Dyno man on the NorthStar
One of the highlights, if not the most satisfying one, of my GM career was in the operation of the very first North Star engine. And it has been about 20 years to the day that this revolutionary engine first came to life. I was working at the then Advanced Development Center on Brown Road (a leased facility at the time). This facility was an advanced engine facility with a core of highly capable, uniquely talented, and dedicated individuals. Various types of "new and unique" engine concepts originated from here. The "Manhattan Project" concept originally started the whole process and eventually it grew into the facility as it was then.
The Engineering and Management people were a joy to work with as the concept within this facility was flexiblilty and innovation. I was a technician as were all the other hourly personnel who had come from other skilled trade specialties. Each person had unique talents which contributed to the total mission of the facility and GM. I had been spending time on the developmental dynonometer in the building and had been running various engines for different purposes as set forth by the engineers' requirements.
The North Star project manager was George Ford, I remember, and the whole NS team was a joy to work with on the planning leading up to the actual running of the first engine. I think that the general less regimented, somewhat relaxed and informal atmosphere contributed to the goals and accomplishments achieved by the facility. This project and those that followed were unique and satisfying to me(challenging too!!). I think that this innovative and total involvement of the engineering and hourly personnel has and continues to make GM the success that is and will be.
I had to set the engine up on a cart which was attached to the dyno mechanism(an eddy current type) and do all the wiring and plumbing. Another person, Alex Hiller, assisted me in this(I had asked that he be allowed to help me). Alex was into drag racing(boats) and had a drag boat with a 421 Super Duty in it-He knew engines quite well. Of course, all this time all the engineers were involved and there was a mixture of anxiety and antsyness-let's get it going and see what it will do. I do remember the day we finallly fired it up and it actually turned out to be a long one. But the reaction was one of high elation, much like a new father when a baby is born. Of course there were initial teething problems(such as "froth and slosh of the oil") but all engines go through changes-again, much like a baby growing up. After some basic operations, which vindicated the engeering group and then moving on to the next phase, that was the last I had to do with the North Star per se. It was built at the center in the quantities for the phases of development it went through by the capable people in Engine Build and, as with other engines, designed, machined and built there was just another illustration of what GM did, does and can do with the emloyees in it's employ. These are the things that make GM the world leader that it is.
The 19 years I spent in the development center I felt were the most rewarding of my career with GM and the skills I learned and contributions I don't think I would have gotten while in my previous trade or at anywhere else.