[smacintush]

If everyone could be so kind as to help me and several hundred others out, we'd appreciate that all of you buy as many of the following vehicles as possible:

• Ford F150 4.6L 2 or 3 valve
• Chevy Silverado 4.8L
• Nissan Titan 5.6L
• Any GM 6.2L LS3 based car up to and including the Corvette ZR1
• Dodge Ram, Durango etc. 4.7L

And for the future:
• 2010+ Nissan Altima 3.5L
• Go ahead and pickup some Altima 2.5L as well
• Next iteration of the Nissan 5.6L V8
• Chevy Volt

Plus, aftermarket pistons for Chevy small block Federal Mogul part #'s 345NP, 423NP, 640P, 645P

Also, if you could all start writing letters and boycotting Toyota until they allow a third party to manufacture their pistons in the US so we can have their future business too. As a matter of fact, all of you go ahead and write letters and boycott all of the car companies until they do the same.

Thanks.

[Face Ache]

If that's what it takes to save your job then it's time to find new job.

[Sealobo]

I thought you guys are making a loss for every car you sell?

Are you in the Union?

[OldManMac]

AFAIK, Toyota already has a third party piston manufacturer in the U. S., which is Mahle Technologies. They make pistons and con rods for many different automakers and are getting ready to do some head chopping as well.

[ghporter]

Yep, Toyota has "on site" suppliers at their plant here in San Antonio, and as far as I know they do make engine parts for them. But this is obviously not an "open" arrangement; the suppliers are on site and beholden to Toyota for operating space. Oh, and both of the on site suppliers here have been laying off workers lately...

[turtle777]

So, you mostly make truck pistons ?

Sorry, that future looks bleak.

-t

[smacintush]

Originally Posted by OldManMac 

AFAIK, Toyota already has a third party piston manufacturer in the U. S., which is Mahle Technologies. They make pistons and con rods for many different automakers and are getting ready to do some head chopping as well.

I thought that Toyota did those in house? Shows what I know.

Yeah, it would be nice to take the work from Mahle, they are our only real competitor. Especially since their screw up just cost our plant a cool million.

[smacintush]

Originally Posted by ghporter 

Yep, Toyota has "on site" suppliers at their plant here in San Antonio, and as far as I know they do make engine parts for them. But this is obviously not an "open" arrangement; the suppliers are on site and beholden to Toyota for operating space. Oh, and both of the on site suppliers here have been laying off workers lately...

That could be the source of my confusion.

Toyota has been in many times and they praise our operation but they just can't bring themselves to use us.

[smacintush]

Originally Posted by Sealobo 

I thought you guys are making a loss for every car you sell?

I just make the pistons.

Are you in the Union?

Thankfully NO.

[smacintush]

Originally Posted by turtle777 

So, you mostly make truck pistons ?

Sorry, that future looks bleak.

-t

7 years ago we we're balls-to-the-wall making 54,000 pistons a day! Now it's more like 25,000…when we work. We had a 3 week shut down in December, I was laid off for 2 weeks in January, and now I am laid off for a week again.

We are just having a little trouble making the transition to pistons that go into something that people actually want. I mean, the F150, the Silverado and the LS3 engines are what is keeping us afloat right now.

Really, we aren't going anywhere. It's just a matter of if I personally can survive the next year or so. We've got a lot of prototype work that is looking good plus IF the the economy turns around we got several Light Vehicle Diesel jobs waiting to go and that will be a big deal for us.

[smacintush]

Oh and, while you guys are out buying up all these vehicles, pick up a few kawasaki commercial mowers. I don't know exactly which ones but if you just buy all the 4 cylinder ones you should be safe.

