Factory Stories

STINGN · **Posted:** Fri Jan 08, 2010 2:39 pm

Diggerfreek wrote:

STINGN wrote:

thats a cool story!

I wonder when the KK is getting a face lift like the KJ did on 05

It probably won't since the 2012 MO is the last year for the KK........

ouch...well, maybe Fiat will realize that they need to keep the liberty or make a return of the Cherokee!

candpliberty · **Posted:** Fri Jan 08, 2010 3:15 pm

What a great story! ArcherAce, do you have another?

I feel like a kid wanting to hear another story. :-)r

adamkrz · **Posted:** Fri Jan 08, 2010 4:56 pm

Hey Thanks for building such a great vehicle, Had mine for 6 1/2 years and by far the best vehicle I have ever owned.

Silverdiesel · **Posted:** Fri Jan 08, 2010 11:05 pm

ArcherAce,

Anything on the production with the diesel option? I know they built the diesel Euro exports as well as the 16 thousand or so 05 and 06's for domestic use??---
It would be really neat to see someone who built the CRD's on the forum!

Roland

HoosierJeeper · **Joined:** Sun Feb 15, 2009 8:23 am **Posts:** 1218

2012 is the last year for everything.... :-)r

Cool story...thanks for sharing. That would be a cool job! :JEEPIN:

03CDKJ · **Posted:** Sun Jan 10, 2010 5:51 pm

ArcherAce: Do you ever remember leaving a roll of electrical tape in black kj with a born date of 07/02! :lol:

SOMEONE on the line left almost an entire roll of tape in the most akward place....

Tommudd and I found it while taking off my stock bumper... We tried to get it out but could not... I guess it's a momento from the plant.... :roll:

ArcherAce · **Posted:** Mon Feb 08, 2010 12:35 pm

BugginKJ wrote:

NO WAY! They scrapped them?!?!?!?!?!?! Wow I figured they actioned or raffled them off, what a shame. :banghead:

You'd be surprised at what they scrap. Liability reasons, I'm sure. There have been Jeeps that have been wrecked inside the plant. Easily fixable, but they couldn't be sold as new. It's been suggested many times that they sell raffle tickets among the employees and then donate the money to charity. Nope. They scrap 'em instead.

Thanks for the "WELCOME".

long_tall_texan wrote:

Great Story. Just curious Archer, Do you have a KJ???

My wife and daughter share a 02 limited. I drive a 03 TJ

tonycrd wrote:

They build the exports on another line? Mine was build in Toledo as well, but that must have been in 2001 because it came into Spain on 09-19-2001...

Great read btw, thanks for sharing!

I can't explain that one, Tony. Unless I have my dates wrong. I know we weren't running then, except maybe some pilots. I was at the old plant making XJs until February 3rd, 2002. That was my last day at the old plant because I left early as my son was being born.

candpliberty wrote:

What a great story! ArcherAce, do you have another?

I feel like a kid wanting to hear another story. :-)r

Let me think about it. I'm sure I do, but being an employee I have to careful what I say. I'm sure someone from corporate checks in here every now and then.

Silverdiesel wrote:

ArcherAce,

Anything on the production with the diesel option? I know they built the diesel Euro exports as well as the 16 thousand or so 05 and 06's for domestic use??---
It would be really neat to see someone who built the CRD's on the forum!

Roland

Sorry no info on the diesels. Heck, not much info on the KK really. I use to work afternoon shift. I had a great job, but lost it when they cut the shift. I didn't have seniority to work on the KJ line anymore. So, I got bumped over to the JK side of the house. Since the last round of retirements, I have more than enough seniority to get back to the KK bodyshop, but I have a great job when I'm at. When the KK production picks back up and they go to two shifts, I'll think about going back. Right now I have it pretty good where I am.

03CDKJ wrote:

ArcherAce: Do you ever remember leaving a roll of electrical tape in black kj with a born date of 07/02! :lol:

I'm sure stuff gets left in them all the time. My area alone lost a couple clicker wrenches for tightening the strikers. I'm sure we shipped a few body picks too.

What my area lost the most of were these little, white, nylon blocks. They are used for adjusting the doors and swing gate.

tommudd · **Posted:** Mon Feb 08, 2010 1:27 pm

OK now I have to get on your case,

work in the Jeep Plant
own two Jeeps
BUT

Ford SVO banner hanging in the garage???? :shock:

Just giving you some sh** about it.
Fords and Jeeps are all I have ever owned almost.
Now that I know what your TJ looks like I'll be looking for you!
At least you've never been standing in the parking lot waiting for me to come out of a store
like some of the other guys have.
They start by saying "I work at the Jeep plant building Liberty's and I saw yours sitting here. "
:lol:

Tom

ArcherAce · **Posted:** Mon Feb 08, 2010 1:37 pm

tommudd wrote:

OK now I have to get on your case,

work in the Jeep Plant
own two Jeeps
BUT

Ford SVO banner hanging in the garage???? :shock:

I SVO banner is left over from my Mustang days back in the 80's. I've had around a dozen of them, mostly old ones. Including a 67 GT500 Shelby.

