Body by Fisher

[bertfam]

BODY BY FISHER video circa 1970.

(And you thought building an automobile was easy!)

Ed

[RichSS2006]

Wow! What a time machine. Don't you wish you could tell those guys to "just leave the build sheet in the glove box please"? Having started working in the Tool & Die industry back in 1975 I was reminded how far we came 42 years later when I retired. Think of all of the advancements in computer technology with CAD, CNC, FEA and 3D Printing. I saw the transformation and it makes me appreciate what these guys at Fisher went though in creating our cars.

Camaro-wise I did design & engineer a plastic injection mold for the 1977 Z28 (no slash) grille emblem. It was late 1975 or early 1976. I can't remember at the moment. I was so excited because the Z/28 was coming back! I had a 74 Z28 at the time. Thinking it was the last of them. I begged my boss for the job to do the design work on the injection mold. Our job number was 1492.  The GM drawing was a full scale Mylar with no dimensions on it, So you had to use a vernier caliper to measure and add a shrinkage factor for the steel mold. That way the plastic would cool to the specified shape and dimensions after ejection from the mold. This was back before computers where widely used. We used drafting boards back then and had just gotten desktop scientific calculators. Finally we were able to park the slide rules and trigonometry books.

Cool video. Thanks for sharing,
Rich
PS...I traded the 74 for a 78 Z28 when they came out (4-speed, no AC of course)

[bcmiller]

Ed, thanks for posting that link. 

[Z282NV]

I enjoyed that video. All the data manipulation is mind boggling. Wonder how many magnetic tapes or punch cards were dropped or lost in the process. 

[Emo1956]

I love watching that video .. Thank you Ed.   In my younger days I was lucky enough to go through the framing ham plant in mass. I could just stand there all day and watch the people work in amazement...... I guess I am lucky enough to have kept my Camaro since 1975. It will go on to my 2 sons.

[KurtS]

I know there are some other GM videos out there, but that one is great.
The condensed version: production stuff starts at 14:00.

Some great footage of the interior production.
Note the oscillating paint heads at 20:50. There was no person spraying the bodies.
The seatbelts came with the bench seats!
Great shots of the chassis. The engine and frame appear really glossy.  CRE is the 300hp 4bbl 350, btw.
Nice shot of the heat riser valve orientation.
Btw, everyone was told to dress up, if that isn't obvious.

[cook_dw]

Lol I took the same photo and added it to my files.

[68camaroz28]

X2, as so did I! Liked the engine shot at .37 seconds as well.

[x66 714]

The way they did thing in 1970 must've changed some. Previously exh manifolds were painted with the rest of the engine. I know this to be true at least on big blocks....Joe

[BillG]

I'm in the process of restoring my heat riser assembly and, if I could, I have two questions about the photo Kurt showed from the video as far as finishes go.  I know this is from 1970 but, I've never seen the stove assembly painted black. Was it black in 69 or natural metal finish?  Also is the demple in the upper stove part the same for 69 and 70; I have both that and a nos piece without that.  Finally,  should the french locks on the exhaust manifolds be left as in the video or bent down over the bolts?  Thanks in advance for any feedback.

[william]

That heat riser position is not correct for a 1st Gen.

[BillG]

Not for a 1st gen but, again this is from 1970.  I was wondering if the stove was painted black in 69 like it is in this 1970 video.  All the restorations I've seen are in natural metal finish except for the black painted tube to aircleaner.

[69Z28-RS]

Bill G  asks:   " Finally,  should the french locks on the exhaust manifolds be left as in the video or bent down over the bolts?"


I see no purpose for the french locks if the tabs are not 'bent' against one of the bolt head flats !  (but not *over* the bolt)