LT4 Manufacturing

396ssrat · 02-22-2017, 01:56 AM

In the Vette Plant

Spic 'n span nice ass shop

http://speed.academy/lt4-v8-gm-engin...-how-its-made/

HyperBlueX2 · 02-22-2017, 03:24 AM

The LT4 is assembled in Tonowanda, NY and shipped to Bowling Green.

Yees00911 · 02-22-2017, 05:58 AM

My LT4 was hand assembled in Bowling Green for my Z06

*mlee* · 02-22-2017, 05:59 AM

Yees00911 · 02-22-2017, 06:48 AM

The non hand assembled LT4's are built in Tonowanda. My LT4 was hand assembled in Bowling Green I met the gentleman that built it as I watched my Z06 being built. At least that was the way it was in 2015.
I have a TPW 3/6/17 for my ZL1 and don't expect any difference in the engine no matter where it was assembled.

BOWTIEBOB · 02-22-2017, 07:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yees00911

My LT4 was hand assembled in Bowling Green for my Z06

Mine too!

HyperBlueX2 · 02-22-2017, 07:52 AM

Did you both opt for the owner experience?

Yees00911 · 02-22-2017, 08:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HyperBlueX2

Did you both opt for the owner experience?

I took the museum delivery. That included a factory tour while my car was being assembled.
TPW 3/6/17 Black cf battery tender PDR

*Mr. Wyndham* · 02-22-2017, 09:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 396ssrat

In the Vette Plant

Spic 'n span nice ass shop

http://speed.academy/lt4-v8-gm-engin...-how-its-made/

Not the Corvette plant, as others have said, but in Tonawanda, NY.

My backyard!!!

I've had the pleasure of touring that place last year - it's so awesome inside. The video can only show so much...tons of attention to detail, everything has a place at all times...and there's a stunning section for engine tear downs when one is rejected (rare) to determine why.

They've even got a board in there specific to some customer issues that the plant needs to address.

396ssrat · 02-22-2017, 10:40 AM

OK, Tonawanda, I knew that but for some reason the name Corvette was stuck in my head. Still a damn nice engine facility with the ultimate in equipment. I cant wait to see what the LT5 ends up as. GM spent a chunk of money upgrading their engine plant.

ParisTNDude · 02-22-2017, 10:47 AM

It's hard to believe that hand built engines are better quality than those automated. I'm sure some of the robots need adjustment since the components must have a wear factor, but human error must also occur. I wonder what a dyno test comparison of both engines would prove?

Some years back, Grumpy Jenkins or Smokey Yunick built and raced Chevy small blocks and preferred engines built at the Tonawanda plant...they made more HP according to them.

mr965 · 02-22-2017, 05:08 PM

This is great news. My last Tonowanda built engine was the 396 in my 65 Vette.

Artos · 02-22-2017, 06:35 PM

If it's like any other mfg plant I've been in, I would love to see the torture / destruction test of our engines...going out of your way to destroy good product is jaw dropping. I can only imagine.

17CamaroZL1 · 02-23-2017, 07:57 PM

When I first started looking to buy a ZL1, I ran across the video posted above and a few others. I also read several articles on the LT4s, their assembly, and the like. From my understanding, all Corvette LT4s are hand assembled by one individual. They used to build them at Tonawanda and Bowling Green for the Z06, but after the CTS-V and Camaro started receiving the LT4, all Vette engines were designated production in Bowling Green, while the Cadillac and Camaro get their's from Tonawanda. The Tonawanda engines are also hand assembled in many stages of the build, but they go down an assembly line where individuals are stationed to perform a certain part of the assembly on every engine. Robots do a few parts here and there as seen in the above video. I really can't see one outperforming the other. It almost makes sense that the Tonawanda process could be a little better with each person doing the same thing over and over all day, as opposed to one individual having to try to perfect every part of the engine assembly, but there are some good engine builders that do it all for from start to finish for race cars, so it can be done.

I would venture to say that all of the machining of the cylinder bores, crank journals, etc., are performed by machines on the Vette engines as well. Never saw that part mentioned for Bowling Green, but I highly doubt men and women are replacing the robots on those parts, as it would be nearly impossible to recreate the consistently tight tolerances needed for these high performance engines in the volume needed. I do think the plaque with the engine builder's signature on the Vette engines is pretty cool!

Maybe Mr. Wyndham can confirm some of this, at least the Tonawanda part, since he's toured the plant.

