In this thread I'm going to do something I've been thinking of doing for quite a while now. I haven't found a suitable way to post this info on a blog or online calendar of some sort's.. so I'm going to start it on here and see how it goes.
I could even wait on this thread until August of this year, and do a "35 years ago today", day-by-day entry..
Each Post by me will be of a production cycle day from the *Model Year* 1978 at Lordstown Ohio. 1978 is the year that the Monza, Sunbird, Skyhawk and Starfire models of the H body line, the "Hspecials" were moved to the Lordstown Ohio plant. The plant had been making the H body Vega and Astre for quite a few years, so the new assembly was not a major change over for the plant, however, new assemblies and assembly procedures would have to be learned by some.
The last Vega ever (well the last body
badge'd as a Vega since we all know a '78 monza 'S' and '78 wagon were really re-badged Vega's).
vega1.jpg
This last Vega pictured here (Highest Vin # ever found..above known production totals) Rolled down the assembly line in early June, 1977 along with 1977 Monza Town Coupes and Sunbird Coupes that had been added in **February to get the line workers familiar with the slight changes in assembly procedures..
**Earlier in the year, the plant was shut down for 5 weeks to adjust the assembly line for the new (to this plant) line up of 2nd generation H bodies, for all 4 divisions. The plant Started making 77 monza town coupes, and Sunbird coupes at this time. Along with the final Vega's.
The V8 Engine installation was new this year for this plant. It had already been accomplished in the St.Therese Quebec, Canada Plant for 3 years.
The Engine line had to be adjusted to install engines from the top. The new V6 and V8's couldn't be installed from below like the Vega 140 4cyl.
The paint department got an upgrade to be able to paint and prep the new urethane parts on the Monza and Sunbird.
This was done during the first 5 week shutdown from Jan, 1st 1977 to Monday morning Feb 14th of 1977.
The line ran one shift at 85 per hour, only 14 an hour were Monza's and or Sunbird's.
The line for 1977's was totally stopped on July 22nd, 1977.
This later shut down allowed for the final changes to be made to accommodate the Coupe
and Hatchback versions in 4 different makes. Chevy, Pontiac Buick and Olds. (See this thread for similar info
viewtopic.php?f=1&t=40689 and this one for pics..
viewtopic.php?f=1&t=40690It would be restarted again, running the full 1978 line-up on August 22nd, 1978 as shown in the post below.
At first, The plant ran one eight hour shift.
A second eight hour shift was added on October 4th.
With the line running at 70 cars per hour that equaled 1,120 cars per 16 hour production day.
The H body Model year, like most other cars.. started in August of the previous year. So to begin at the 1978 Model Year means to start at the date of Monday, Aug 22nd 1977... The plant ran right on to August 18th of 1978. 242 days of assemblies. 267,531 assembled vehicles. That actual total equals the above totals. That's @ 1096 cars per day.. 69 Car's an hour.. Over one per minute. Leaving the plant under it's own power and into the shipping yard.
As sales remained strong some overtime saturdays were involved. Trim tag data has revealed some of these.
It had been the first time the plant had assembled in overtime hours since 1973!
So 242 post's in all. Detailing and documenting any cars with information submitted. The thread will be a locked thread to keep the info concise. If you have a car to add, PM me the details and we'll go from there.. Thanks for reading hope you enjoy..
There's a companion discussion thread available here..
viewtopic.php?f=16&t=39170Day's with real data will have
Trim tag! and
Build sheet! in bold letters.
Hope you enjoy this!
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