Corvette Door Clearance
Thread Starter
2nd Gear
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
Corvette Door Clearance
Hello all,
I'm an employee of GM, trying to find some data about the Corvette door. More specifically, I'm trying to find data on whether Corvette drivers have issues with the doors swinging into a curb.
Currently, there's about xx mm of door clearance for the C7 (and this clearance value has not changed since the 60s), and we want to know if this is an acceptable clearance or if we can make the margin smaller in order to give studio a little bit more design freedom for possible future products. I'm hoping you all could help answer some questions and provide feedback.
1. Have you ever had an issue with door swinging into a curb? (If yes, what kind of curb was it: Sidewalk, landscaping, parking lot curb, other)
2. Did you expect to have a problem with that particular curb?
3. Was the vehicle empty, or loaded?
4. Was the door fully opened, or opened slightly?
5. What generation was the corvette?
Any information, pm or comment, would be appreciated.
Thanks!
I'm an employee of GM, trying to find some data about the Corvette door. More specifically, I'm trying to find data on whether Corvette drivers have issues with the doors swinging into a curb.
Currently, there's about xx mm of door clearance for the C7 (and this clearance value has not changed since the 60s), and we want to know if this is an acceptable clearance or if we can make the margin smaller in order to give studio a little bit more design freedom for possible future products. I'm hoping you all could help answer some questions and provide feedback.
1. Have you ever had an issue with door swinging into a curb? (If yes, what kind of curb was it: Sidewalk, landscaping, parking lot curb, other)
2. Did you expect to have a problem with that particular curb?
3. Was the vehicle empty, or loaded?
4. Was the door fully opened, or opened slightly?
5. What generation was the corvette?
Any information, pm or comment, would be appreciated.
Thanks!
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 3,849
Likes: 1,860
From: St. Louis Metro East IL
Occasional grounding on the grass between curb and sidewalk in 2006 with car empty, crowned road with door fully opened. Driver usually already out of car with adult passenger still exiting. No issues on 2014. Please do not reduce ground clearance to bottom of door.
How about suggesting another inch of seat travel, a bit more recline, and 1/2 inch more headroom while you are working with the design guys?
How about suggesting another inch of seat travel, a bit more recline, and 1/2 inch more headroom while you are working with the design guys?
Last edited by RonC7; Aug 28, 2015 at 04:23 PM. Reason: .
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 1,340
Likes: 322
From: Indiana
When the street is crowned, the door can hit the curb or the sidewalk somewhat beyond the curb. This is hard to measure or judge if you are unfamiliar with that location. It will be on the passenger side which makes it difficult for the deiver to see or control.
Race Director
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 13,733
Likes: 66
From: Hurst, TX USA
On the C7 the curb would have to be reeeealy tall to have the door hit. I have parked on the street next to some really big ones in downtown Ft. Worth and was able to open the door all the way. Although I haven't actually measured it I'd guess the C7 doors have an inch or two more clearance than the C6 or C5 doors. Of course there is a limit to everything and sometimes you just have to crack the door open and look to see what the clearance is.
Increasing the seat travel and seat back recline angle is way more important, as RonC7 suggested...
Increasing the seat travel and seat back recline angle is way more important, as RonC7 suggested...
Last edited by BigJoe; Aug 28, 2015 at 04:27 PM.
Team Owner
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 35,760
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From: Northern NYs Adirondack Mountains,http://www.visitsacandaga.com.
On the C7 the curb would have to be reeeealy tall to have the door hit. I have parked on the street next to some really big ones in downtown Ft. Worth and was able to open the door all the way. Although I haven't actually measured it I'd guess the C7 doors have an inch or two more clearance than the C6 or C5 doors. Of course there is a limit to everything and sometimes you just have to crack the door open and look to see what the clearance is.
Increasing the seat travel and seat back recline angle is way more important, as RonC7 suggested...
Increasing the seat travel and seat back recline angle is way more important, as RonC7 suggested...
Pro
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 514
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From: Georgia
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Racer
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 302
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From: Everett WA
Corvette Door Clearance
I've had no problem with my '15. Beside being a little higher than other generation vettes, the rounded door edge helps too. My '02 Firebird with the squarer door occasionally scrapes curbs. I love the idea suggested of opening out and up.
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 3,543
Likes: 854
I find your post to be quite suspious in nature and the general question you are asking.
GM engineers should be totally aware of the Department of Transportation and Federal Highway Standards for curb heights.
