Last Resort Posted July 6, 2007 Share Posted July 6, 2007 National geographic is running a series titled Ultimate Factories. So far I have watched an episode on John Deere, Harley Davidson (V-Rod) and Ferrari. Interesting thing about Ferrari. They have their own foundry on site. They use sand castings. See video of them making their V12; Click here to see the factory overall. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
POWER STROKE Posted July 6, 2007 Share Posted July 6, 2007 And we all know how sand casting sucks. What are those dumb Italians thinking! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pop Posted July 6, 2007 Share Posted July 6, 2007 I dunno if I saw the same Ferrari show, but I recall that Ferrari makes multiples of the one off parts for each vehicle and stockpiles the spares in their ridiculously old fashioned warehouse in case that particular machine ever needs them. That is soul. The HD factory is soulless. The JD episode was good but much like I could care less about how V Rods go together, I would rather watch big honking tractors being built instead of friggin combines. The show that has got me tivoing cuttently is Tank Overhaul. The current season is restoration of Panzers, one hauled outta a Czech scrapyard and the other pulled out the bottom of some Russian river. Now that there is what ya call a specialized hobby. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paolabob Posted July 6, 2007 Share Posted July 6, 2007 There is also a show that shows the overhaul of the M1 Abrams. It is divided between two factories(Ohio and Alabama) one handels the turit and the other the motor/frame. They also retrofit the older ones with the newer technologies and resite all the weapons. Cool show and our guys/gals deserve the best. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Last Resort Posted July 6, 2007 Author Share Posted July 6, 2007 No stockpiles, and ALL the parts in the cars are made in house. Just crazy. Each part is measured and x-rayed to be sure it is perfect or it gets melted down to be used in other castings. It was just interesting to see how they use a combination of old and cutting edge technologies to build those cars. They use what ever they feel is the best for the specific process. Neat to see how sand casting, when done right, and with the right checks in place, can produce a very consistant and high quality product. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pop Posted July 6, 2007 Share Posted July 6, 2007 Yaah, I didn't think it wuz the same show. The one I saw I think was some guy bought a 80's vintage race Ferrari from somebody, converted to street, and went to the factory and they fit him for a new seat and steering wheel and went through a set of parts for his car they had squirreled away in these racks. I think they had a fiberglass seat body or resin or somethin that they dug out to use as a foundation for the new seat. There wuz sheetmetal and engine and suspension parts all left over from the original build. They said that they knew where every car ever built was alive or dead. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Last Resort Posted July 6, 2007 Author Share Posted July 6, 2007 LOL, sorry Pop. I did forget to mention that they followed the 599 (car in the picture posted earlier) being built from foundry to the final run around the test track before being shipped to the owner. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.