Harry Jones, Corvette-St.Louis Paint Shop Information

[John G.]

I would like to visit with Harry Jones. He composed a great article chronicling the C-1 paint shop production line in St Louis for the C-1 era. I found it, I think in the Corvette Restorer 56-57 Edition Version 43.4, CD. He composed the article June 2, 2010. I am interested in information about how assemblies were pulled out for defects, how they were mated with the chasis-engine assemblies, if a chasis-engine assembly was not ready when the body was how the body was sidelined until the chasis-engine was available, etc. Mr Jones wrote a great article and it really helps a restorer to know the order and process of body paint and assembly. Thanks for your input. Harry thanks for your article. 319-361-9720. John

[Mark F.]

Re: Harry Jones, Corvette-St.Louis Paint Shop Information

I would like to visit with Harry Jones. He composed a great article chronicling the C-1 paint shop production line in St Louis for the C-1 era. I found it, I think in the Corvette Restorer 56-57 Edition Version 43.4, CD. He composed the article June 2, 2010. I am interested in information about how assemblies were pulled out for defects, how they were mated with the chasis-engine assemblies, if a chasis-engine assembly was not ready when the body was how the body was sidelined until the chasis-engine was available, etc. Mr Jones wrote a great article and it really helps a restorer to know the order and process of body paint and assembly. Thanks for your input. Harry thanks for your article. 319-361-9720. John

John,

These will probably also be of interest to you.
John Hinckley was the primary author - but he credits others, including Harry Jones who were there, as well...
They (along with a great deal of other valuable resources) are located in Rich Mozzetta's "DORD" Sticky Post (Database of Restoration Documents). https://www.forums.ncrs.org/showthre...tion-Documents

You may also want to consider buying Larry Galloway's two books on C2s.
Larry worked at the St Louis and Ionia (DowSmith) plants from Aug '62 thru fall of '67 (if I have my dates correct).
He's a very engaging and interesting fellow - he told me he can talk for hours about Corvettes...and based on one call I had with him, I believe it

C2 Assembly Process	C2	C2 Assembly Process Part 1 - John Hinkley.pdf
C2 Assembly Process	C2	C2 Assembly Process Part 2
C2 Assembly Process	C2	C2 Assembly Process Part 3

PS - I don't know how much different the C1 paint process was from the C2 process, but I'm guessing paint formulations and compositions were the biggest differences. Paint prep; application; drying; buffing; etc. were probably very similar to C2 - again, but differing in timing; baking-drying booth temperature / time ramps; etc.