I have a friend with a 2011 Grand Sport and he is telling me the frame is larger than other corvettes in the same year. I found it amazing that GM would build a different frame size on the same year of vehicle so I tried to verify that on the Internet. I uncovered the aluminum frame for the Z06 and that there were wider bodies, but I couldn't find any reference that any frame was a different size. Is the wider body on the outside only or is the interior larger too? Are there really two different size frames for this car (2011 vette) or just two different materials (steel and aluminum)? Appreciate any insight you can provide. Thanks.

 

Your friend is unintelligent......don't trust him for anything from here on out...

 

There are just two different materials (steel and aluminum).

 

Maybe uneducated about his car would be a better way to put it, lol.

 

The term 'Wide Body' refers to the fenders only, You could put wheels and the size of the brake rotors in that basket too, but wide body refers to the fenders.

Mark

 

Yep, z06 and ZR1 have the aluminuam frames, while the rest (including the GS) has the steel frames. The frames are all the same size, and it's just the materials that that frame is made, with the aluminuam frame being lighter.

As noted, wide body car just means that the fenders on the car a wider that the fenders on the base instead, which allows for wider rims/ wider tires on such rims to fit under the fenders.

So what the GS really is, is just a Z51 (Z52 really) option package car with wider fenders than on the base car, with the same steel frame as the base car, to make it a wide body car. What it is not, is a Z06 option car which has better performance upgrades over the Z51 option/z52 GS cars instead.

Bluntly, your buddy doesn't have a clue on what he owns, and sounds like he is trying to talk it up like it on the same level or better than a Z06 car (which is not by a long shot).

 

Your friend is clueless.

Take one Z06 and....
- Replace the aluminum frame with the steel frame from the base car
- Replace the LS7 (505hp) with the LS3 (436hp with NPP); Dry sump system from the LS7 remains if it is a manual transmission GS coupe
- Replace the 3" LS7 exhaust with the 2.5" LS3 exhaust (NPP optional)
- Replace carbon fiber body components with "fiberglass" (I think they're still made of a version of SMC that's been in use since the '84 Vette)

There are nuances beyond the above, but those are the main things. For instance, the GS has a mix of Z06 and GS specific shocks. The brakes are standard issue Z06 not Z51. etc

 

Exterior dimensions are the same for all non-convertible C6 frames, be they base coupe, GS, Z06 or ZR1.

IIRC, the aluminum frame uses thicker gauge material to regain some of the loss of strength as compared to the steel. (3mm for steel, 4mm for aluminum, or some similar change).

The GS Coupe manual transmission frame does have an insignificant change from the standard C6 steel frame in that it contains a steel battery tray support on the right rear rail section, similar to the Z06/ZR1. Other than that... same same.

 

 

Thanks for the replies. Amusing and informative.

 

You sir, have it basically correct, and your friend has no clue.

The GS or Z06 have exactly the same amount of interior space as a "base" model. The Z06 has a slightly different cargo area, no place (or need) to put the pesky top, but there is a tether point to put a baby car seat.

The aluminum frame on the Z06 is thicker than the steel one. The jacking inserts for the base or GS won't fit the aluminum frame.

The Auto GS Still has two rear cubbies. The Z06, M GS only have the left one. The battery takes up the right one.

 

The suspension is not exactly a Z51 package from what I have found it includes Z51 and Z06 parts ...

The 2010-2013 GS has the Z16 Performance Package which also includes a somewhat modified FE3 Suspension (unique to the GS)
Items included in the Grand Sport Z16 Performance Package:
1. Front Brakes . . . . . . .. Z06 . . . . . . . . .Cross-Drilled 14.0” Rotors and 6-Piston Calipers
2. Rear Brakes . . . . . . . . Z06 . . . . . . . . .Cross-Drilled 13.4” Rotors and 4-Piston Calipers
3. Front Stabilizer Bar . . . Z06 . . . . . . . . .31.0 mm
4. Rear Stabilizer Bar . . . .Z06 . . . . . . . . .27.9 mm
5. Front Springs . . . . . . . Z51 . . . . . . . . .526 Lb Rate
6. Rear Springs . . . . . . . .Z51 . . . . . . . . .645 Lb Rate
7. Front Shocks . . . . . . . .Z06.....................Or F55
8. Rear Shocks . . . . . . . . Z16 Specific................Or F55

Plus...Hand built engine, rear mounted battery and Dry Sump Engine Oil System like the Z06 with Differential Oil Cooler (Coupes with M6 Transmission Only) .

Your buddy may be playing it up, but the Z06 guys love to play it down...

OP the Z06 is essentially lighter approx (136 lb ) has a race ready 7.0 engine with more forged internals, including titanium rods/intake valves etc. (69 HP more)..this is enough to make it approximately 1 second faster quarter mile... ..ZO6 is a Great car if the engine stays together.

 

Mine's bigger.

 

Two guys walking over the golden gate bride, and both had to pee.

So both start to pee over the side of the bridge and one guys says to the other to trying to brag, "The Water is Cold".

The other guy not to be out done replies, " And Deep Too".

 

People peeing off of brides. What is the world coming to?