Hey guys. I'm not a regular up here with the new stuff but I thought I tell you of my little trip this past weekend.

I was in Michigan, and sister works at Romeo Assy plant(where they build mod motors) so I got a nickel tour Friday. I got a first hand, hands on guide to how the Ford GT motor gets assembled. If you're familiar, it's theall aluminum blown 5.4 that goes in the new GT. It gets assembled by a pair of guys, totally hands on and quite an accomplishment. That motor is absolutely HUGE when it's sitting there on a stand. Every motor gets a complete build sheet from every part that goes in it just as a paper trail so anything can be traced back if there is a problem. Every motor then gets a custom TAG with the builders signature put on the drivers valve cover. Well, I now have one of those tags stamped with senior builders names. Pretty cool.....just wish I could have what it goes on!!! . You can "buy" a new GT motor for a cool $35K

I then got the full treatment tour of the assembly of a 5.4 motor. Rods/pistons get put in by hand, not like the Powerstroke diesel which is built by robot(I've seen that plant too). 8 hrs a day/5 days a week, some person shoves a piston in a hole ....wow, what a job. Not my cup of tea, but someone has to do it.

The 3 valve heads get a full CNC machining process before getting installed. It's quite a plant. If anyone ever gets the opportunity to see stuff like this..>DO IT!

 

Is it possible I could see a pic. of that plate? That will probably be the closest I ever come to see the underhood of one of those sweet rides.

 

Ya, I'll try to get something posted in my gallery.

I don't suppose there are too many "extra" tags floating around. Not that it's worth much, but it's cool to have it made right there ON the assy line for ME!

 

That sounds like it was a heck of a cool tour. Did you get to take any pictures?

 

Well, cameras are Prohibited in the plant. They even don't like camera phones. I was not "checked" only cause I had a personal tour and came thru the side door. I so badly wanted a picture with the GT motor, but I was not going to push the subject(since my sister warned me ahead of time). Guess just touching them will have to suffice as memory LOL!!

I know when I went with the PSD group for the International motor plant tour(watched the 7.3 get built) in Indy, one certain person(who happed to be a photog'r) was allowed to take pictures, but they all had to be checked before actually released and posted. I think that was more laxed then I would have thought. They were a good bunch over there, so they gave us some leway.