By Matt Glynn
News Business Reporter
Updated: December 18, 2009, 4:42 PM / 31 comments
The era of the "big block" V-8 engine came to an end at the General Motors' Town of Tonawanda plant today.
The plant marked the end of production of the L-18 V-8 engine, a move that is causing the layoff of 150 hourly workers at the plant.
The L-18 was the latest in a series of "big block" V-8 engines that have been made at the plant since 1958. GM announced in June that production of the engine would cease by year's end. The engines were used in GM vehicles as well as commercial applications and powerboats.
Employees, managers and retirees who gathered for a ceremony called the occasion as bittersweet, with the end for a staple of the River Road site's production. The final engine, covered with employees' signatures, is destined for the GM Heritage Center in Sterling Heights, Mich.
The 150 layoffs bring the total number of workers on layoff at the plant to 298, said Robert Coleman, shop chairman of United Auto Workers Local 774.
Coleman and Steve Finch, the plant manager, said they are striving to secure a new engine line that would enable workers to return from layoff.
"We're all working very, very hard to make this the place to put GM's next engine," Finch said.
While the L-18 accounted for only about 3 percent of the Tonawanda plant's annual output, it had a loyal following among customers that enabled it to keep being produced when its future was in question over the years, Finch said.
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