<VV> Re: GM cars - a different view

[Ron]

The friend I talked to was a young metallurgical engineer at the main GM foundry and it was his responsibility to get each melt ready for pouring.  The trouble was (is) that there was never enough time and when Production called for a pour, they would pour, ready or not.  He said that very few pours have a metal content that meets GM specs and that's the simple reason why some identical engines will last twice as long as others.  If the blocks will mold and the broaches don't break, the run is good.  If they won't broach, the entire melt is scrapped.  The scrappage can run as high as 50%.  In other words, you might get a pot metal engine, it's just a matter of chance  This young metallurgist got very discouraged, quit GM and went into nuclear work.

RonH
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Sethracer at aol.com 
  To: ronh at owt.com ; virtualvairs at corvair.org 
  Sent: Wednesday, April 25, 2007 11:13 PM
  Subject: GM cars - a different view


  In a message dated 4/25/2007 10:43:29 PM Pacific Daylight Time, ronh at owt.com writes:
    Yes, GM can build good cars but it's more by chance than by plan.  I got 
    that info from an insider.
    RonH

  If I may, I will stand up for GM cars. I currently own nothing but GM cars/truck. A Corvair, 2 Camaros, an Olds Intrigue, a Chevy Avalanche and a C6 Vette. I have had minor problems with each car. One Camaro is a race car, so GM is not a factor, except for making the cars popular enough for lots of parts availability! The other street Camaro, a 1996, has about 118K miles, a plug wire or two under warrantee (ironic, eh?) one clogged injector at about 80K, a Clutch at mid- 90s. This car was autocrossed in "Stock" classes for most of it's life, has sat outside every night of it's life, and still looks and runs like almost new. The Olds has about 90K miles, no warrantee issues at all, needed a starter at about 85K. Hauls butt, handles okay, and is a wife pleaser (It's her car). The 2002 Avalanche has 38K miles, has towed to Kansas and back, and took us to the 2002 Convention in Flagstaff. Everything works perfectly, both fog lights replaced under warrantee (water leaked in). The most versatile vehicle I own. The Corvette - Great all-around Sports car. Left front turn signal/light assembly replaced twice under warrantee. Still a questionable trans (6-speed) for shifting into first at a stop. Radio was upgraded via firmware load, now handles MP3 files. 20K miles - I'm still generally happy with it. I've had vehicles from almost every division of GM, except GMC and Cadillac, and the 2008 CTS is looking good, but my wife has driven the Saturn Aura already. Are GM cars perfect? Hardly, but in the 60's and at least since the mid-90's I think GM has, at least, been better than Ford or "Chrysler". As to Honda or Toyota. They build cars well. For many people they are the right choice. I am not in the market for an appliance to drive - but many people are. - Seth Emerson  





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