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How The 2014 Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra Get Lean

One of the most effective changes an automaker can do when designing a new model is make it lighter. Lighter vehicles can be more capable and more fuel efficient, which is why the 2014 Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra 1500 ditched traditional steel in favor of light weight, high strength steels in their construction.

Two thirds of the 2014 Silverado and GMC Sierra’s cab structure is made of high strength and ultra-high strength steel, including the A pillars, B pillars, rocker panels, roof rails and underbody. The main rails and key cross members of the trucks frames are also made of high strength steel, while the pickup boxes are made from roll formed steel for increased strength and reduced mass, compared to the stamped beds from competitors.

“Our customers tell us they want better fuel economy, but only if it doesn’t come at the expense of capability,” said executive chief engineer of the Silverado and Sierra, Jeff Luke. “By using lightweight materials like ultra-high-strength steel and aluminum for key structural parts and components in our new trucks we were able to improve both capability and efficiency.”

Strong, lightweight aluminum alloys also contribute to the trucks reduced mass, aluminum front suspension components, hoods and other parts while all three of the EcoTec3 engines utilize an aluminium block with aluminium cylinder heads.

This diet kick also contributes to the trucks’ class leading fuel economy and tow capacity numbers.

Sam loves to write and has a passion for auto racing, karting and performance driving of all types.

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Comments

  1. It’s a very nice truck, but hate the front grill. I also can’t stand the chrome and gold bow tie. My preference the old models with Chevrolet embossed on the tailgate.

    The cylinder deactivation seems like a pretty good idea. Anyone know how the latest version compares to previous designs? I hear there were issues in the past.

    Anyone have an opinion on the advantage of the plastic wheel wells and floor compartments on the Ram. Seem like pretty good ideas that GM is might have incorporated.

    Reply
  2. Has anyone ever tried to build there truck on line? The options make you want to pull your hair out, I want a truck capable of doing some off roading, one option you can’t get with the alleged off road package is lower gears, someone in that department needs to be transferred to another department, chev also has to get a real locker, there locker dis engages at 20 mph, there are times you need a real locker to pull you through, the off road package also needs some larger tires with forged aluminum rims, on the positive side I am happy they got rid of those useless torsion bars up front, I would also like to see chev get rid of the rear leaf springs and add a 5link, I dislike axle wrap… I would also like to see a more aggressive suspension all around and maybe be a few inches higher with more wheel travel, and please do not put 20″ rims on the off road packAge, I love and hate all of the big three… I am leaning more toward the Dodge, but I like Chevys reputation much better, and ford is having issues with the economist and there tranny is weak, you can’t win,

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  3. After waiting most of the year for the options that I wanted I ordered a new Sierra with the max towing package and camper mirrors. Yes, the off road package isn’t available with the max tow but then I really question how many pickup owners actually take their pride and joy into the boondocks. I think I’m in for a real treat but now I have to get the travel trailer. With the options I have, I should be able to take the trailer into a lot of rugged campgrounds.

    Reply
  4. You are partially correct Darren about most people not taking there trucks off road, when those owners do have to pull an off road maneuver they may be in for an expensive repair bill from the lack of attention paid to there trucks off road ability, soon people will no longer look at stickers the same way, it’s about time chev cleaned up the underside of there truck, for one the shocks on the rear axle hang way too low, they should be tucked close to the wheel like the F-150 and toyota’s, I am one of the people that would take my truck off road, I am not one of the people that would take a new truck through a 5 foot deep swamp and drive in circles is some mud pit, although I have been out hunting and had the option of turning around or driving through 3 feet of water because of a flood a beaver dam made across the road, this new truck would get swamped, my truck at the time was a 3/4 ton F-250 with 35″ tires and a 4″ lift, I am not big on most lift kits but this kit increased my wheel travel on my twin I beam, it worked well, I would also like to see more skid plates and all of the new trucks I have seen the exhaust pipes have been vulnerable to obstacles, this is an easy fix, it should come from the factory ready for action, the majority of trucks are no better off than many cars, this is very wrong, you all will find out when you attempt to drive over that one little obstacle…all I am asking for is a little attention to detail even if most people don’t know how good it is, I don’t want to modify my new truck! And I also do not want stickers and shocks with HWY gears.

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  5. Vince, every manufacturer leaves lifts/upgraded off-road suspensions to their accessory department; they make money off this. It is impossible for a factory to have every option available from the factory because it would slow down the production line too much to be efficient (this truck has to stop here for lift and tires, the next one has to stop for roll-bar, lite bar and fender flares, the next one…….. meanwhile the entire production line stops at each of these points).

    I for one do not want a 5 link independent suspension, especially if you are going off road. I drove a Ram off-road and at one point during a ditch manouver I could see the inside of the rear wheel rim and a few feet later at the bottom of a ditch I couldn’t see any of the wheel rim, which meant the wheel had twist to it. Plus coil rear suspensions do not have the capability of leaf springs; that is why Ram offers an air ride suspension. It’s not to be cool (like their ads say) but to beef up the rear suspension so it can tow/haul what leaf spring trucks can (but at a $1500 premium).

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  6. I hear what you are saying about the assembly line… The point I am making is why doesn’t Chevy make an off road option like there competition, but keep the work ability like the Dodge Powerwagon does, the Raptor is another capable off road vehicle, sadly not something that could double as a work truck, your opinion of the 5 link may be correct about dodges? But for off road trucks try and find one of the top 10 King Of The Hammers race trucks that has leaf springs, the 5 link out performs the old school leaf set up hands down, the race trucks have proven this, dodges payload is comparable to any leaf setup… I refuse to be biased toward any brand, they all shine and suck at the same time, I suggest that all of the manufacturers pay closer attention to there lazy engineering, no need to stop the production line here, they should all have off road abuse engineered into them, sadly this is not the case, as far as dealer off road kits they are all junk with the exception of dodges half ton Baka kit, unfortunately it is like $15,000. With metal at $200. A ton this is way overpriced! If there was someone awake at any of the big three the other two would either have to catch up or go belly up.

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