Hi There:

I kind of new to Corvettes and am wondering if you guys can help me out.
I just got a new '08 Z06 two weeks ago. What a great car I love it!!
I have a few questions and wonder if you can help.

1. Why do all Corvette engines have an "L" to designate them.

2. Why do Corvettes still use leaf springs.

3. Do you guys know about some kind of program Corvette puts new models thru by testing them for 24 hours or something like that?

Any help on this would be great. Sorry to ask such dumb questions but I'm new to the game.
Thanks!!!!

 

those questions can be answered here but u need to look in the C6 z06 forums. Thats what type of car urs is

 

As posted above ... you have a C6 (Corvette 6th) Generation car ... but to answer your questions (since they are somewhat generic) ....

1) GM uses a system of "codes" for identifying options on vehicles known as RPO (Regular Production Option) codes. The codes are 3 alphanumeric characters in length. GENERALLY the first character of the code indicates the "type" of RPO it is ... but there does not appear to be a "hard" rule to this ... in other words, there are exceptions.

Usually an RPO that starts with an "L" is an engine code ... an "M" is a gearbox code .... a "U" is a stereo/DVD/nav code .... and a "Z" is a "performance" option. Think Z28 Camaro .... or especially Z06 ... the RPO initially (and only offered) in 1963 that was for a "race" prepared Corvette.

2) Leaf springs are used because they bring significant advantages with them.

* Compare the weight of 4 steel coil springs against the weight of our 2 composite material leaf springs .... Chevy saves a lot of weight going with composite leaf springs

* Compare center of gravity .... the leaf is very low in the car .... a coil spring rises much higher with more weight .... the leaf allows for a lower center of gravity.

* Without writing a book ... the leaf spring, because of how it is mounted, actually contributes to the same forces as the anti-roll bars ... allowing for lighter anti-roll bars ... reducing vehicle weight.

* A leaf does not cause any kind of "twist" to the shocks as they compress ....and do not suffer from "coil bind" ....

Want me to keep going ????? The GM engineers that designed this system knew what they were doing. Stamping out 4 coil springs is WAY cheaper than making 2 composite springs ... GM didn't choose the leaf for price ... they chose it for performance.

3) GM submits all cars to extensive testing at multiple facilities. There is a test facility in Arizona to test vehicles for performance in "hot" climates. There is a "track" for testing the cars at Milford in Michigan ... which is so well laid out that even other manufacturers rent time there ...

http://jalopnik.com/cars/spy-photos/...nds-322274.php

And finally, in the case of the Corvette, GM takes test cars to Germany and runs them (starting with the C5 Z06) at the Nurbergring race track .... do a web search and you will get some idea of how extensive the GM testing is.

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Make no mistake ... you have bought a car loaded with as much technology and performance as any other "supercar" in the world. Yes, the Ferrari may have better quality leather seats ... yes, the Porsche may offer carbon fiber brake discs as an option ...... but if you know how to "drive" this car .... you will kick the azz of any Porsche or Ferrari .... and you will have spent half (or less) than what they did for a car that cannot meet the performance of a Corvette.

The saddest thing about GM is how much technology they build into their cars and nobody seems to know about it. Classic (and certainly not the only) example .... the F55 "Magnetic" suspension offered as an option for the late C5 and all C6 coupes and convertibles .... and will be the ONLY suspension for the upcoming ZR1 ...... it is so good that Ferrari, Honda, and Audi have all licensed the system for their "high end" vehicles ... did you know that ?????????????

GM makes GREAT products ... their Marketing Department should all be taken out, lined up, and shot.

 

BlackZ06, very well done.

 

YOu truly do learn something new every day. Thanks for the info BlackZ06.

 

great responce

 

I agree!

 

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Lots of good info on the leaf spring here.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corvette_leaf_spring

Basically it's misunderstood. The problem is everyone seems to assume the use of leaf springs means live axle located by leaf springs like a truck rather than an alternative to coils for use in a double wishbone suspension.

A few other companies including Mercedes, Volvo and VW have used similar springs and other companies have looked into them. I suspect if the manufacturing costs were to ever really drop you would see many cars start to use them as the Corvette uses them.

Personally, I think it's a cool bit of GM thinking outside the box... kind of like the wood in the floors. No wood trim on the dash, just wood used as an engineering solution.