[scaught]

Originally Posted by smacintush 

If everyone could be so kind as to help me and several hundred others out, we'd appreciate that all of you buy as many of the following vehicles as possible:

• Ford F150 4.6L 2 or 3 valve
• Chevy Silverado 4.8L
• Nissan Titan 5.6L
• Any GM 6.2L LS3 based car up to and including the Corvette ZR1
• Dodge Ram, Durango etc. 4.7L

And for the future:
• 2010+ Nissan Altima 3.5L
• Go ahead and pickup some Altima 2.5L as well
• Next iteration of the Nissan 5.6L V8
• Chevy Volt

Plus, aftermarket pistons for Chevy small block Federal Mogul part #'s 345NP, 423NP, 640P, 645P

Also, if you could all start writing letters and boycotting Toyota until they allow a third party to manufacture their pistons in the US so we can have their future business too. As a matter of fact, all of you go ahead and write letters and boycott all of the car companies until they do the same.

Thanks.

I could use some of that action. Particularly the GM makes in my case. That Volt isn't overpriced at all! It basically runs on air!

[sek929]

Pay me to build a house for you and I'll buy an F-150

[iLikebeer]

Originally Posted by smacintush 

7 years ago we we're balls-to-the-wall making 54,000 pistons a day! Now it's more like 25,000…when we work. We had a 3 week shut down in December, I was laid off for 2 weeks in January, and now I am laid off for a week again.

We are just having a little trouble making the transition to pistons that go into something that people actually want. I mean, the F150, the Silverado and the LS3 engines are what is keeping us afloat right now.

Really, we aren't going anywhere. It's just a matter of if I personally can survive the next year or so. We've got a lot of prototype work that is looking good plus IF the the economy turns around we got several Light Vehicle Diesel jobs waiting to go and that will be a big deal for us.

Careful what you say about future contracts or day to day operations at your job. Anything you know from work that has not been publicly released is considered insider information. Some of the information you just posted might help your company's competitors too if they can figure out what your production was and now is, or any little details like that. It could also get you fired if anyone at your job finds out you accidentally leaked info like that.

[OldManMac]

Originally Posted by smacintush 

I thought that Toyota did those in house? Shows what I know.

Yeah, it would be nice to take the work from Mahle, they are our only real competitor. Especially since their screw up just cost our plant a cool million.

You didn't know that Mahle makes Toyota pistons, yet you claim their screw up just cost your plant a cool million?

[smacintush]

Originally Posted by iLikebeer 

Careful what you say about future contracts or day to day operations at your job. Anything you know from work that has not been publicly released is considered insider information. Some of the information you just posted might help your company's competitors too if they can figure out what your production was and now is, or any little details like that. It could also get you fired if anyone at your job finds out you accidentally leaked info like that.

Well, I hadn't thought about that. In my defense I have never been told that I can't talk about such things and we don't have NDA's or anything like that to sign.

I do know that we can't talk about specifics about our process itself, which is proprietary and I wouldn't talk about.

[smacintush]

Originally Posted by OldManMac 

You didn't know that Mahle makes Toyota pistons, yet you claim their screw up just cost your plant a cool million?

We are contractually bound to use their products with some of ours. Their screw up is only partly to blame though.

I generally don't pay much attention to such details. We don't do work for Toyota at our plant and competitors aren't usually on my radar. I'm not exactly in the position to need to know such things.

[Powerbook]

Originally Posted by OldManMac 

AFAIK, Toyota already has a third party piston manufacturer in the U. S., which is Mahle Technologies. They make pistons and con rods for many different automakers and are getting ready to do some head chopping as well.

Mahle is a German company. But of course they are employing American workforce in their American plant, which I think was the emphasis on.

PB.

[OldManMac]

Originally Posted by Powerbook 

Mahle is a German company. But of course they are employing American workforce in their American plant, which I think was the emphasis on.

PB.

I am quite well aware of that. I have a family member who is a Product Development engineer at Mahle.

[TETENAL]

Toyota also employs American workforce in their American plants. So why the hatred?

[OldManMac]

Originally Posted by TETENAL 

Toyota also employs American workforce in their American plants. So why the hatred?

I don't know whom you're directing that at, but I have no hatred. The difference is that Toyota's profits go to Japan. Now that the quality gap has been pretty much closed, when the time comes I may look at an "American" brand again.

