Tribute to Phil

[TVRangerSTX]

Since I've had a Courier (1974?) and 4 Rangers starting in 1989 with an STX, I was wondering if Phil worked at any assembly plants or an Engineering building in Dearborn or elsewhere. It would be like playing "Where's Waldo". I've been to the Rouge plant many times and even taken the F150 tour, the Flat Rock plant where my 2016 Mustang Ecoboost was made, and to the Wayne plant too, before I bought my 2019 Ranger. I'm guessing the " no alcohol at the plant" policy also meant no Scotch!

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[TVRangerSTX]

Some more shots, an undercover Wildtrack in Dearborn, Research, the Ford bar, and the steel plant where the metal comes from!

 

[P. A. Schilke]

Some more shots

HI Trevor,

This is where I worked for 30 years. Bldg #1 for most of my time until Truck grew too big for Bldg #1. Then we moved to Product Development Center which was attached to the Design Center Behind this sign above. All of this has been torn down now for the renewal of the campus from 1955 era with modern buildings. Underneath all of the R &E complex are large tunnels that allow us access to most of the buildings via tunnels which were used primarily in the winter time. Henry Ford seemed to like tunnels. The tunnels also supported huge steam pipes from the Rouge boiler plant. Tunnels were too hot in the summer. Henry Ford at Fairlane Estate had a tunnel from the house to the garage and then it went down to the boat house on the Rouge river where he could grab a boat and cross the Rouge River to his mistress' house.... I have been in pretty much the whole tunnel complex including over to the Dearborn Proving Grounds Experimental Garage...That trip under Oakwood Blvd is not recommended...dark and dirty. Also have been in the Fairlane Estate tunnels to the garage but not to the boat house as the boat house no longer exists.

Many trips to the Rouge Plant to Gate 4 where we had a test lab to compliment Bldg #4 main test lab. Been to Rouge Assembly a few times when F series moved over there, but spent most time at Michigan Truck assembly in Wayne and Ranger plants in Edison New Jersey and Twin Cities Assenbly in St. Paul MN. Only car plants I have been to as I was a Trucker were plants like Kansas City Assembly where there were Pinto and then Mavericks and Lorain Assembly where the Econoline was made and the car side was Thunderchickens.

Thanks for the blast from the past!

Best,
Phil Schilke
Ranger Vehicle Engineering
Ford Motor Co. Retired

 

[Texasota]

Phil, I'm glad the forum members convinced you to change your plans as described in this post. Many members have enjoyed your back stories and learned a lot from you. I am certainly one of them.

 

[KJRR]

Time to revive a thread!
Happy Birthday @P. A. Schilke
Thank you for all the stories and input.
I hope your day is enjoyable!

 

[Grumpaw]

Happy Birthday Phil.....

 

[mgallo13]

My vote is to have an entire section of the forum under the "Main" tab just titled P.A. Schilke

Happy birthday Phil

 

[Muscleford]

Happy Birthday Phil. Many more healthy years to you. Great to have you on this board.

 

[Doc]

Happy Birthday !

 

[Trigganometry]

Wishing our resident expert @P. A. Schilke and retired Ford engineer a very happy Birthday with many more to come!

 

[Cabose-1]

@P. A. Schilke its Your birthday?

Happy birthday!

 

[Pinski66]

Happy Birthday Phil, thanks for sharing your experiences and insight. I always enjoy reading your posts!

 

[Ames]

Always appreciate your insight and wisdom, Phil. Happy Bithday!

 

[Grumpaw]

RP....LOOK OUT...RUN...

 

[P. A. Schilke]

Time to revive a thread!
Happy Birthday @P. A. Schilke
Thank you for all the stories and input.
I hope your day is enjoyable!

Hi KJ,

Thank you! Now 73 years old...

best,
Phil

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