 

 

First, thanks to everyone for the compliments ..... much appreciated

kertong .... maybe I didn't make it clear enough ... the RPO system is GM based ... if you buy a Pontiac Grand Prix with the GXP "option" the engine is an LS4 ..... the RPO code system is GM wide ... not limited to just the Chevy division .....

and wanna talk GREAT engines ...... Look up the L88 from the 1960's ..... a true "ground shaker" ........

Good point on being able to change ride height with our leaf springs without changing spring rate ....

And yeah ... all those morons at "Top Gear" did is prove how absolutely STUPID they are by trying to laugh at the Corvette leaf spring suspension ... talk about proving you are clueless .....

I'll throw in one other "myth" about the Corvette that I hear all the time from Jeremy Clarkson wannabes ....

Why does Chevy still use an OHV (overhead valve) engine layout .... why not be "modern" and use an OHC (Overhead cam) or DOHC (Double OHC) layout like Ferrari ....

Yes, the OHC layout has benefits, but so does the LSx engine layout with OHV.

* The OHC layout means you have moved a relatively heavy cam higher in the engine ... and with a V layout you need two camshafts in an OHC layout ... even more weight higher in the car. The Chevy OHV layout means you have only a single cam (not two as in an OHC layout ... or four in a DOHC layout) much lower in the car (better center of gravity).

* Moving the camshaft above the valves leads to a much taller engine .... look at your hoodline on your Corvette and try and imagine how different the car would look if the engine was 2 inches taller.

* The main benefit to an OHC engine is it can rev higher than an equivalent OHV engine because the cam is closer to the valves ... meaning less chance of "flex" in the valvetrain causing problems at high RPM ..... but GM Powertrain fixed that problem ....

Instead of building tiny little motors and trying to rev them to amazing numbers as the Europeans have tried to do ..... the American answer has always been "there is no substitute for cubic inches" ..... build a 350 CI motor ... or a 427 CI motor .... and to "heck" with getting high RPM numbers .... build an engine for torque (big displacement numbers) rather than screwing with trying to get big HP numbers (high revving engines).

I'll go with the "American" answer to the "problem" any time ... give me cubic inches and torque ..... screw the "my German car revs to 11 billion RPM and generates 55 ft/lbs of torque"

 

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blackzo6 that was perfect. i don't think that there would of been a better or more detailed answer to that quetion

 

I want to thank all of you guys out there with the info on these issues.
Black Z06, kertong, wishihad1-2....... I could not agree with you more. The issue on OHV vs. OHC is kind of funny I think. The LS7 engine revs like an OHC engine and does not run out of breath it just REVS! The sound is as great as any OHC engine (and I've owned Ferrari's) but the TORQUE! My goodness my Ferrari F355 had 380HP with 72 ft. pounds of torque. (just kidding but that's what it felt like) A very pretty car and I enjoyed it but the Z06 is so long gone before the 355 knows which way the Z06 went!!
Anyway thank's so much for the input on the leaf springs. I have not understand the principal around the idea of leaf springs. For sure the guys at TOP GEAR and (the Brits in general) hate America so much that they will come up with anything they can to slam Corvettes. BTW how long has OHC tech been around? A hundred years? Don't give this nonsense that OHV and leaf springs have been around since Noah got off the ark. I don't watch TOP GEAR anymore cause I'm fed up with those clowns.
Anyway thank's guys for all your input and helping me to know more about Corvettes!!

 

I outran many Ferrari's , Lambo's and BMWs at our clubs PDX at MId Ohio last year. The Z is a bargin bin Supercar. I'm sure there will be a time in the future when these cars sell for what their worth!

 

 

kertong ... in no way are you or I contradicting each other .... I took your first post as adding information ... I just wanted to "clarify" it further (I'm such a jerk that as a character in a movie put it "I eat my M&M's with a knife and fork)

You and I need to hang together .... we live in a sea of Prius, Civic's and other politically correct vehicles (In February the Prius became the highest selling vehicle in Santa Clara County) .... you and I are practically the only folks in Santa Clara or San Mateo counties willing to drive a GM vehicle ....

 

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There ain't no replacement for displacement!!!!

 

Just wanted to say thanks to Kertong and BlackZO6 for making me realize how little I actually knew about the vehicle (s) I've owned for the past 35 years

Seriously, excellent information and many thanks for sharing your expertise guys..........made it worthwhile getting up this morning as I just learned a bunch!