Inside look at Ford Super Duty builds.

shadows4 wrote:
Found this and thought I would share since alot of you drive a SD. I work at Kansas City Assembly Plant, building the F150 so this is alot of how we also build F150's. Hope you all enjoy.

Look here.

Hee-hee! Thanks for the link! I know a couple of the people they showed in the stamping section... I'm partly responsible for the inspections done on those presses they have there. :)

MM49 wrote:
Sorry to say that the manufacturing process used at the Kentucky plant is one of the oldest in the nation. Most companies have have upgraded their tools and systems decades ago. This plant is going to require billions of dollars in upgrades. I'm sure that they are weighing their options on upgrading or moveing to a low cost location.
MM49

LAP isn't noving, and neither is the Super Duty. Trust me on this one. They are in the process of expanding their stamping capacity by more than 50%, they will be re-tooling and I know more than a few people involved with the program... They'll call it a 'common-cab' but there will be lots of significant differences. It won't be 'common' like the pre-97 f-series trucks were.

Kentucky Truck Plant

MM49 wrote:
Sorry to say that the manufacturing process used at the Kentucky plant is one of the oldest in the nation. Most companies have have upgraded their tools and systems decades ago. This plant is going to require billions of dollars in upgrades. I'm sure that they are weighing their options on upgrading or moveing to a low cost location.
MM49

The video looked pretty standard to me in terms of vehicle assembly...I assume upgrades would include more robotics? Interested to know more about this....these guys are a very big employer here in Louisville, in addition to this plant, there is another Ford plant here in town where they build the Escape.

Absolutely amazing!! I toured the GM truck plant in Arlington, Texas, a few years ago, and it was totally fascinating.

transamz9 wrote:

Hannibal wrote:

Winged One wrote:

Hannibal wrote:
Cool to see inside the plant. Great atmosphere it appears to be. And fine people building our trucks! Now if Ford would offer a union built Focus to compete directly with the union built Prius...:B

Love the vid, thanks!

And love my 2013 union, Wayne built Focus.

I wanted to maximize fuel mileage as I use my car as a work route truck. The Prius fits the bill. I kept hoping Ford would offer the Focus as a hybrid since Ford is licensed to use Toyota's hybrid technology. I like the Prius but it gnaws at me driving a foreign car. My next car will likely be a union built Focus even at the loss of 25~mpg.

Beings you like US built foreign cars , why not buy a Camry built right down the road from your beloved SD's. IMO Toyota is light years ahead of Ford in the build process. I have worked at both plants hear in Ky and have been all though them.;)

Actually, I much preferred the union built Focus. But I wanted to maximize fuel mileage if I was going to give up the F250 and use a car for my work truck. Ford offers the Focus as an all electric but not a hybrid. The C-Max does nothing for me and the seats are no Bueno on my tailbone. FWIW, the Prius is union made (JAW) in Japan.

On edit, since Ford is licensed by Toyota to use their hybrid technology, could it be a licensing agreement that the Focus can't be hybrid as it would be a direct competitor with the Prius?

partsman01 wrote:
"I hope so, you do have to put up with driving a cummins powered truck. ":B

WHAT? :B

Hannibal wrote:

Winged One wrote:

Hannibal wrote:
Cool to see inside the plant. Great atmosphere it appears to be. And fine people building our trucks! Now if Ford would offer a union built Focus to compete directly with the union built Prius...:B

Love the vid, thanks!

And love my 2013 union, Wayne built Focus.

I wanted to maximize fuel mileage as I use my car as a work route truck. The Prius fits the bill. I kept hoping Ford would offer the Focus as a hybrid since Ford is licensed to use Toyota's hybrid technology. I like the Prius but it gnaws at me driving a foreign car. My next car will likely be a union built Focus even at the loss of 25~mpg.

Beings you like US built foreign cars , why not buy a Camry built right down the road from your beloved SD's. IMO Toyota is light years ahead of Ford in the build process. I have worked at both plants hear in Ky and have been all though them.;)

mich800 wrote:

Cummins12V98 wrote:

partsman01 wrote:
"Shadow I hope you won something "good" from your wife!

Fish don't forget the big "V" in my name!

I hope everyone knows Fish and my comments are all in good fun.

I hope so, you do have to put up with driving a cummins powered truck. ":B

I am a glutton! Just picked up my 4th CUMMINS yesterday. New post in Tow Vehicles.

That's too bad. You will eventually get one that lasts. :)

But the new ride does look nice.

Thanks! 98 only had 380K when i sold it to my son.

Cummins12V98 wrote:

partsman01 wrote:
"Shadow I hope you won something "good" from your wife!

Fish don't forget the big "V" in my name!

I hope everyone knows Fish and my comments are all in good fun.

I hope so, you do have to put up with driving a cummins powered truck. ":B

I am a glutton! Just picked up my 4th CUMMINS yesterday. New post in Tow Vehicles.

That's too bad. You will eventually get one that lasts. :)

But the new ride does look nice.

partsman01 wrote:
"Shadow I hope you won something "good" from your wife!

Fish don't forget the big "V" in my name!

I hope everyone knows Fish and my comments are all in good fun.

I hope so, you do have to put up with driving a cummins powered truck. ":B

I am a glutton! Just picked up my 4th CUMMINS yesterday. New post in Tow Vehicles.