You can do your own due diligence and research, but will find in most states Department of Transportation engineering standards call for a curb height of 7".
So as long as the door opening height clears 7" there should be no problems.
I would have to be certain that as stated, GM engineers are fully aware of these engineering standards when asking questions like yours.
Much of the information you asking for can be found at.....www.fhwa.dot.gov
You will get however lots of opinions and stories of personal experinences. I would have to bet, most responses will state they have not experienced any problems.
Nor have I been any vehilce that when opening a car door next to a sidewalk curb, island curb etc., the curb height has ever stopped me from opening the vehicle door.
GM engineers should be totally aware of the Department of Transportation and Federal Highway Standards for curb heights.
You can do your own due diligence and research, but will find in most states Department of Transportation engineering standards call for a curb height of 7".
So as long as the door opening height clears 7" there should be no problems.
I would have to be certain that as stated, GM engineers are fully aware of these engineering standards when asking questions like yours.
Much of the information you asking for can be found at.....www.fhwa.dot.gov
You will get however lots of opinions and stories of personal experinences. I would have to bet, most responses will state they have not experienced any problems.
Nor have I been any vehilce that when opening a car door next to a sidewalk curb, island curb etc., the curb height has ever stopped me from opening the vehicle door.
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 1,519
Likes: 431
From: MI
I have seen much higher curbs in private facilities. I have never had an issue in the Corvette as a am very conscious of where I park. In a shopping center parking lot, I did run the door of my DD into a curb which was much higher than the DOT standard listed below.
I find your post to be quite suspious in nature and the general question you are asking.
GM engineers should be totally aware of the Department of Transportation and Federal Highway Standards for curb heights.
You can do your own due diligence and research, but will find in most states Department of Transportation engineering standards call for a curb height of 7".
So as long as the door opening height clears 7" there should be no problems.
I would have to be certain that as stated, GM engineers are fully aware of these engineering standards when asking questions like yours.
Much of the information you asking for can be found at.....www.fhwa.dot.gov
You will get however lots of opinions and stories of personal experinences. I would have to bet, most responses will state they have not experienced any problems.
Nor have I been any vehilce that when opening a car door next to a sidewalk curb, island curb etc., the curb height has ever stopped me from opening the vehicle door.
GM engineers should be totally aware of the Department of Transportation and Federal Highway Standards for curb heights.
You can do your own due diligence and research, but will find in most states Department of Transportation engineering standards call for a curb height of 7".
So as long as the door opening height clears 7" there should be no problems.
I would have to be certain that as stated, GM engineers are fully aware of these engineering standards when asking questions like yours.
Much of the information you asking for can be found at.....www.fhwa.dot.gov
You will get however lots of opinions and stories of personal experinences. I would have to bet, most responses will state they have not experienced any problems.
Nor have I been any vehilce that when opening a car door next to a sidewalk curb, island curb etc., the curb height has ever stopped me from opening the vehicle door.
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Thread Starter
2nd Gear
Joined: Aug 2015
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Hey everyone,
Sorry for the late response.
First off, thanks to those who replied and for all the feedback.
Secondly, I work in Vehicle Configuration. In this department, we establish dimensional criteria for future products through bench marking and market research (i.e. how much space call be allocated for different aspects of a future product). I mainly work on the full size SUV programs, but was asked to assist for this question. We are trying to determine a general understanding of this door clearance, and based off of the responses, to see if it is an issue that should be researched further.
Sorry for the late response.
First off, thanks to those who replied and for all the feedback.
Secondly, I work in Vehicle Configuration. In this department, we establish dimensional criteria for future products through bench marking and market research (i.e. how much space call be allocated for different aspects of a future product). I mainly work on the full size SUV programs, but was asked to assist for this question. We are trying to determine a general understanding of this door clearance, and based off of the responses, to see if it is an issue that should be researched further.
Pro
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 748
Likes: 222
I agree that the post is a bit odd....but "we" anonymously ask for opinions all the time. And.....it's generally accepted as unwise to post identifying personal information on the interweb....for any number of reasons.
And....he did respond with a bit more detail. It's not like he's asking for nuclear launch codes. What nefarious purpose could he have for seeking opinions on curb heights and door interference?
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 110
Likes: 4
From: Dracut Massachusetts
In all honesty rather then worrying about opening the car into a curb, focus on fixing the seat memory issues. this has been going on for years whit these cars. It should be the most simple thing to figure out, or just start buying your memory modules from Jeep or Kia. Common