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Old 04-17-2012, 08:28 AM   #106
LOWDOWN
Downright Upright
 
Drives: Daily
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Cruisin'...
Posts: 4,145
Quote:
Originally Posted by _Nick_ View Post
You guys mention displacement as if it impacts weight. If its a Gen III GM V8, it weighs the same as every other Gen III GM V8.
Displacement, or rather engine output, DOES impact weight.

GM manufactures Gen-4 V8 engines that make from 302hp/305tq to 505hp/470tq. ALL weigh about the same. I dare say you need more "substance" to harness 505/470 than you do 302/305...

A 1SS Camaro weighs 3860. A ZL1 weighs 4120. An LSA weighs just over 100 lb. more than an LS3, right? So why does the ZL1 weigh 260 lb. more, after reducing 20-some lb. in the wheel/tire department?!

6-piston front brakes...HD Tremec...HD rear diff...HD rear axles...MRC...reinforcement...WEIGHT!!

You need heavier duty components for a V6 than a 4-cylinder. Which generally includes HD brakes. Which adds even MORE weight. NOT because the V6 weighs more, but because a V6 puts out more power...and torque...which "twists" the body/chassis, requiring more potential "structure" in the vehicle to resist that "bending". And that increased power adds greater dynamic abilities to the vehicle...greater speeds attainable, potentially, which requires greater capabilities/capacities, potentially, for ALL driveline pieces. Brakes, wheels/tires, suspension/driveline.

Same thing happens when you go from a V6 to a V8...heavier duty components add weight, which means a heavier car needs heavier duty brakes. You have those upgraded components present in a current V8-SS Camaro vs. the V6 LS/LT versions. For very good reasons... A 1LT Camaro weighs 3741. An LS3 weighs 60 pounds more than the V6. Yet a 1SS Camaro weighs 3860. 60 extra pounds of driveline components to compensate for the increased power of the V8...

There's MORE to the weight equation than just the added weight of the engine.

As to the continuing reference of FWD, you're polluting the engineering rationale and result with a red herring reference. Hell, why don't they start with a 3010 lb. Cruze Eco, stuff in a V8, and call it a day?!

Last edited by LOWDOWN; 04-17-2012 at 08:52 AM.
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