Calling Any Former Employees of Flint or Tonawanda Engine Plant

[Joe L.]

Do we have anyone on the board that formerly worked at the Flint or Tonawanda V-8 engine plants? I'd like to know if either of the plants actually machined and assembled oil pumps in-house.

[John H.]

Re: Calling Any Former Employees of Flint or Tonawanda Engine Plant

Do we have anyone on the board that formerly worked at the Flint or Tonawanda V-8 engine plants? I'd like to know if either of the plants actually machined and assembled oil pumps in-house.

Joe -

The Saginaw Foundry Pattern Engineering Records for 1964-65-66 show the following castings being produced at that time:

3732796 Oil Pump Body 283-327 V8

3704180 & 3790869 Oil Pump Cover 283-327 V8

3836628 Oil Pump Driven Gear 283-327 V8

That would indicate that Flint V-8 machined and assembled their own oil pumps in-house. The Tonawanda Foundry records would probably show the same thing if we had them.

[Joe L.]

Re: Calling Any Former Employees of Flint or Tonawanda Engine Plant

Joe -

The Saginaw Foundry Pattern Engineering Records for 1964-65-66 show the following castings being produced at that time:

3732796 Oil Pump Body 283-327 V8

3704180 & 3790869 Oil Pump Cover 283-327 V8

3836628 Oil Pump Driven Gear 283-327 V8

That would indicate that Flint V-8 machined and assembled their own oil pumps in-house. The Tonawanda Foundry records would probably show the same thing if we had them.

John------


Thanks; that's what I figured. I have always felt that at least the early oil pumps were manufactured in-house by the engine plants. I don't know if that practice continued throughout the V-8 operations at Flint and Tonawanda, though. I also believe that until at least some point, the SERVICE oil pumps were manufactured in-house at the engine plants. At some time, however, it may be that the pumps were "out-sourced".

I have noted that on early big block oil pumps, there is a "T" on the casting. This would indicate that the castings were produced at the Tonawanda foundry. Of course, it's possible that the castings were shipped elsewhere (e.g. Bay City) for machining and assembly but I doubt it. I expect they were done at the engine plant.

[James G.]

Re: Calling Any Former Employees of Flint or Tonawanda Engine Plant

KEN KAYSER, FLINT POWERTRAIN. Started at TONAWANDA in 1968. kwkvette57@aol.com. I have all his contact if you want it. He is a ROCHESTER FUEL INJECTION guy also.

[Joe L.]

Re: Calling Any Former Employees of Flint or Tonawanda Engine Plant

KEN KAYSER, FLINT POWERTRAIN. Started at TONAWANDA in 1968. kwkvette57@aol.com. I have all his contact if you want it. He is a ROCHESTER FUEL INJECTION guy also.

Jim-----


Thanks. I e-mailed Ken a few days ago but I have not heard back from him yet. He might be away.

Ken took me on a personal tour of Tonawanda about 15-20 years ago. I never forgot that tour. At the time, big block production was down to 1 line, operated 1 shift and less than 5 days a week. Now, of course, there is no more big block line, at all.