Interview with Dave McLellan
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Interview with Dave McLellan
The latest issue of America’s Sports Car (National Corvette Museum) has a good interview with C4 chief engineer Dave McLellan.
One interesting snippet … “Another unnecessary problem that originated with management came from a vehicle director who had a problem with having any screws visible on the surface of the car. This presented a big problem when it came to the tail lights.”
As usual the designers and engineers wanted it one way (exterior screws so you could actually change the tail light bulbs) while someone in authority wanted something different.
Later C4 owners can be thankful that the director in question moved on so you can actually change the tail light bulbs.
I don’t think the article is online anywhere, so I suggest you become members of the NCM so you can subscribe
One interesting snippet … “Another unnecessary problem that originated with management came from a vehicle director who had a problem with having any screws visible on the surface of the car. This presented a big problem when it came to the tail lights.”
As usual the designers and engineers wanted it one way (exterior screws so you could actually change the tail light bulbs) while someone in authority wanted something different.
Later C4 owners can be thankful that the director in question moved on so you can actually change the tail light bulbs.
I don’t think the article is online anywhere, so I suggest you become members of the NCM so you can subscribe
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From: I tend to be leery of any guy who doesn't own a chainsaw or a handgun.
Somebody refresh my memory. Wasn't the C4 originally engineered with a t-top type structure, and styling nixed that?
I welcome correction if my memory is incorrect.
I welcome correction if my memory is incorrect.
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From: I tend to be leery of any guy who doesn't own a chainsaw or a handgun.
Thanks for the confirmation. 
The reason I brought up this item was its connection to the OP's comment on the tail light screws. Quite often the/we engineers catch hell about stupidass designs or materials in modern cars (and often we're to blame), but every now and then some paper shuffler in management has to butt in and put their personal touch or flavor into an engineering design. Most of us engineers are in the lowest level of the corporate totem pole, so we have little clout to push back against these intrusions, and as McLellan noted in his book regarding the development of the C4, even he had to eat a **** sandwich on occasion.
The reason I brought up this item was its connection to the OP's comment on the tail light screws. Quite often the/we engineers catch hell about stupidass designs or materials in modern cars (and often we're to blame), but every now and then some paper shuffler in management has to butt in and put their personal touch or flavor into an engineering design. Most of us engineers are in the lowest level of the corporate totem pole, so we have little clout to push back against these intrusions, and as McLellan noted in his book regarding the development of the C4, even he had to eat a **** sandwich on occasion.
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Dave Mclellan mentioned in his book "Corvette from the Inside" that it was Lloyd Reuss who forced the change to a Targa top. He later became GM President,
https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a4...dent-obituary/
https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a4...dent-obituary/
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I consider his book one of the better Corvette Books written. One interesting tid bit was the development of the Dana 44. By using a Hydraulic Clutch engagement they could control the shockwave of torque passing down the drivetrain. As we know the Dana 44 was introduced in 1980 with the last generation of the C3. One of his junior Engineers came into his office and said I don't think this is going to work as they had all forgotten that the C3 doesn't have a Hyd Clutch engagement. After admitting that this had been overlooked, He said it was too late to do anything about it and we will just have to see how many the Dealerships will have to replace.
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Interview, I also heard that there was a significant structure change to the car thrown at you well into the development.
McClellan, Oh Yes. That was a battle between Paul King, Director of Passenger Car Engineering for Chevrolet, and the next President of GM, Lloyd Reuss. Lloyd wanted the Corvette to have a one-piece Targa top to make way for a convertible model at some point. This meant having no connection point between the windshield and the roll bar, leaving us with a heavy removable roof panel. That really pushed back the program.
McClellan, Oh Yes. That was a battle between Paul King, Director of Passenger Car Engineering for Chevrolet, and the next President of GM, Lloyd Reuss. Lloyd wanted the Corvette to have a one-piece Targa top to make way for a convertible model at some point. This meant having no connection point between the windshield and the roll bar, leaving us with a heavy removable roof panel. That really pushed back the program.
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From: I tend to be leery of any guy who doesn't own a chainsaw or a handgun.
I stumbled upon my copy of Mclellan's book today while digging through stuff in the back of my Tahoe. I glanced through the book to refresh my memory on the roof structure change. I chuckled when I read one of the sections. In a four paragraph "bio" about Reuss on page 92, the roof issue is mentioned twice(!), in that Reuss "was responsible" and "can take credit" "for the 1984 Corvette becoming a targa". 
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From: I tend to be leery of any guy who doesn't own a chainsaw or a handgun.
I consider his book one of the better Corvette Books written. One interesting tid bit was the development of the Dana 44. By using a Hydraulic Clutch engagement they could control the shockwave of torque passing down the drivetrain. As we know the Dana 44 was introduced in 1980 with the last generation of the C3. One of his junior Engineers came into his office and said I don't think this is going to work as they had all forgotten that the C3 doesn't have a Hyd Clutch engagement. After admitting that this had been overlooked, He said it was too late to do anything about it and we will just have to see how many the Dealerships will have to replace.
Just engineering curiosity on my part.
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You’re correct. Damn shame a fixed roof option wasn’t offered on the C4. You could get a F-Body with a fixed though 🤨
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I've never come across anything that discusses this ...
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I more or less see all C4 coupes as fixed roofs because of the inconvenience of taking the top off. Heck I know people who have had one for 5+ years and never took it off. I guess at least you had the option to.
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I've always been curious about one item. The C3 D44 and the previous cast iron housing both share essentially the same cover bolt pattern. I'd like to hear the story behind that. Was it to make it easier to put the new differential in older mule test cars with the iron/steel cover/mount, or was it for a backup plan to bolt iron differentials to the aluminum batwing in the event that the D44 had production problems?
Just engineering curiosity on my part.
Just engineering curiosity on my part.
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I noticed the same comment from McLellan in the issue, and cursed the guy who made it impossible to change out my tail light bulbs.
Racer
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From: Wilmington,Delaware
Count me in as one of those people who never removed the targa top lol
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From: Fredonia WI
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You can find his book Corvette from the inside on Amazon and other places. I see it pop up FS in the forum from time to time
Listen to him here http://www.davemclellanlegal.com/cor...om-the-inside/
I had Dave sign my Show Signs a few years ago at FunFest.
Listen to him here http://www.davemclellanlegal.com/cor...om-the-inside/
I had Dave sign my Show Signs a few years ago at FunFest.
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From: Fredonia WI
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Oh, I see, you ordered directly from him. I would assume he will get to this, and that will be a cool C4 momento.
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Good morning ghlkal, I did purchase from him and he contacted me yesterday. His book is autographed by him and is on the way. I am excited to receive it.
I hope you are doing well. Have a good weekend my friend.
I hope you are doing well. Have a good weekend my friend.