[TETENAL]

Originally Posted by OldManMac 

I don't know whom you're directing that at, but I have no hatred.

This was more or less directed at the original poster who wanted us to boycott Toyota and write letters to them.

The difference is that Toyota's profits go to Japan.

And Mahle's profits go to Germany. I thought this was about saving jobs, not about profits. Writing letters to Toyota will not change where their profits go to. From an American job point of view it doesn't make any difference whether the piston is made by the original posters' company, Mahle or in-house at Toyota.

[turtle777]

Originally Posted by TETENAL 

And Mahle's profits go to Germany. I thought this was about saving jobs, not about profits.

Well, technically, profits don't go anywhere, only cash does.
An even if they tried to "shift" some of the profits to Germany, I doubt they'd save a lot on taxes.

The profits in the US legal entity are taxed in the US, and benefit the US economy.

-t

[Wiskedjak]

While we're saving jobs, please don't stop buying software.

[ghporter]

Point one: my Ohio-built Civic is 70% US content.

Point two: a new Mustang, built in my home town of Flat Rock, Michigan (20 minutes away from Detroit) is only 65% US content.

Which one enriches US interests more? The key to this is knowing that the plant in Flat Rock is owned by "Auto Alliance," a joint venture between Ford and Mazda...

My answer is "if it's built in the States, then US workers benefit, the US economy benefits, and overall America benefits." Whether the executives get paid in dollars or yen is immaterial when it comes to grocery stores, kids' shoes and paying the rent.

[Spheric Harlot]

Originally Posted by smacintush 

Well, I hadn't thought about that. In my defense I have never been told that I can't talk about such things and we don't have NDA's or anything like that to sign.

I'd re-read that job contract a little more closely if I were you.

I've never seen one that didn't have fairly specific paragraphs pertaining to divulging of company internals.

[smacintush]

Originally Posted by Spheric Harlot 

I'd re-read that job contract a little more closely if I were you.

I've never seen one that didn't have fairly specific paragraphs pertaining to divulging of company internals.

Job contract? What's that?

[smacintush]

Originally Posted by TETENAL 

Toyota also employs American workforce in their American plants. So why the hatred?

Originally Posted by TETENAL 

And Mahle's profits go to Germany. I thought this was about saving jobs, not about profits. Writing letters to Toyota will not change where their profits go to. From an American job point of view it doesn't make any difference whether the piston is made by the original posters' company, Mahle or in-house at Toyota.

I don't hate Toyota. I just want them to give us tons and tons of business. It's not about American jobs, it's about the jobs of Americans that work at MY PLANT.

[turtle777]

Originally Posted by smacintush 

Job contract? What's that?

LOL, Spheric, you already forgot about at-will employment ?

-t

Originally Posted by OldManMac 

I don't know whom you're directing that at, but I have no hatred. The difference is that Toyota's profits go to Japan. Now that the quality gap has been pretty much closed, when the time comes I may look at an "American" brand again.

The profits in any company go to the owners (and shareholders) of said companies who mostly have enough money already who will keep reinvesting those profits until they die. We shouldn't be so concerned with profits as we are with jobs created by the companies.

If Americans start being concerned with buyng from foreign-owned companies because of profits, foreign companies will start being concerned about buying from American companies - it goes both ways. If Americans only buy American then the rest of world will do the opposite.

[Spheric Harlot]

Originally Posted by smacintush 

Job contract? What's that?

Ah, sorry.

I keep forgetting that work is governed by no legal constructs in your country.

[Spheric Harlot]

Originally Posted by hayesk 

If Americans start being concerned with buyng from foreign-owned companies because of profits, foreign companies will start being concerned about buying from American companies - it goes both ways. If Americans only buy American then the rest of world will do the opposite.

The weird thing is that both attitudes are becoming increasingly meaningless.

Even the rabid Airbus-haters seem to acknowledge that buying an Airbus jet (socialist non-American-made) ensures American jobs due to the fact that 60%+ of the components are made in the U.S.

