Aluminum vs Polymer car bodies

[DGthe3]

Originally Posted by returnofcc

No, you didn't start anything, and yes this thread is once again going to be locked thanks to a certain someone. We actually had a constructive conversation going on, where I was receiving new info, but that's all gone now.

nope. I created a whole new thread to discus this.

[Number 3]

Originally Posted by MrIcky

LOL I'd take bets...ZR1?

For the record, there is nothing inherently great about aluminum body panels. They're harder to repair and easier to damage unless you make them thicker-which negates the weight advantage. I don't have anything against aluminum either, but when I hear something is made out of aluminum- I shrug and feel pity for the poor body guy if something goes wrong. If you've ever done time in a body shop, you'd understand.

[Captain Awesome]

Yeah... I'm a bit worried about hailstones or acorns falling on the hoods of our camaros.... the aluminum has a definite feel about it that seems like it will dent easily.

[returnofcc]

Originally Posted by Captain Awesome

Yeah... I'm a bit worried about hailstones or acorns falling on the hoods of our camaros.... the aluminum has a definite feel about it that seems like it will dent easily.

Ok, but I must be missing something. Does anyone know the percentages of steel, aluminum, and magnesium there are in porsche bodies, or in bodies of any cars, and exactly how these blends of these metals differ from say the fiberglass body of the corvette? Is it the material that makes cars perform better on crash tests, or is it the crumple zones that they have set up, or both?

[DGthe3]

Originally Posted by returnofcc

Ok, but I must be missing something. Does anyone know the percentages of steel, aluminum, and magnesium there are in porsche bodies, or in bodies of any cars, and exactly how these blends of these metals differ from say the fiberglass body of the corvette? Is it the material that makes cars perform better on crash tests, or is it the crumple zones that they have set up, or both?

There aren't any steel-aluminum alloys used. Its steel, or aluminum, or what ever else, for any particular body panel.

For a unibody car with a metal skin (be it steel or aluminum) it is structural and has an effect on the crash worthiness of the vehicle. The design of the Corvette space frame is similar to the chassis of a race car. There is a steel or aluminum frame underneath that gives it strength and safety. Fibreglass and carbon fibre on the Corvette is non-structural. Its purpose is to make it look nice, keep water out, and do it at minimal weight. Both metal skinned cars and ones like the Corvette or older saturns have energy absorbing crush/crumple zones within structural elements for safety

[MrIcky]

Originally Posted by DGthe3

There aren't any steel-aluminum alloys used. Its steel, or aluminum, or what ever else, for any particular body panel.

For a unibody car with a metal skin (be it steel or aluminum) it is structural and has an effect on the crash worthiness of the vehicle. The design of the Corvette space frame is similar to the chassis of a race car. There is a steel or aluminum frame underneath that gives it strength and safety. Fibreglass and carbon fibre on the Corvette is non-structural. Its purpose is to make it look nice, keep water out, and do it at minimal weight. Both metal skinned cars and ones like the Corvette or older saturns have energy absorbing crush/crumple zones within structural elements for safety

Yup, the only thing I'll add on that is that they have to take extra care with carbon hoods because they don't crumple like a regular hood, so they have to design them to deflect up or break in half because they are stronger and more rigid then a windshield.