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These are the other players: the 4.3-liter V6, the 5.3-liter V8 and the 6.2-liter V8 EcoTec3 line-up.

The synthetic-ruby-tipped instruments in one of the 12 Zeiss Accura Coordinate Measuring Machines (CMM) check to see, to within 2.5 microns, if a finished block is within tolerances. The enclosure is temperature-controlled and the CMM can be programmed to check any aspect of a block and 11,000 data points.

This is one of six Hommel Etamic Wavemove CMMs at Tonawanda. It checks the surface finish at 80 different points on machined heads and blocks for deviations like textural roughness and material waviness. It is accurate down to less than a micron.

A cage of robots and stands that perform four quality control checks, with the arm in the center grabbing blocks off the line, passing them from one station to the next and then to a conveyor that sends them to assembly if they pass. The arm on the left laser checks the threads (I told you we'd come back to them). The station to the right of the center arm is used to plug holes that were drilled to access interior parts of the block while it was being finished. Out of frame on the right is the leak-check station. And a machine in the lower left corner checks for any leftover shavings. Check out the Short Cut in the article to watch the process.

There are three Smart Cell machines that install 48 parts on each cylinder head in 40 seconds: valves, seals, springs and associated components. The red and orange trays contain the parts needed for a particular kind of head, and each Smart Cell is fed the trays and heads by an automated pallet-positioning system and two mobile robotic arms. Check out the Short Cut in the article to see it in action.

Our first thought on stepping onto the plant floor: "Modern Marvels, here we come."

Flexible machines and processes mean that all four engines can be built on one line.

If you have a problem with a Gen V engine ... engineers can go back and trace every part and operation in that specific engine's build.

Tonawanda can put out 4,000 engines a day.

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