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Corvette Body Composition??

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Old May 21, 2007 | 08:15 AM
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Default Corvette Body Composition??

Hey guys,

What is the C5 body made out of? Is it still fiberglass? If not, then what is it? Did they stop making the bod out of fiberglass? I don't know where I read something about this, but for some reason I think it said that they stop making them out of fiberglass and changed to some composite material. I think it was some guy in a C6 I was talking to.

Thanks ,

Josh
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Old May 21, 2007 | 08:48 AM
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It is mostly made of SMC, Sheet Molded Compound.

Here is what it is...

A fiber glass reinforced thermosetting compound in sheet form, usually rolled into coils interleaved with plastic film to prevent autoadhesion. Made by dispensing mixed resin, fillers, maturation agent, catalyst and mold release agent onto two moving sheets of polyethylene film. The lower one also contains chopped glass roving or glass mat. SMC can be molded into complex shapes with little scrap
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Old May 21, 2007 | 08:52 AM
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Thanks man, Perfect. Exactly what I was looking for.

Here something else the guy said to me. He said the cops have a real hard time with locking the radar down on the body b/c of that stuff. He said that they really can only get you if the do the "pulse" technique. Really don't think it is too true. B/c of the guys that have posted with there ticket problems.

Josh
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Old May 21, 2007 | 08:54 AM
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That's comical...LOL...I am not aware that the material used on our cars is a radar deterrent...

Adam
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Old May 21, 2007 | 10:47 AM
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What's amusing is that people will say that the newer Vettes aren't made from fiber glass anymore. Sure they are, it's just used in a different method of fabrication.
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Old May 21, 2007 | 11:21 AM
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It is harder to target a Vette...
No as much flat steel at the front for radar to bounce off of...
smoothed, rounded edges and an SMC body give it less of a signature... that being said it is still visible to radar and laser.
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Old May 21, 2007 | 11:23 AM
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Originally Posted by 1B.DZ
Thanks man, Perfect. Exactly what I was looking for.

Here something else the guy said to me. He said the cops have a real hard time with locking the radar down on the body b/c of that stuff. He said that they really can only get you if the do the "pulse" technique. Really don't think it is too true. B/c of the guys that have posted with there ticket problems.

Josh
Fiberglass and similar materials DO absorb more radar than steel/plastic bodies... but the difference is far too little to make a difference.

I'm radar certified and I have never heard of the "pulse" technique. Sorry, your friend is full of
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Old May 21, 2007 | 11:23 AM
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That makes sense. Not too many flat spots for radar to shoot back from. That's why I tend to take what most people say with a grain of salt. Sometimes I take what I say with some as well.

Thanks guys,

Josh
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Old May 21, 2007 | 11:42 AM
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Originally Posted by DefenderC5
Fiberglass and similar materials DO absorb more radar than steel/plastic bodies... but the difference is far too little to make a difference.

I'm radar certified and I have never heard of the "pulse" technique. Sorry, your friend is full of

The funniest things get told in a bar after a few rounds... Have you heard the one about a penny in the mouth will foul an Intoxilyzer test?
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Old May 21, 2007 | 04:56 PM
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Originally Posted by DefenderC5
Fiberglass and similar materials DO absorb more radar than steel/plastic bodies... but the difference is far too little to make a difference.

I'm radar certified and I have never heard of the "pulse" technique. Sorry, your friend is full of
I completely agree with you. I think the "pulse" technique is when they pull the trigger rapidly or something, I'm not sure.

Josh
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Old May 21, 2007 | 05:04 PM
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Originally Posted by 1B.DZ
I completely agree with you. I think the "pulse" technique is when they pull the trigger rapidly or something, I'm not sure.

Josh
You mean you didnt get the stealth option on your Vette?
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Old May 21, 2007 | 06:18 PM
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Originally Posted by rws.1
It is harder to target a Vette...
No as much flat steel at the front for radar to bounce off of...
smoothed, rounded edges and an SMC body give it less of a signature... that being said it is still visible to radar and laser.
,
,
Correct !
Don't have any flat vertical surfaces, eg, licence plates
Don't have anything shiny up front, eg, chrome or headlights.

When the laser targets you, it looks for a reflection back to the gun, by having little or no flat vertical or reflective surfaces, it DOES make it more difficult to get a laser reflection.
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Old May 23, 2007 | 06:15 PM
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Originally Posted by hotwheels57
The funniest things get told in a bar after a few rounds... Have you heard the one about a penny in the mouth will foul an Intoxilyzer test?
Of course! They are usually the ones that pretend they are blowing really really hard... but nothing is coming out. Or eating 20 tic tacs. There was a Mythbusters episode on the penny one!

As far as the claims of the corvette body being hard to lock on to with radar. Ok, you are all right. If on a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being easiest to lock on: A truck is a 10, a car is a 9.5 and a corvette is a 9.2 They are ALL easy.

(Figures are for explainatory purposes only... that's my court disclaimer )
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