Plastic clips and such have no bearing on weight, it's a cost thing pure and simple.

Over 33 thousand cars or so the cost savings add up for GM. But it's not limited to Corvettes either. Many of these items they use on other cars as well. If anyone believes every single nut and bolt and plastic piece on a corvette is only used on a corvette, well they are

 

I suppose buying in bulk with a discount for cheaper materials does have its place.

 

The Vette tax is high. I have a couple friends with Porsche's. They tell me the Porsche tax is even higher.

 

You obviously know absolutely nothing about automotive manufacturing. When Dave Hill says , make it lighter, we make it lighter. Plastic has a specific gravity close to 1:1 you will never find a metal part that approaches this weight. All metal parts will sink when placed in water, but many plastic part will float. when you multiply hundreds of plastic parts, the weight savings adds up... We changed the sub straight on the rear storage compartments from plastic to composite particle board to save 10 oz. We took a few pound off the Z06 windshield at an additional cost to manufacture.. meaning it cost more to make it lighter.. thinner.... your arguments might impress someone who knows nothing but trying to pretend to know something about automotive manufacturing especially the C5, to me, is not your strong suit. The driving force for the C5 was; make it lighter, keep it within budget, and deliver it on time.

 

or a Jaguar,or Range Rover Those things will drain your bank account before you even know its gone...

 

For an engineer, you are mixing terms and units. You are talking about density/specific gravity and calling it weight. The two are not the same. I agree the density of steel is more than the density of plastic, but that is not the only design parameter. When looking at a function of the part the strength of the steel may mean that it can be smaller/thinner than a similar function plastic and therefore have less volume, so it is not strictly a density to density calculation.

How much weight did it save to go from a metal to a plastic clip?

 

For light weight and strength the choice should have been aluminum. still a good economical choice. Titanium is also light but GM probably wouldn't have sprung for that because it might have been a penny more.

 

Flash, you know if you just had a manual you would have been saved both those repairs.....

chris

 

This is so true,but being a DD and not a garage queen like yours in H-TOWN a A4 was better for me. It's funny how my little rant turned into a engineering debate L8R ZFLASH

 

Bah, mine was a DD for 8 years....... Even after the upgraded clutch! Pansy!!!!!!!

chris

 

You see when you try to explain things to various people with different levels of education, explanation should be given so it's understood by most, you have to make it understandable... What I find always interesting when some one comes here to try to discredit my 2 engineering degrees or my 40 your of automotive engineering tenure. People can visualize a light weight plastic part can float. They don't see any aluminum or heavy metals floating.. they may not understand high density close cell foam, or low density open cell foam.
Specific gravity is used to approximate its effect on the over a package.. Take Nylon 6 or Nylon6/6 and compare them to Nylon 6 with 33% GLN as oppose to 66% GFN. they all have different specific gravities, with thousands of parts, the lighter the weight with the proper flexural modulus and Tinius Olsen spec, we can determine a light weight polymer that can do the same job as a heavy metals component... take the intake manifold, Nylon 6 with 33 %GFN.. its 11 lbs lighter than a heavy metals counter part, it also has much better flow characteristics. Telling me how to teach people how this car was built by someone with no automotive design background Is like trying to teach a brain surgeon how to do brain surgery because you just happen to have brain. I've given this directive From Dave hill a hundred times over the last 10 years on this forum. Plastic qualifies as a light weight part capable of being inexpensive in may cases 7 time cheaper than a metal part, and still fit the form fit and function. Did you really think your post would in someway discredit me? Or enlighten me in some way?

 

No. I didn't. I just get tired of you talking down to everyone. There are a lot of people with a lot of knowledge on this forum and when you state it incorrectly it does not prove your point.

I presume that you are stating I (and others) have no automotive design background. Actually I have engineering degrees and over 30 years in automotive also.


All the bickering aside, you and the C5 team did a great job and should be proud. The C5 is great and that is why we are all on this forum.

 

So how about some pic's of the part(s) in question and where they are located?

 

You can call it talking down to people, but if I talk design engineering to the majority of people here. They would think I'm trying to impress someone rather than allow them to understand someone.. BTW I taught 4 th and fifth year engineering co op students in our 6 months on and six months off program. Teaching is not about showing off what you know, its all about teaching people to understand what you know, and making sure they get it... if you think that is called dumbing it down, that's a shame... I don't need to impress anyone here with what I know... The satisfaction I get from this forum are the thousands of thank yous I've received over my 12 years here and 30,000 private post. Most have no real engineering or technical background. The satisfaction I get is from giving back to a community that has support a very amazing career. Only a dummy would call teaching some one something, dumbing it down, or in your case talking down to someone. I respect most who come here, and especially those who PM me because they are a little gun shy of their abilities, and only wish to ask questions privately because of some of the real Dummies who jump at the chance to belittle someone.. I try at all times , when appropriate to share insider knowledge you wont find anywhere, on how the C5 was really born.

 

It happens. I had s similar problem with a BMW about 8yrs ago. The tranny shifter cable snapped, and I ended up driving 2.5 hours to Amarillo one way to get the shifter cable the next day; it's the closest BMW dealer around.

 

You made my point for me that you are talking down to people by calling me a dummy.

I don't want to continue this non productive discussion any more when it comes down to name calling. I appreciate your information and insight into the C5, and the help you provide to the forum members (me included), but please be respectful.

 

all depends on the design of the car

my work van needs a new pan gasket, 20 dollar party i would be more than happy to give someone 200 to install

you either have to lift the engine or drop the front cradle to replace it

so i wouldn't call it a tax to pay a lot for a cheap part, just depends on where the part is

 

I am not sure and I have 6 speeds instead of automatics, but my guess is they are talking about part #5 in the picture (from the C5 parts manual).

If the OP or someone knows which it is please let us know.

 

Maybe the OP should get a few basic tools and learn how to work on his own car??