With global markets, who's to say where corporate income gets reinvested into job creation?

Apart from the irony of this thread taking place on an international discussion forum.

[OreoCookie]

Originally Posted by OldManMac 

I don't know whom you're directing that at, but I have no hatred. The difference is that Toyota's profits go to Japan. Now that the quality gap has been pretty much closed, when the time comes I may look at an "American" brand again.

When you want to maximize wealth, you have to look at how much money stays in the US and how much is sent abroad. This is mostly determined by how many (local) employees keep their jobs and sustain their livelihood in, say, America. ghporter's comment is right up there: if `true' US auto companies make cars that (by parts) are `less American', the question is whether these are actually more beneficial for American people. I think not.

[PB2K]

very unwise to talk about your company's woes on the internet, if they find out you will get fired for this.

[Railroader]

Originally Posted by PB2K 

very unwise to talk about your company's woes on the internet, if they find out you will get fired for this.

Did you read the thread?

[voodoo]

Originally Posted by smacintush 

Thankfully NO.

So you're not in the Union.. guess you're a Confederate then eh?

I would never buy anything off a non unionized shop - and it is quite unsettling that you as a worker don't like unions - unless you're the manager! hmmm

[Andy8]

Originally Posted by smacintush 

If everyone could be so kind as to help me and several hundred others out, we'd appreciate that all of you buy as many of the following vehicles as possible:

• Ford F150 4.6L 2 or 3 valve
• Chevy Silverado 4.8L
• Nissan Titan 5.6L
• Any GM 6.2L LS3 based car up to and including the Corvette ZR1
• Dodge Ram, Durango etc. 4.7L

And for the future:
• 2010+ Nissan Altima 3.5L
• Go ahead and pickup some Altima 2.5L as well
• Next iteration of the Nissan 5.6L V8
• Chevy Volt

How many of these vehicles are built for export markets around the world?

[Trygve]

Originally Posted by smacintush 

If everyone could be so kind as to help me and several hundred others out, we'd appreciate that all of you buy as many of the following vehicles as possible:

• Ford F150 4.6L 2 or 3 valve
• Chevy Silverado 4.8L
• Nissan Titan 5.6L
• Any GM 6.2L LS3 based car up to and including the Corvette ZR1
• Dodge Ram, Durango etc. 4.7L

When American auto manufacturers start making quality vehicles, maybe I'll buy one, but for now you could not pay me to take one of these off your hands.

[Laminar]

Originally Posted by Trygve 

When American auto manufacturers start making quality vehicles, maybe I'll buy one, but for now you could not pay me to take one of these off your hands.

What's your quality measurement of choice?

[Dakar V]

The vehicles seem to have big engines in common. Not good with the current state of the industry.

[OreoCookie]

… and not good for exporting them to other countries. Plus, some of the engines don't really seem up to date (2-valve engines??).

[Dakar V]

Originally Posted by OreoCookie 

(2-valve engines??).

That's a staple of american engineering for as long as I remember, though I admit I haven't looked at engines the past few years like I did back in the 90s.

[Laminar]

Originally Posted by OreoCookie 

… and not good for exporting them to other countries. Plus, some of the engines don't really seem up to date (2-valve engines??).

Yeah, and the poor Corvette ZR1's LS9 only manages to put out a paltry 638hp with its (bleck!) 2-valve heads and (barf!) pushrods. Having 320lb-ft of torque at 1000rpm is just terrible.

[Laminar]

Originally Posted by Dakar V 

That's a staple of american engineering for as long as I remember, though I admit I haven't looked at engines the past few years like I did back in the 90s.

You were looking at engines made in 2005-2008 back in the '90s?

[Dakar V]

Yeah, everyone who interpreted my sentence that way raise your hand.

[Spheric Harlot]

I *think* he was trying to be funnay.

Not sure, though.

[Laminar]

No, I was serious.

[Dakar V]

Yeah, I don't see it.

[Laminar]

Yeah, I was serious.

[Dakar V]

+1.