02-22-2017, 01:56 AM	#1
396ssrat Drives: 66 Chevelle SS Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: SoCal Posts: 1,347	LT4 Manufacturing In the Vette Plant Spic 'n span nice ass shop http://speed.academy/lt4-v8-gm-engin...-how-its-made/

02-22-2017, 10:47 AM	#11
ParisTNDude Owning SSes for 50 Years Drives: Sharkskin Grey LT1 Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Paris, TN Posts: 3,139 View My Garage	It's hard to believe that hand built engines are better quality than those automated. I'm sure some of the robots need adjustment since the components must have a wear factor, but human error must also occur. I wonder what a dyno test comparison of both engines would prove? Some years back, Grumpy Jenkins or Smokey Yunick built and raced Chevy small blocks and preferred engines built at the Tonawanda plant...they made more HP according to them. __________________ The new ride: 2023 Camaro, LT1, Sharkskin Grey Previous Performance Cars: 1966 Chevelle SS 4M, 2010 Corvette 6M 1968 Dodge Charger R/T Auto 2012 1SS 6M 1982 Corvette Auto 2010 1SS 6A 1984 Corvette Auto 2016 2SS 8A 1999 Camaro Auto 2017 HBM 1SS 1le 2002 C5 Corvette 6M 2018 2SS 2006 Corvette Auto 2023 Camaro LT1

02-23-2017, 07:57 PM	#14
17CamaroZL1 Life's Short, Live Fast! Drives: 2017 Hyper Blue A10 ZL1 Join Date: Nov 2016 Location: London, KY Posts: 2,017	When I first started looking to buy a ZL1, I ran across the video posted above and a few others. I also read several articles on the LT4s, their assembly, and the like. From my understanding, all Corvette LT4s are hand assembled by one individual. They used to build them at Tonawanda and Bowling Green for the Z06, but after the CTS-V and Camaro started receiving the LT4, all Vette engines were designated production in Bowling Green, while the Cadillac and Camaro get their's from Tonawanda. The Tonawanda engines are also hand assembled in many stages of the build, but they go down an assembly line where individuals are stationed to perform a certain part of the assembly on every engine. Robots do a few parts here and there as seen in the above video. I really can't see one outperforming the other. It almost makes sense that the Tonawanda process could be a little better with each person doing the same thing over and over all day, as opposed to one individual having to try to perfect every part of the engine assembly, but there are some good engine builders that do it all for from start to finish for race cars, so it can be done. I would venture to say that all of the machining of the cylinder bores, crank journals, etc., are performed by machines on the Vette engines as well. Never saw that part mentioned for Bowling Green, but I highly doubt men and women are replacing the robots on those parts, as it would be nearly impossible to recreate the consistently tight tolerances needed for these high performance engines in the volume needed. I do think the plaque with the engine builder's signature on the Vette engines is pretty cool! Maybe Mr. Wyndham can confirm some of this, at least the Tonawanda part, since he's toured the plant. __________________ Life's Short, Live Fast! Bone Stock https://youtu.be/rTUv2p4T7OA 10.94 at 128 mph, 11.13 at 127mph 870 DA, https://youtu.be/e_X_LcpFp50 11.19 at 127mph 1100 DA Full exhaust, lower pulley, E35 -10.36 at 133 mph 690 DA straight from the street with a slight spin at launch. TZQPHG '17 ZL1 HBM\|A10\|Nav\|PDR\|CFW Hood\|ZL1 Mats 12/26/2016 Ordered! 2/8/2017 Built!! 3/2/2017 Brought Home!!! Last edited by 17CamaroZL1; 02-23-2017 at 08:09 PM.

02-22-2017, 03:24 AM	#2
HyperBlueX2 Drives: '22 Silverado 2500HD Duramax LTZ Join Date: Dec 2015 Location: Millington, MI Posts: 4,775 View My Garage	The LT4 is assembled in Tonowanda, NY and shipped to Bowling Green.

02-22-2017, 05:58 AM	#3
Yees00911 Drives: Honda CRV Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Dayton Ohio Posts: 63	My LT4 was hand assembled in Bowling Green for my Z06

02-22-2017, 06:48 AM	#5
Yees00911 Drives: Honda CRV Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Dayton Ohio Posts: 63	The non hand assembled LT4's are built in Tonowanda. My LT4 was hand assembled in Bowling Green I met the gentleman that built it as I watched my Z06 being built. At least that was the way it was in 2015. I have a TPW 3/6/17 for my ZL1 and don't expect any difference in the engine no matter where it was assembled.

02-22-2017, 07:52 AM	#7
HyperBlueX2 Drives: '22 Silverado 2500HD Duramax LTZ Join Date: Dec 2015 Location: Millington, MI Posts: 4,775 View My Garage	Did you both opt for the owner experience?

02-22-2017, 10:40 AM	#10
396ssrat Drives: 66 Chevelle SS Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: SoCal Posts: 1,347	OK, Tonawanda, I knew that but for some reason the name Corvette was stuck in my head. Still a damn nice engine facility with the ultimate in equipment. I cant wait to see what the LT5 ends up as. GM spent a chunk of money upgrading their engine plant.

02-22-2017, 05:08 PM	#12
mr965 Drives: ///M3 Join Date: Nov 2016 Location: west coast Posts: 439	This is great news. My last Tonowanda built engine was the 396 in my 65 Vette.

02-22-2017, 06:35 PM	#13
Artos Drives: A10 LT4 Join Date: Aug 2016 Location: Deep South TX Posts: 1,094	If it's like any other mfg plant I've been in, I would love to see the torture / destruction test of our engines...going out of your way to destroy good product is jaw dropping. I can only imagine.

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