and flor mats, jacks etc. are installed Saw the Wife in action installing Vin plates and the other dod dads she has on her job. Looked pretty busy. We cut over a few lines and showed them the cushiest job in the plant where the employee has a comfortable chair mounted on a swing arm that sets him inside the vehicle to install rosebuds and other items without touching the floor of the vehicle. the swing arm follows the line for a ways to allow the person to install all the items and never bumps the vehicles.
At this point we walk to the IP line (dash). Kroozn is impressed by the number of electrical components in the dash (the IP's are assembled then installed later).
Went over to the Door assembly line and seat instalation area. Doors area ssembled of the vehicles and then attached to the vehicle after the seats are installed. (makes sense to install the innerds before you install something in the way).
Next was the chassis assembly area. All the frames are up side down to ease in installing all the undercaridge parts without having to look over head to do it. Once that was completed they go to the Brake deck where the engine and trans are installed and then the brake systems. Which are completelyassembled, filled and bled without the body any where in sight yet.
We've seen the body assembled. and the chassis asembled, btu now we finally get to see them married together. This is truely an amazing process. A short time later we arrived at the final ine where the vehicles are tested. Computers are checked, alignments, radios, HVAC, everything. If it doesn't pass, it goes to repair. This is quite the facilty area in itself. Hoists, Paintbooths, what ever they need to changed can be accomplished here in a timely manner.
Tour is almost complete. We have seen just about everything in the plant, but on our way back to the front of the plant we spied some bodies the were not like the other ones being assembled. We stumbled upon a few pilot models of the new vehicles to be produced here in 2006. These were not completely assembled vehicles, just bodies. The completed veicles were in Detroit being tested.
Plant tour is now completed and we retired for the night at 10:45, seeing as how 5:00 am would come rather quickly.
After I returned home, I realized I hadn't even started to pack yet. Went through the closet, grabbed a few shirts, then shorts, and other items. the for the bathroom items, everything but the tooth brushes and tooth paste. Oh almost forgot, where did I leave that darned cooler. Npoe not in the house, not in the garage, not in the shop, not in the lean too, not on the porch, ah here it is out by the tree near the fire pit. Better clean it, and put it in the SSR before I load it. OK, let's see... what am I forgetting? Oh yes, the laptop with the GPS, THE TWO CAMERA'S, AND THE RESEVATIONS AND TRIP INFO. I think I'm ready.
Better check the web site before bed. Chatted a while on line till about 1:30 am. OK that's good, now for a shower and some sleep.
That pretty much took care of preplanning. Next post will be on the road to Detroit.
