jclark10

iTrader: (1)

So supposedly the GMT-900 2 mode hybrids had an aluminum hood and the trucks supposedly had an aluminum tailgate. Now I am not sure if the trucks had the aluminum hood as well or just the tailgate. I am also not sure if this is even true at all as I have only seen 1 or 2 of them in my life and never been up close to one.

I am just curious for the weight savings, the GMT-900 hood is enormously heavy to me and if you could get both the hood and tailgate, and maybe any other GMT-900 hybrid goodies available, that would be some pretty good weight savings I would think? I don't know the weights on any of them though.

I also noticed on my 2011 Sierra Denali 6.2 L9H that it appears the lower control arm is aluminum since it isn't magnetized, which I thought only the K2XX trucks had aluminum control arms? The control arms along with the aluminum hood I thought was the only weight reduction items on the K2XXs vs the GMT-900s?

So the other problem would also probably be the availability, especially with the whole supply chain apocalypse going on as well.

I also read where the hybrids had "special lightweight seats".

shakenfake

By that time I think they had moved to aluminum control arms

Yes that would be like 300 pounds. There is a thread on the Tahoe Yukon forum about this topic
https://www.tahoeyukonforum.com/thre...-parts.120129/

jclark10

iTrader: (1)

Thanks, I knew someone had probably already thought about this already haha.

So my Sierra Denali already has aluminum lower control arms and an aluminum driveshaft. However, I thought the aluminum driveshaft was common on basically all 4wd trucks? even the GMT-800s? Front driveshafts were steel though.

They also I think had a "extra fuel economy" package, which I can't find the info on but maybe they used some of the lightweight hybrid components on it after they canceled the hybrids.

Also kind of on the subject maybe, but does anyone know the purpose of these things welded to the front of the frame on the GMT-900s? Maybe something used during manufacturing? or maybe crash energy absorption? I mean yeah I guess every little bit of weight savings counts haha.

shakenfake

Willing to bet energy absorption

jclark10

iTrader: (1)

Maybe it could also be like a anti-climber.

shakenfake

What do you mean by that?

Like when you hit someone the bumper doesn't just go straight up?

jclark10

iTrader: (1)

Yeah so it won't ramp over something that's shorter.

swathdiver

I know for sure that the Hybrid wagons had aluminum hoods and rear doors and the second row seat frames were aluminum so as not to conduct electricity as the battery is underneath them.

Many GMT900s of all kinds, especially the XFE wagons, had aluminum lower control arms. Some also had aluminum knuckles if memory serves.

smokinlmm

Dam 300 pounds is a lot to loose. I'll have to dig into this.

arthursc2

iTrader: (5)

aluminum is one of the best conductors known to man. In fact we still use it in high voltage transfer and power generation. For the seat frame to not be conductive there must be a coating on the frame, but as soon as the coating is compromised: you're gonna have a conductor that's better than steel