Atrus · **Joined:** Fri Aug 03, 2007 10:24 am **Posts:** 48

ArcherAce wrote:

You'd be surprised at what they scrap. Liability reasons, I'm sure. There have been Jeeps that have been wrecked inside the plant. Easily fixable, but they couldn't be sold as new. It's been suggested many times that they sell raffle tickets among the employees and then donate the money to charity. Nope. They scrap 'em instead.

Yup, liability. Big 3 scrap a ton of things that would make you cry. Probably didn't have as VIN.

I do know that GM at least will donate them on occasion. When I was in high school we got a brand new loaded malibu (leather, everything) because when it was being backed off the carrier the driver cranked a pole with the passenger rear corner. Can't be sold as new even though the damage wasn't *too* bad, so they donated it to the school.

jhblackwell · **Posted:** Wed Feb 10, 2010 1:21 pm

ArcherAce wrote:

I SVO banner is left over from my Mustang days back in the 80's. I've had around a dozen of them, mostly old ones. Including a 67 GT500 Shelby.

DUDE!

HAD a '67 GT500 Shelby? What ever possesed you to get rid of it? I'd give my left nut for a 67 GT500 Shelby....excuse me, I've got to go and calm down... :5SHOTS:

tommudd · **Posted:** Wed Feb 10, 2010 2:32 pm

Theres a lot of "I had" great stories out there
back then we never dreamed of what they would be worth today.
I have a long list of "I wish I would of kept it but....". :mrgreen:

jhblackwell · **Posted:** Wed Feb 10, 2010 3:03 pm

tommudd wrote:

I have a long list of "I wish I would of kept it but....". :mrgreen:

Amen, brother-man. I wish I had my '54 MGA, or my '63 MGB. I'm very fortunate to still have my '71 Chevelle SS, 454...needs a lot of work, but it's do-able (ain't nothin' like American muscle :twisted:

...gotta love it :pepper:

)

ArcherAce · **Posted:** Wed Feb 10, 2010 3:07 pm

Back in the 80s old muscle car were just old cars. The prices hadn't gonne through the roof yet. I bought it in 86' for $7500.00 while everyone knew what a Shelby was, it was just another old car.

I won't bring up the fact that it had a sideoiler in it. I wouldn't want you to get to upset.

jhblackwell · **Posted:** Wed Feb 10, 2010 3:35 pm

ArcherAce wrote:

I won't bring up the fact that it had a sideoiler in it. I wouldn't want you to get to upset.

Geez, Louise! A 427! :shock:

I bet that b!tch sounded GOOD! :twisted:

Oh, well! I think about this kind of thing when I purchase my vehicles now. I kinda like the idea that the Liberty body style changed drastically in '08. The '77 Old's Cutlass Supreme I had was the last of a 3 year body style and now worth something (had to trade it for my newly pregnant wifes minivan in '86 :cry:

) . My grandchildren may have a collector when they get my tricked-out, worn out Libby. :wink:

gotta love it

dieselenthusiast · **Posted:** Thu Feb 11, 2010 12:58 am

Excellent thread! I’ve liked the KJ ever since it came out. I don’t regret buying the KJ and plan on keeping it for the long run. Overall, it’s a good Jeep and very trail capable for what I do. :JEEPIN:

Lancer · **Posted:** Thu Feb 11, 2010 4:19 am

dieselenthusiast wrote:

Excellent thread! I’ve liked the KJ ever since it came out. I don’t regret buying the KJ and plan on keeping it for the long run. Overall, it’s a good Jeep and very trail capable for what I do. :JEEPIN:

X2 - Lovely vehicle, and a lovely story

tonycrd · **Posted:** Thu Feb 11, 2010 2:48 pm

ArcherAce wrote:

I can't explain that one, Tony. Unless I have my dates wrong. I know we weren't running then, except maybe some pilots.

My JEEP is a super secret Diesel proto type....

(build 08-01 btw.)

Donkeykong · **Posted:** Fri Feb 12, 2010 1:20 am

Thanks for sharing that Archer

Now go pound some doors in corporate and tell them to start building Diesels with manual transmissions

I nearly puked when the CRD libby in England pulled into the parking spot and I saw that it was manual

It was the same color as mine as well... but with gears... and a clutch... and TORQUE.

Heck, I would even have sprung for a JK if it was available with diesel and a manual tranny... even if I would have had to stretch to afford it

Sorry to hijack... I will have to look out for you when I go past on I-80 in the future

infernicus · **Posted:** Thu Feb 18, 2010 10:56 am

GREAT STORY Archer, I'd be proud to be involved with such a great part of history, at least in my eyes it is. *Tips hat*

BugginKJ wrote:

... "What ever happened to the American Flag Wrangler and Liberty that were parked on the small hill off Expressway Drive entrance?"

Do you know how many of those they had made? Because I am positive I have seen one of the Liberty's in my neighborhood on several, several occasions. Never spoke to them, because we were always driving, and never found out where they live because I don't really live in a small town, Queens NY. I just assumed .. actually I didn't know where it came from, lol. But that's cool, I am going to have to flag them down if I see them again.. Although I haven't seen it in a while, I'm pretty sure it was an '02, so hopefully they still own it and are just babying it, lol.

-Dean

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