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Old Dec 7, 2006 | 03:55 PM
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Default C6 weight reduction?

Why doesn't GM reduce the weight of the C6 to that of the Z06? Looks to me it would be a quick great way to get better performance if GM just copied what they do with the Z06 and not cost that much more. magnesium engine cradle and more carbon fiber. They have all the parts ready to go..C6 and Z06 have interchangable body parts.

if the C6 shaved 150 pounds wouldn't that equate to atleast .01 to 0.2 tenths of a second off of 0-60 times?
Would it really cost much more?
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Old Dec 7, 2006 | 04:09 PM
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My guess is magnesium and carbon fiber components will cost significnantly more than their aluminm or SMC counterparts and GM is not willing to increase the existing C6 price point.
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Old Dec 7, 2006 | 04:10 PM
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Haha, most of us could go on a diet and lose more weight than you'd gain taking off a few "unnecessary" parts.
Also search on the 100s of posts moaning that the Vette doesn't have every bell and whistle that the {enter any foreign car here} has. For everyone like you there are 20-30 folks that could care less that their must-have air conditioned seats, or whatever, add weight to the car.
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Old Dec 7, 2006 | 04:11 PM
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Originally Posted by UTVOL06
Why doesn't GM reduce the weight of the C6 to that of the Z06? Looks to me it would be a quick great way to get better performance if GM just copied what they do with the Z06 and not cost that much more. magnesium engine cradle and more carbon fiber. They have all the parts ready to go..C6 and Z06 have interchangable body parts.

if the C6 shaved 150 pounds wouldn't that equate to atleast .01 to 0.2 tenths of a second off of 0-60 times?
Would it really cost much more?
Sorry to burst your bubble, but magnesium & carbon fiber components are MUCH more expensive!
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Old Dec 7, 2006 | 04:13 PM
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ok..I didn't know how much more...thanks. Would be nice if it was a performance option though.
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Old Dec 7, 2006 | 04:15 PM
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Buy some lightweight wheels(14lbs each), saw them in a vette mag recently.Should help a tenth or two.
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Old Dec 7, 2006 | 04:18 PM
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I think I read somewhere that the ZO6 had an aluninum frame. Sorry I don't remenber where... I might be wrong....Just repeating what I read somewhere.
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Old Dec 7, 2006 | 04:26 PM
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Originally Posted by UTVOL06
ok..I didn't know how much more...thanks. Would be nice if it was a performance option though.
It is...Z06
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Old Dec 7, 2006 | 05:02 PM
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A Z06 is a C6.
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Old Dec 7, 2006 | 05:05 PM
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Originally Posted by JimTN
A Z06 is a C6.
Some are.
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Old Dec 7, 2006 | 05:12 PM
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Originally Posted by UTVOL06
Would be nice if it was a performance option though.
It is and it's called Z06.
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Old Dec 7, 2006 | 05:17 PM
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lets not get smart about it..I'm just talking about the C6 with weight reduction only.

I guess it wouldn't be cost effective for GM to offer it seeing as they have the Z06 and they sell like hotcakes.
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Old Dec 7, 2006 | 05:33 PM
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Originally Posted by Larry B.
I think I read somewhere that the ZO6 had an aluninum frame. Sorry I don't remenber where... I might be wrong....Just repeating what I read somewhere.
It does and it ain't cheap.
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Old Dec 7, 2006 | 05:55 PM
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Very interesting idea--leave the base drive train alone, but incorporate the Z06 parts that weigh less, like the aluminum frame, magnesium engine cradle, carbon fiber body panels, etc. It would jump the cost up, no doubt, but how much more?
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Old Dec 7, 2006 | 06:39 PM
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Originally Posted by UTVOL06
Why doesn't GM reduce the weight of the C6 to that of the Z06? Looks to me it would be a quick great way to get better performance if GM just copied what they do with the Z06 and not cost that much more. magnesium engine cradle and more carbon fiber. They have all the parts ready to go..C6 and Z06 have interchangable body parts.

if the C6 shaved 150 pounds wouldn't that equate to atleast .01 to 0.2 tenths of a second off of 0-60 times?
Would it really cost much more?

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
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Old Dec 7, 2006 | 07:45 PM
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Originally Posted by BigJoe
Haha, most of us could go on a diet and lose more weight than you'd gain taking off a few "unnecessary" parts.
Also search on the 100s of posts moaning that the Vette doesn't have every bell and whistle that the {enter any foreign car here} has. For everyone like you there are 20-30 folks that could care less that their must-have air conditioned seats, or whatever, add weight to the car.
Wait there's a air conditioned seat option.
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Old Dec 7, 2006 | 07:54 PM
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Originally Posted by Indy-hp
Very interesting idea--leave the base drive train alone, but incorporate the Z06 parts that weigh less, like the aluminum frame, magnesium engine cradle, carbon fiber body panels, etc. It would jump the cost up, no doubt, but how much more?
I never thought about that, but it would be a great idea. Basically the same and the C5 hardtop. I'm curious how much an option like that would cost. Remember that the C5 hardtop actually cost less than a base C5, even though it included 2 significant options: Z51 and the then-more-expensive 6 speed transmission. Although it didn't have as much exotic materials as the C6Z does.
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Old Dec 7, 2006 | 08:58 PM
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whenever I get out of my car it has a significant weight reduction
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Old Dec 7, 2006 | 09:25 PM
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Originally Posted by UTVOL06
Why doesn't GM reduce the weight of the C6 to that of the Z06? Looks to me it would be a quick great way to get better performance if GM just copied what they do with the Z06 and not cost that much more. magnesium engine cradle and more carbon fiber. They have all the parts ready to go..C6 and Z06 have interchangable body parts.

if the C6 shaved 150 pounds wouldn't that equate to atleast .01 to 0.2 tenths of a second off of 0-60 times?
Would it really cost much more?

Three Easy Ways to Lighten the Coupe and Convertible

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show...e&forum_id=100

1) Aluminum Frame - 136 pounds lighter than steel frame. If stiffeners
are added, the increase will be no more than 10kg=22pounds.

2) Magnesium Crossmembers - The rear crossmember is likely to be worth nearly
the same mass savings as the front (5.5 kg = 12.1 lbs).

http://search.nrel.gov/query.html?co...tyle=eere&ws=0

3) Polycarbonate Rear Hatch - Use the new Exatec 900 system. The current
one in the coupe and Z06 weighs 23.08 pounds. There is 11 pounds of high Cg
mass to shed.

Carbon fiber and titanium are way too expensive for much use in the
base models - maybe titanium valve retainers. Magnesium isn't in the
same price class as titanium and CF.

So, without major aggrevation, the C6 diet could be worth:

114 + 12*2 + 11 = 149 pounds

I'd be happy with the frame and the front crossmember.
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Old Dec 7, 2006 | 11:28 PM
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OMG...here we go again
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