These threads got me wondering, how was it done at the factory?
I know they weren't laying on their back muscle-ing that thing in.
Still, I doubt they stabbed that thing home in one stroke.

Just wondering...

Chassis were assembled UPSIDE DOWN (suspoension, axle, exhaust), then flipped over, engine and tranny were installed as a unit, driveshaft installed then body drop.

Engines, trannys, clutches, bell housings, etc, etc, were delivered to the assembly plants in bulk where they were put together as sub assemblies then moved over to the chassis assembly line prior to body drop. Most engines are shipped palletized (it never occured to me to look at the back side of an engine on a pallet to see if it already had a flexplate or manual flywheel installed) to the various assembly plants by rail.
At the Okla City plant, which just closed, the railroad tracks go right through the building where the freight cars are (were) unloaded indoors out of the weather. I do not understand why the OKC plant was closed because it is (was) one of the newest GM assembly plants in the U.S.

.....because someone in China will do it for a lot less.:(

Fred,
I'm quite sure that comment is more true than any of us care to admit!!! :(

On price, the US cars remain competitive. Unfortunately, the quality reputation of GM, Ford and MOPAR does not stack up well against the quality reputation of Toyota, Honda and the like. I'm not sure how much the reputation reflects reality. But, it's a killer for GM, Ford and MOPAR, in any case.