GENERAL MOTORS announced sweeping changes to GM operations during its chassis seminar at the 35th annual NTEA Convention. These changes will increase value-added flexibility to the new GM Fleet and Commercial Operations Group. Along with these organizational steps, GM will add both production and content changes for model year 2000 commercial vehicles.
GM Changes Form
"Our presentation of the major changes within the GM organizational setup is the starting theme for this seminar," said Dave Hansen, general manager for fleet and commercial operations. "GM was very aware of flexibility issues concerning brand marketing, commercial dealer delivery, factory production issues, GM bailment pool operations, and the special equipment options (SEO) group," he said.
GM has implemented action that will lead to better communication between the body builders industry and GM. Although still in its infancy, the new GM Fleet and Commercial Operations Group has brought all marketing of GM commercial brands under one roof.
Five regional offices and 125 new staff positions have been created to act as field contact points for the GM Fleet and Commercial Operations Group. Each office has a regional commercial and regional marketing manager, and these managers will handle both GMC and Chevrolet questions and marketing directives for that region.
"The GM guys won't drive by the Chevrolet store to get to the next towns GM/Pontiac store," Hansen said. "They will stop and answer questions on GMC, Pontiac, and Chevrolet, or any other GM fleet and commercial product."
A top priority for GM is the Vehicle Order Management System (VOMS). The VOMS has not been working at the level of automation that GM would like. "New VOMS procedural changes will be rolling out in the next several weeks to correct many of the systems problems," Hansen said.
GM personnel confided that once VOMS is running properly, combining it with Janesville, Wisconsin's new production numbers should bring great relief to bailment pool operators and also many dealers.
C Series 2000 Improvements
GM continues to broaden the C series option list by keeping the design fresh. Big changes for the C series include existing componentry upgrades to achieve new efficiencies.
Looking at mid-1999 changes, hydraulic antilock brakes became standard equipment for the C series. A large portion of GM medium-duty product is sold with hydraulic systems. Hansen said there shouldn't be any problem doing body installations on trucks equipped with antilock brakes.
Additional C series changes include the 14" Valeo clutch replacing the 13" clutch. The Valeo 14" clutch is a pull mechanism, compared to the Valeo orDana-Spicer 13" clutch.
There will be a different feel to the clutch operation because of the change. It is very possible to "ride" a pull clutch and cause damage in a short period of time.
For the C series, the Caterpillar 3126B in the 190- horsepower range will be rated at 207 hp after August 1999. The horsepower change will improve performance when this engine is used with the Allison AT545 transmission.
Tilt Changes
GM's T series will also undergo some changes for 2000. Upfitters will see the latest in GM and Isuzu partnership technology by the continued rollout of the Duramax 7800 Diesel Engine. This is an in-line configuration that is optional for the T series product. The Duramax 7800 is available in 200 hp at 441 lb/ft and a 230 hp at 517 lb/ft.
Further improvements to the T series include upgrades for manual transmission shift quality, air induction system, fuel tank balance line, and clutch operation.
General Motors has upgraded the W series for model year 2000. The W3500, W4500, and W5500 have received substantial GVW increases. There is a new 176" wheelbase that has been added, providing a 155" CA.
New Smaller Product
New product for 2000 includes the WT5500. This is a T series, Class 5 chassis that is available in an 18,000 and 19,500 GVW. The WT5500 will carry a Duramax 7800 engine and is available with a 6-speed or Allison AT545 transmission. The WT5500 will have 19.5" tires. "Wheelbase options are 148", 167", 179", 191", and 218," Hansen said. The product will be assembled in Japan, with US arrival slatted for March 1999.
For 2000, GM dealerships will be able to change the ECM parameters for both diesel and gas engines. The CAT 3126B will have ECMs that will allow for fast idle PTO applications when necessary. Check with your dealer to review throttle and RPM settings. In-plant programming at Janesville will be available shortly.
GM's exclusive gas engine, the Vortec 7400 MD, has also added electronically programmable fast-idle settings for PTO applications. Refer to technical service bulletin #24 concerning engine speed control for 7.4L gas engines with ECM. Currently, this engine is placed in approximately 30% of the GM medium-duty products sold in the US.
SEO Streamlines For Quick Fit
Hansen further discussed how GM's new flexibility in the SEO group could assist body upfitters and end users. "SEO has a wide range of special equipment options that have already been engineered for the C and T series product," Hansen said. Today, 40% of all medium-duty content is SEO. Additionally, 95% of all orders have SEO content.
The SEO group has worked with upfitters to have special frame drillings and electrical harness upgrades included in the factory build-out. By streamlining the engineering process and adding dedicated personnel, GM has reorganized the SEO group to provide responsive answers to dealers and upfitters.
GMT800 Rollout Continues
Nancy Huber, engineering group manager for the GMT800 product, discussed the continued product rollout for the GMT800 light-duty truck. "This year we put a very comprehensive snowplow package together for the GMT800 product," Huber said. "This will be an available year 2000 option for the C/K 2500 series, as well as the K 15703, 4X4 1500 regular cab with six-foot box."
Key features of this package include an upgraded torsion bar, snowplow mounting holes pre-drilled, attached transmission cooler, GVW and front axle reserves printed on label, and electrical upgrade. The electrical system upgrade is extensive for the package. This includes a forward lamp harness, rear 10-amp power feed, electrical pass-through circuitry, and emergency roof-mounted beacon harness with instrument panel switch.
Refer to technical service bulletin #27 for detailed information on option VYU, snowplow Prep Package. The bulletin shows the new style, larger 130-amp alternator plus discussion of the easier electrical attachment harness for the snowplow.
Upfitters were interested in hearing that GM will continue the ZW9 option of pickup box deletion. This delete option is applicable to C/K 2500 series. Additional information will be included in the new body builders manual. Refer to technical service bulletin #28. There will be fuel filler- and taillamp- assembly changes required for upfit.
Body builders manuals will be available shortly from GM. New for 2000 will be the 11" X 14", three-ring binder system that GM is introducing. This new style will be for both medium- and light- duty. Contact the GM Fulfillment Center, or www.gmupfitter.com for order information.