Which is stiffer?
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2011
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From: Marysville CA
Which is stiffer?
I was on the Jay Leno site & he was showing his 02 Corvette that they had re-powered with a monster motor. Jay said the reason he used a coupe was that the body was much stiffer than the vert so it handled the power with less flex or something like that .
Is there much difference between the two with the vert having the extra bracing?
Is there much difference between the two with the vert having the extra bracing?
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2007
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From: Kali
St. Jude Donor '11
I don't think the vert has any extra bracing... and the coupe has a removable roof as is.
The best is Z06 yet it has a fixed "plastic" roof which i doubt adds any kind of strength, so really all of these cars are about the same.
The best is Z06 yet it has a fixed "plastic" roof which i doubt adds any kind of strength, so really all of these cars are about the same.
Race Director
Joined: May 2010
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From: Winfield IN
I do know that they designed the C5 to be a convertible, so there is not a lot of body flex and cowl shake. The Z06 is stiffer, and I'm sure the coupe is a bit stiffer as well. However, IMO, most people (unless they are a professional driver pushing the car to its utmost limits), probably would not be able to tell a difference.
Racer
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From: San Diego CA
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That's funny! I like Jay though.
Resident moron
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From: Assachusetts
Burning Brakes
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From: Syracuse NY
I used to think the coupe was faster than the Z06 due to the stiffness...but I was mistaken:
Borrowed from Z06vette.com:
The rear aerodynamics of the C5 Coupe are better than the Z06. The reason is the rear hatchback of the C5 Coupe. The hatchback glass allows a better non turbulent flow and less drag. This will produce about 5 MPH more on the top end. But it is ONLY significant in the wind tunnel.
Here's why: there is a trade off.
1. The hatchback glass is massive and heavy.
2. In addition the Z06 (at least on the '01) glass is thinner still
and therefore even lighter than the FRC glass.
3. With the Z06's supierior power, torque and acceleration due to the closer ratios in the box; the Z06 is quicker in almost every instance.
4. The aerodynamic effect of the hatchback glass is only advantageous above 150 MPH.
So the Z06 will get to and be around the next corner before the C5 Coupe gets there. There are only 2 places where the hatchback glass would render the C5 Coupe superior in top end speed and that would be at Bonneville and on the Mulsanne Straight at LeMans....if it had time to overcome the Z06's faster acceleration.
Borrowed from Z06vette.com:
The rear aerodynamics of the C5 Coupe are better than the Z06. The reason is the rear hatchback of the C5 Coupe. The hatchback glass allows a better non turbulent flow and less drag. This will produce about 5 MPH more on the top end. But it is ONLY significant in the wind tunnel.
Here's why: there is a trade off.
1. The hatchback glass is massive and heavy.
2. In addition the Z06 (at least on the '01) glass is thinner still
and therefore even lighter than the FRC glass.
3. With the Z06's supierior power, torque and acceleration due to the closer ratios in the box; the Z06 is quicker in almost every instance.
4. The aerodynamic effect of the hatchback glass is only advantageous above 150 MPH.
So the Z06 will get to and be around the next corner before the C5 Coupe gets there. There are only 2 places where the hatchback glass would render the C5 Coupe superior in top end speed and that would be at Bonneville and on the Mulsanne Straight at LeMans....if it had time to overcome the Z06's faster acceleration.
Last edited by John G Pircsuk; Jul 16, 2011 at 07:55 AM.
Racer
Joined: Apr 2010
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From: Ashburn VA
I am honestly surprised that some of your Vette guys don't know this. I think it is in the book, All Corvettes are Red, but the Z06 is the stiffest of the 3(or 4 if you count the FRC) because it uses the vert bracing as well as having the fixed roof. The roof actually is less integral part than the bracing as the roof is just glued on.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2007
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From: Wake Forest NC
hz is short for Hertz, which defines cycles per second. In the posts, I believe they are referring to the number of times the vehicle wobbles every second. Correct me if I'm wrong, gentlemen.
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Last edited by s'noJob; Jul 16, 2011 at 09:05 AM. Reason: added sig
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2011
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From: Marysville CA
I am honestly surprised that some of your Vette guys don't know this. I think it is in the book, All Corvettes are Red, but the Z06 is the stiffest of the 3(or 4 if you count the FRC) because it uses the vert bracing as well as having the fixed roof. The roof actually is less integral part than the bracing as the roof is just glued on.
I would think a glued roof would be stronger than a roof that is just bolted on in a few places? Adhesive normally has 100% contact.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2007
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From: Wake Forest NC
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Update 08/07/11: I checked and the red highlighted reference is in another book.
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Last edited by s'noJob; Aug 7, 2011 at 09:16 AM. Reason: correction
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2011
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From: Marysville CA
I thought so, too. But I did buy All Corvettes are RED and it was a fascinating look into C5 development, specially the conflicts that almost aborted initial production of the C5. They show pictures of testing the C5 in snow to make sure they didn't alienate C5 drivers in Michigan. The book bogs down at first, but if you really want to meet the players and learn how GM developed the fifth generation Corvette, it's in this book, and I highly recommend it.
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Resident moron
Joined: Jun 2003
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From: Assachusetts
I also agree, a great book and a great inside look at the horrifying red tape surrounding everything inside GM. All the troubles they had, the project almost never made it to light several times. Hell, if I remember, the project started in '88, took till '97 to get it out....
No wonder the C6 is the same basic car, they really got it right with the C5.
Dope
No wonder the C6 is the same basic car, they really got it right with the C5.
Dope