Number 3 |
04-29-2012 12:12 PM |
Quote:
Originally Posted by 68vert
(Post 4884255)
I was hoping this thread would at least at some point draw either a yes/no for a gen5 Z from the father or another official source. Obviously our timetable is not GM's timetable for releasing this info, but I will still keep my fingers crossed. I have a 2010 SS and at some point I will change over to a 1LE, ZL1 or Z28. More options the merrier.
Thanks for the info Number 3. Is the BFI on the base/GS vette steel and then it changes over entirely to aluminum on the Z06? Makes me wonder what the Camaro would drop in lbs if the same structure items were converted to aluminum. The cost might not be worth the weight savings though...hmm.
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The Vette "space frame" actually has the two hydroformed tubes or rails that some might look at as a frame. It is actually just part of the body structure. For the Z06, those rails and the rest of the space frame were changed to aluminum. One of my proudest accomplishments was leading the team that did that engineering work for the Z06. It saved well over 100 pounds but was quite expensive. Aluminum is lighter than steel and costs a whole bunch more. Can't give you the prices though.
And converting to aluminum isn't as easy as just changing materials. Aluminum doesn't have the same strength so in some cases you may have to look at thicker panels. Look at the Auid A8 for example. A great example of an all aluminum body structure and yet it still weights well over 4,000 pounds. A very large car yes, but not a miracle of weight loss either.
So in the right applications you can get some nice saving with aluminum. An engine block alone can save 100 pounds or so.
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