Quote:
Originally Posted by Number 3
The following should not be interpretted in any way as to the origin of the car in the original post by Tran. You may all continue to speculate away.
But for those of you that believe that GM can offer any engine that you want let me just go through the items that likely would have to be re-designed. re-validated or both for any new model, Z28 or something between the SS and LT for that matter.
Engine mounts
Transmission mounts
Rear axle (if the HP is higher)
Fuel System
Radiator and Cooling (if the HP is higher)
New tachometer (if the engine redline is different)
New speedometer (if the top speed is different)
ALL Uniquely styled components and subsystems even if simply badging
Add to that the full list of FMVSS testing
Add to that the full list of EPA testing
Then you have to tune the suspension for ride and handling.
Then you have to tune the car for Noise, Vibration and Harshness (NVH)
And then you have all of the unique manufacturing equipment in Oshawa for each and every single one of the unique parts in any new model. Sorry using a dealer doesn't work. Good idea, but not practicle. Other vendors (SLP from past Camaro history) might work.
Now you haven't even touched on the thousands and thousands of hours devoted to calibration of the engine, transmission, safety equipment, etc.
You are talking BIG, BIG, BIG dollars for any variation on any model.
It takes a ton of work, and ton of equipment and a ton of testing.
And plant complexity? Every nut, bolt, badge or color difference just piles on to the cost of manufacturing.
In 1967, it was not too hard. Today? Yikes!!!!!!
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Err, for creating a whole new trim level like the Z/28 yes i can agree with you, if that is what you mean. But if you're talking about the engine swap thing i very much beg to differ. Every LS engine is made specificly with the same motor mounts, same bolt pattern in all areas including transmission, same basic scaling, everything on those engines is made the same for the simple reason of making them all interchangeable, also most of the electronics work on all the engines too. Really all you gotta do to swap an LS engine out for a different LS engine is pop one out, slide the other in, change the chip to match the engine you've swapped in, tune it, and thats pretty much all there is too it. GM builds those engines specificly to work like that. Also the Camaro's transmission will handle the power of any LS engine save for maybe the LS9 and will definatly bolt up to any of them. After that the rest is unecessary to change, suspension doesnt matter to what engine is in the car as neither does the safety equipment etc.
I mean yeah engines today are a lot more technologicly advanced but they're really not as complex as most people think, especially when it comes to engine swaps. In fact GM boasted somewhere in an article about the LS7 Camaro that any average Joe could order an LS7 and have it in his Camaro in just about a weekend's time, and if any average Joe with average garage tools can do it that quick im sure a dealer can.