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The eliminator was part of the package to insure compliance.... the car had to meet the spec before launch in 1997, so everything was done to effect this. A very high priority in the design phase other wise it would not hit our demographic... I compiled this so you could see the tax, and the criterial. plastic, parts light weight material, the use of sandwiched balsa was all part of the package. I've told the story of how the latches for the hatch compartments where already in production, but the weight team changed the covers to a balsa composite and the latches were already in production but didn't fit.. so extra labor was required to glue them in place.. the actual latch design has a snap in feature, which does not snap into anything after the rev was made to the lids.. this was done to reduce weight for the GGtax. Just another insider design tidbit, you wont find in any book... just like the double hinge on the console, which was specifically designed to keep the lid from popping completely open in a collision , this was designed in 1996 for launch to be pro active for a 2001 DOT requirement.
Wow! I thought after all these years I knew almost everything about these cars. It's always interesting to find out that I don't. Thanks for the great info!
I don't know it all, that's for sure.. But I do know tons of insider stuff, from a predesign, to launch aspect... I share some of that stuff that you wont find in any book. Sometimes a new topic here will evoke some old memories in the design phase. I tend to share some of that stuff, because I know it is interesting to many... like picking up stuff off the editors floor, in a film editing room. Some of the stuff that doesn't make it to launch can be very interesting too. Also many people have absolutely no clue as to what actually does go into the pre design phase, how the time and budget effect the design, how some items take a priority over others, and who makes those final choices.. Who shoots down a revision, even though it enhances the design, etc. Most people never see that a new design, a clean sheet of paper, requires 6000 parts to be designed and all fit together, be manufactured by a dozen second and third tier manufacturers, and all within the scrutiny of GM oversight. all wind up in Bowling green, and be on time and still within budget.
Last edited by Evil-Twin; Apr 1, 2016 at 07:34 AM.
I don't know it all, that's for sure.. But I do know tons of insider stuff, from a predesign, to launch aspect... I share some of that stuff that you wont find in any book. Sometimes a new topic here will evoke some old memories in the design phase. I tend to share some of that stuff, because I know it is interesting to many... like picking up stuff off the editors floor, in a film editing room. Some of the stuff that doesn't make it to launch can be very interesting too. Also many people have absolutely no clue as to what actually does go into the pre design phase, how the time and budget effect the design, how some items take a priority over others, and who makes those final choices.. Who shoots down a revision, even though it enhances the design, etc. Most people never see that a new design, a clean sheet of paper, requires 6000 parts to be designed and all fit together, be manufactured by a dozen second and third tier manufacturers, and all within the scrutiny of GM oversight. all wind up in Bowling green, and be on time and still within budget.
I always find your input very interesting and agree with you. I do understand what it takes to put a World Class Vehicle together. As a QC Tech. at the Honda engine plant in Anna OH. (AEP) I have seen first hand and worked on a tiny part of the development of the new, soon to be released Acura NSX by Honda. The number of outside suppliers all overseen by Honda, and as "ET" says "Most people never see that a new design, a clean sheet of paper, requires 6000 parts to be designed and all fit together. With that said, I'll stick with something I can still afford, Like my Vette.
I also do just fine with option three, just drive past it.
I never considered myself speed crazed, it just seems the engine note sounds to be more correctly operating at a higher rpm , so I throw my shift there. I hardly ever run up against the shift nanny's judgement with this approach, Just a couple of times on a slow left turn.
I hate to lug an engine. Even though I understand this engine has a lot of torque, I can't get fully happy short shifting the car, it still sounds like a poor wear practice, even though the RPM triggers of the shift skip seems to indicate it will handle low RPM acceleration, the engine note just sounds incorrect .
Not a big issue in my town. Unless you jam out at every light, somebody on a cell phone will be up your tailpipe, in a ***** out sprint to the next red light , two blocks away.