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FE Power Forums => Non-FE Discussion Forum => Topic started by: thatdarncat on April 12, 2020, 11:44:54 PM

Title: Cool 1950’s Ford Cleveland Foundry & Engine plant video and article.
Post by: thatdarncat on April 12, 2020, 11:44:54 PM

I was doing some reading and research on the Ford Cleveland Foundry and engine plants tonight, and came across this article written by a woman who’s father was a long time worker at the plant, and worked there herself for a short time. In the article is a cool 25 minute Ford promotional video of the then new Foundry and engine plant. They were making 6 cylinders at the time, and mention and show how they will be adding the new OHC Lincoln Y-Block in the near future. The video is really detailed on the casting process, starting right with mixing the sand, and nice views of the cores being made and assembled. We’ve seen some of the Rouge videos before, but this was the first Cleveland plant one I’ve seen. It’s amazing what it takes to cast and assemble thousands of engines a day. In just a few years after this was filmed the Cleveland Foundry would be casting FE blocks and parts, and I presume assembling them too. Be sure and read though Sally’s story, you’ll catch some pretty cool exotic Ford & FE trivia too. Here’s the link:

https://www.curbsideclassic.com/blog/video/cc-vintage-video-ford-cleveland-foundry-engine-plant-1953-my-fathers-job-of-a-lifetime/

Title: Re: Cool 1950’s Ford Cleveland Foundry & Engine plant video and article.
Post by: gt350hr on April 13, 2020, 12:04:57 PM

   Movies like that show the enormity of the engine plants. Those of us not familiar often think in terms of our local machine shop not in terms of thousands of identical engines being built at one time. There is a later movie showing 260s and FEs being built.
  Randy

Title: Re: Cool 1950’s Ford Cleveland Foundry & Engine plant video and article.
Post by: WConley on April 13, 2020, 07:16:09 PM

That 6-cylinder line was still running when I did a stint there as a foreman.  It was 1989 and I was a new Ford engineering trainee.

I recognize those final assembly stations and I can still smell the place.  Let me tell you, the air in that foundry was NOT clean.  We had to cover our cars in the parking lot because the sulphuric acid in the dust would eat pits in the windshields  :o :o

Still a very cool experience! 

Title: Re: Cool 1950’s Ford Cleveland Foundry & Engine plant video and article.
Post by: 57 lima bean on April 13, 2020, 11:16:40 PM

 "He's learning fast and has an eye on the future" I'd be so cutting edge 50 years ago.