Build Your Own Engine

-Chris- · 14-07-2010 1:15pm #1

I think this is a pretty cool idea - most manufacturers allow you to collect your car from the factory if you want (a nice idea if you're buying something special), but Corvette are taking it one step further and allowing customers to participate in building their engine.

http://media.gm.com/content/media/us/en/news/news_detail.brand_chevrolet.html/content/Pages/news/us/en/2010/July/0712_corvette

For enthusiasts who want to be personally involved in creating their Corvette, Chevrolet’s new Corvette Engine Build Experience allows them to literally build the engine for their new car.

In what is believed to be the world’s most hands-on super car program, customers who order a 2011 Corvette Z06 or ZR1 can choose an option to help assemble their cars’ LS7 or LS9 engines at General Motors’ Performance Build Center (PBC) in Wixom, Mich.

“Corvette owners are some of the most passionate – and most involved – enthusiasts in the industry,” said Jim Campbell, U.S. vice president, Chevrolet marketing. “The Corvette Engine Build Experience offers customers an unprecedented opportunity to participate, hands on, in creating the car.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_PlzktN4Ql4

Gimmick or great idea?

Gitb1 · 14-07-2010 1:24pm

Would training and insurance and stuff like that not be an issue?

-Chris- · 14-07-2010 1:27pm

I'm sure they've thought of that.

What would it do to your warranty though?
You - Hey, service manager, there's a weird rattle coming from my engine.
Service manager - Did you participate in the engine building program?
You - Yep, why?
Service manager - Well then, it's probably something you did. Warranty void!

:P:D

djimi · 14-07-2010 1:30pm

The warranty was the first thing that popped into my head as well! Great way to cover their asses in the eventuality of anything going wrong with the engine!

Nice idea tho for serious car enthusiasts.

-Chris- · 14-07-2010 1:32pm

Worth $5,800?

Mr.David · 14-07-2010 1:33pm

You'll probably do a better job than they would

mb1725 · 14-07-2010 1:41pm

Is that a pushrod V8 in that Corvette?

uncle-mofo · 14-07-2010 2:14pm

I'd be happy as long as they checked the engine over afterwards!

Dartz · 14-07-2010 2:21pm

mb1725 wrote: »

Is that a pushrod V8 in that Corvette?

Yes

Pushrods are more compact and can result in a lighter engine than using overhead cams. DOHC really only comes into its own at big rev's, which a 7-litre V8 doesn't do.

kasper · 14-07-2010 2:26pm

i wouldnt like to be listening to the guy that built his own engine

robbie_998 · 14-07-2010 2:53pm

Where's my hammer ?...................

:pac:

coronaextra · 14-07-2010 4:46pm

Ha Ha, I hope they have a good customer service team!!

zilog_jones · 14-07-2010 5:00pm

mb1725 wrote: »

Is that a pushrod V8 in that Corvette?

Yeah, pushrods actually make sense in V engines as you can have one central camshaft, reducing size and weight (as Dartz said) and reducing complexity.

galwaytt · 14-07-2010 6:57pm

djimi wrote: »

The warranty was the first thing that popped into my head as well! Great way to cover their asses in the eventuality of anything going wrong with the engine!

Nice idea tho for serious car enthusiasts.

Mr.David wrote: »

You'll probably do a better job than they would

....unlike, say, Porsche 911's, you don't hear of Corvette's with fubar engines from the factory..........they have a very good rep, actually.

Eric Cartman · 14-07-2010 7:09pm

wait until they extend it to the entire process, then hire some jap lads for a day and have them build it - result - $10,000 extra for the only reliable american car ever made

ianobrien · 15-07-2010 7:19am

mb1725 wrote: »

Is that a pushrod V8 in that Corvette?

I'm reminded of the comment that Keith Duckworth made about pushrod engines.

"It's like playing the piano while lying on your back"

I reckon he knew what he was talking about.

FYI - Keith Duckworth was one half of Cosworth, and was the chief designer. Another comment he made about Yank engines was when shown a "proper" Nascar engine was to suggest to cast arrows into the ports to tell the gases which way to go......

SouperComputer · 15-07-2010 6:59pm

No offence meant to the Cosworth legacy, but road-going V8's were never their specialty anymore than 4 cylinder turbos were GM's, so I'd take those comments with a pinch of salt. Theres no disputing the DVF's success, but thats a purpose-designed racing engine. Apples and oranges as they say.

ianobrien · 16-07-2010 10:09am

SouperComputer wrote: »

No offence meant to the Cosworth legacy, but road-going V8's were never their specialty anymore than 4 cylinder turbos were GM's, so I'd take those comments with a pinch of salt. Theres no disputing the DVF's success, but thats a purpose-designed racing engine. Apples and oranges as they say.

Cosworth did plenty of V engines both road and race, GAA, BOA, BOB come to mind. They recently did the compact Volvo V8 engine as fitted in their big cars. The DFV (not DVF by the way) revolutionised engine design with it's narrow angle head. Duckworth was against turbos in F1, and only used them when he had to. The YB that you're on about was originally a n/a engine, called the YA

Oh, as an other aside, the Infamous "Astra Red Top" GM engine was actually a Cosworth head bolted to the Manta engine (KBA I think) Cosworth also did the twin cam heads for Opel 3.0 V6 as well (as used in the Omega) The Merc 190 2.3E was also a Cosworth engine.....