St. Louis Assembly Plant Basement Photos, Diagrams, Floor Plans ?

[Mark F.]

Does anybody have St. Louis Assembly Plant basement photos, diagrams, floor plans, etc. they could share ?

[David H.]

Does anybody have St. Louis Assembly Plant basement photos, diagrams, floor plans, etc. they could share ?

Mark

At Nebraska Chapter's "Last Blast" 2024, Friday and Saturday's judging schools by John Amgwert, David Burroughs, and Ralph Montileone were one of those Once-in-a-Lifetime events. Friday was "Last St Louis Corvette" and Saturday was detailed plant layout.

Below is a small section of what was about a 4 by 5 foot plant layout drawing. Nothing like what we've seen in "Birthplace of Legends" or John Hinckley's fine presentations - this had DETAIL.

Ralph Montileone gave that Saturday presentation.

I suggest you contact Brad Hillhouse, Region VI Director and Nebraska Judging Chairman. Brad set those presentations up and would be a good source to contact Ralph Montileone.

Dave

image.jpgs

[Mark F.]

Thanks, Dave,

Yes, I heard about that presentation and I have been in contact with Ralph.

Good point...I'll send him an email as I don't know how often he frequents TDB

is that presentation available in some electronic format ?

thanks...

[David H.]

Thanks, Dave,

Yes, I heard about that presentation and I have been in contact with Ralph.

Good point...I'll send him an email as I don't know how often he frequents TDB

is that presentation available in some electronic format ? ...

Mark

I know John Amgwert's and David Burroughs' Friday presentation was recorded - don't know of availability.

I don't know if Ralph Montileone's Saturday presentation was recorded.

Brad Hillhouse would have that information.

Dave

[John A.]

Does anybody have St. Louis Assembly Plant basement photos, diagrams, floor plans, etc. they could share ?

I have a photo of the bigger drawing Ralph brought. Dad has several smaller prints that were made years ago with less detail. The photos do not do either justice. The plan was to try to get the one Ralph had digitized with a large CAD blueprint scanner but I’m not sure it ever happened. Ralph had hand drawn some more of the details on the one he had. I have a video I made of the bigger plant diagram where I moved across the drawing trying to capture more detail. I’ll see if I can post it somehow.

[Alan D.]

Mark was asking about basement photos, been trying to find those for years now.
It appears that the differential was assembled down there, that has been a point of contention
however it seems it is now accepted. Anyone have anything about that area?

[Mark F.]

I have a photo of the bigger drawing Ralph brought. Dad has several smaller prints that were made years ago with less detail. The photos do not do either justice. The plan was to try to get the one Ralph had digitized with a large CAD blueprint scanner but I’m not sure it ever happened. Ralph had hand drawn some more of the details on the one he had. I have a video I made of the bigger plant diagram where I moved across the drawing trying to capture more detail. I’ll see if I can post it somehow.

Hi John,

Thank you for your response to my post and your efforts in this regard.

Ralph and I have had numerous emails back and forth outside of TDB about what I have accumulated and what he has.

As you may know, he worked there starting in 1968 thru when he helped the transition Team to Bowling Green and that's huge in my mind because assembly plant operations don't really change all that much from model year to model year in the St. Louis years.

I have been trying to extend and update existing documented C2 assembly production operation descriptions for an article I'd like to present for the Restorer magazine...

As you may or may not know, my interest in all of this stems from my life-long interest in Corvettes plus my work experience at Ford - sorry, not the "GM" General - where i spent many hours in assembly plants plus all of their other vertically-integrated operations.

Anything you and/or your Dad could contribute to that effort would be greatly appreciated by me !

[Terry M.]

I was told by George Barlos (Quality Assurance Manager at St Louis, but I am not sure of his term of office, but I believe it covered late C2 and well into C3) that the convertible tops were assembled in the basement. He particularly referenced the 1968 model year were the start of production was almost entirely convertibles due to removable hardtop issues.

He expounded on the issues of managing the basement work force in the later 1960s. I won't publicly detail those issues.

Ralph can tell you more about George, he knew him well.

[Mark F.]

I was told by George Barlos (Quality Assurance Manager at St Louis, but I am not sure of his term of office, but I believe it covered late C2 and well into C3) that the convertible tops were assembled in the basement. He particularly referenced the 1968 model year were the start of production was almost entirely convertibles due to removable hardtop issues. He expounded on the issues of managing the basement work force in the later 1960s. I won't publicly detail those issues.
Ralph can tell you more about George, he knew him well.

Thanks, Terry.

I'll contact Ralph about this, too...

[Tom D.]

Thanks, Terry.

I'll contact Ralph about this, too...

Mark: Talk with Larry Galloway of the MI chapter.

[Mark F.]

Mark: Talk with Larry Galloway of the MI chapter.

Hi Tom,

YES...another good reminder !
I have both of Larry's books and have spoken with him on the phone a few times...he's an Excellent resource !