How many parts in a Corvette?

[Mark E.]

It's a simple question a non-car guy friend asked, which I couldn't answer.

I know the answer is "it depends". Which car? How do you define "part"?

More specifically, a pre-computer Corvette vs. modern Corvette? I suspect the count went up significantly then.

A simple count of all part numbers may double count assemblies. For example, alternator related PNs include the assembly, which is just another label for the set of its component PNs, and not really an additional part. Also, the quantity of a PN used needs to be considered. 20 lug nuts are 20 parts, not just one PN.

Maybe define "part" as the number of components and assemblies installed as a unit at St. Louis/Bowling Green. This should be close to the parts called out in the AIM. For example, an alternator would be counted as one part, and 20 lug nuts as 20 parts.

[John L.]

Re: How many parts in a Corvette?

Mark
No simple explanation
There are "Final Assemblies" ..... These are the parts as delivered to the assembly plant just as in your assembly manual..... 1200 to 1800 is a good number not including fasteners or standard parts
Then there are the parts or components that make up those assemblies which could be as little as (1) component to hundreds per assembly,... 12 to 20k maybe and these are just the parts that the manufacturer assigned part numbers to. For example, GM had numerous component numbers for a C2 clock (case, face, terminal etc) but not for all the springs, pins, gears and levers that went into the Borg mechanism.....but Borg had their part numbers.... you get the idea. This is a mind bending.
Way back in the day I worked as a detail draftsmen and there were very large drawings (for example an instrument panel assembly) that were nothing more than a huge matrix of part numbers that had to be updated for every part number change. different final assemblies down one side for color, options etc., and first level components across the other. The crazy thing was they were seldom perfect but they could still build cars.

[Michael W.]

Re: How many parts in a Corvette?

Q: How many parts in a Corvette?

A: all of them. Just like every car.

I was once asked a similar question by a journalist in Norway regarding the number of parts were in the gas turbine engines my company was introducing to the market. I responded with the correct answer which is 'well over 10,000'. The journalist countered that I was wrong and that the correct answer was three. I wondered why he bothered asking if he already knew (and was sure of) the answer.

An old friend once said that a single idiot could keep a team of wise men infinitely busy by asking unanswerable questions.

[Keith W.]

Re: How many parts in a Corvette?

Back in the 80ts I worked within the automotive industry - generally the items could be counted within the BOM or bill of materials - however an as an example, the internal light - could be made up of 8 items but could be counted as 1 on the BOM as the component was made up as a subassembly- or another supplier- also the options would kick in - power hood, sun shades, head rests, Zo6 options , shoulder belt etc - look how many components are made up in example of steel wheels and a hub cap, against knock off wheels , spinner, cone , pin , plus cap
Could it be done yes - just wouldn't like the job
good luck with your quest

[Tom D.]

Re: How many parts in a Corvette?

I can still recall the complaints from the specifications folks in Warren technical center, when we finally (at their request) added the complete sub-assemblies from Rochester Products stuff to their "common corporate data base" called PDS. The bills of mats. got much longer. They had no idea how many parts a single carburetor had. The lesson was: Be careful what you ask for...

[Michael W.]

Re: How many parts in a Corvette?

They had not idea how many parts a single carburetor had.

Isn't it '3' just like my gas turbines?

[Gene M.]

Re: How many parts in a Corvette?

In industry a part is as it lowest level of value added. Such as a plastic molded part is a part. An alternator is a subassembly that is comprised of many other subassemblies and piece parts. So the answer is not the same when asked of different people from different backgrounds.

Just as a point of interest why would the question arise?

[Jim L.]

Re: How many parts in a Corvette?

It's a simple question a non-car guy friend asked, which I couldn't answer.

I know the answer is "it depends". Which car? How do you define "part"?

More specifically, a pre-computer Corvette vs. modern Corvette? .

Sometime in the '70s, Chevrolet attempted to speculate on the number of parts in a Corvette in an article in Corvette News. The article featured a picture of a stylized "Corvette" which was a blended composite of a '53, a C2, and a C3 and maybe several others.

My (dim) memory of that article was that it claimed about 23000 parts went into a Corvette. I don't remember how they defined a "part".

Jim

[Ed S.]

Re: How many parts in a Corvette?

Ask the guy (or lady) that is responsible for maintaining the parts catalog data base for Long Island Corvette or Paragon, they should know.

[Joe R.]

Re: How many parts in a Corvette?

Ask the guy (or lady) that is responsible for maintaining the parts catalog data base for Long Island Corvette or Paragon, they should know.

So is a clock one part or 47 parts? I doubt that LIC sells individual gears for the inside of the clock.

Trying to come up with a parts count is a difficult endeavor. Overall, though, I think there are a lot more parts in a modern car than there are in C2 Corvette. Even though the clock in a modern car has fewer parts than the clock in a C2, my impression is that lots of other aspects of modern cars have added greatly to the overall parts count.

[Joe R.]

Re: How many parts in a Corvette?

Yeah, that's a great idea to call Long Island and ask the girl how many parts are in a Corvette. She will give you a parts count that you will never forget. Please post the results here on the board. I need a laugh that will last all day!!!!!

JR

[Michael W.]

Re: How many parts in a Corvette?

Even though the clock in a modern car has fewer parts than the clock in a C2,

Is a circuit board one part or does it count as being made up of dozens/hundreds of diodes capacitors resistors etc.

[Duke W.]

Re: How many parts in a Corvette?

If you count "piece parts" an IC is one part, but a circuit board with that IC plus a couple of dozen resistors would be 14 parts. Piece parts would include every individual part used to make up higher assemblies and would include every nut, bolt, and washer, diode, resistor, individual wire, etc. I recall from way back when that cars have something on the order of 20-30K piece parts.

Duke

[Mark E.]

Re: How many parts in a Corvette?

Just as a point of interest why would the question arise?

Two guys enjoying drinks before dinner. We later solved the middle east problem.

[Domenic T.]

Re: How many parts in a Corvette?

OK, I counted them and I think Duke will agree. A GAZILLION!!

Dom