ZeeOSix

I'm trying to see if I can get some kind of correlation from those unfortunate members who have experience an OEM valve spring failure on your C5 Zee.

If you've had an OEM valve spring failure, please just list the date your car was manufactured. The info is located on the sticker on the end of driver's door when you open it. For instance, it may show "08/01", which is August 2001.

It seems like there is a range of cars that suffer from this problem, but nobody can really nail it down ... maybe it's impossible to determine, but I'd like to see if this "poll" reveals any good data.

Thanks

ZeeOSix

Bump to top ..... isn't there anyone still around that had a valve spring fail. Hopefully you guys didn't go trade for a C6 because of it.

Bill Dearborn

I have been tracking my car for 5 years with lots of high rpm time and haven't had a problem yet.

Bill

ZeeOSix

Bill -- what's the manufature date code on your Zee? I'm assuming you still have the original OEM valve springs?

Bob CTS

Date on door sticker 9/01, 37K miles still stock and no problems.

Higgs Boson

Mine is 01/01 and it had about 44K on it when I removed the motor. stock springs were working great!

sothpaw2

I still have a PM from DonWarren a gentleman from Texas. He had a 2003 Z with failed springs with in service date of 8/2002.

Try searching on valve spring. You'll also find the C6Z has had some issues. Notice that with the LS2 / LS3, Chevy went back to a higher disp.but lower lift cam ('01 Z). These are Chevy's produced in quantities, much higher than 6000 units per year.

It's the lift that's an issue. Probably we should all change springs every 50k mi even if they are good springs.

jmc12

Date on door sticker 10/02, 7K miles no problems.

heavymetals

I changed out the springs in my V (same motor) because I drive it more.

The rule of thumb is that if you mod it, make springs the first motor mod.

Mr. Vette is next (parts are sitting in a box).

yakisoba

Mine failed. March 01 is the build date.

ZeeOSix

yakisoba -- your profile says you have a 2002 Zee, but they didn't produce them as early as March 2001 as far as I know. Can you clarify?

mqqn

Hi ZeeOSix -

2002 Z06, build Oct 2001, now has 52k miles on it, no issues with valve train so far.

Car is run to rev limiter regularly, I have run it at the drag strip many times.

Rock solid performer and dead reliable to this point.

best regards -

mqqn

levettegrl

Apr/02

one of my valve springs went out when I had about 60K miles on my vette, I was driving around town (about 20mph) and I heard something clanking around under the hood, power went. Luckily I didn't have any damage to the motor.

went ahead and replaced all of them with comp cam 998 valve springs

fxdl

02z built 11/01 48000 no issues with valve springs yet. did replace ebcm once though.

ZeeOSix

Great info so far ... keep them coming if you have any inputs.

From the small group of data so far, it does look like maybe it could be the period of late build 2002s to early build 2003 that had weak valve springs.

sothpaw2

Forum member Oshydog had an '02 or an '03 that had spring issues too if I recollect. Don't think he knew when it was built though.

500hp

Did a 'Cam and Headers' last year, 2001 Z06 with about 115,000 miles on it. Swapped out the valvesprings, all the stockers were good, no galled retainers, no sloppy valves/guides.

MIKER

I did a quick search and came up with a few members that have experienced broken valve springs. Perhaps you could contact them via P.M. for the date of manufacture on their cars.

BLACKONBLACKZ06 2002 Z06 Broken valve spring. http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show...n+valve+spring

R-ZO6-LS6 2002 Z06 Broken valve spring.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show...n+valve+spring

Wolf Dog 2002 Z06 Broken valve spring http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show...n+valve+spring

03QuicksilverZ06 2003 Z06 Broken valve spring.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show...n+valve+spring

game on 2002 Z06 Broken valve spring.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show...n+valve+spring

Diamond 2002 Z06 Broken valve spring.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show...n+valve+spring

fasterz06 2002 Z06 Broken valve spring.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show...n+valve+spring

Chuck Harmon 2002 Z06 Broken valve spring.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show...n+valve+spring

DonWarren 2003 Z06 Broken valve spring.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show...n+valve+spring

Scott04Z his neighbors 2002 Z06 suffered a broken valve spring…
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show...n+valve+spring

IH8PONYS 2003 Z06 Broken valve spring.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show...n+valve+spring

levettegrl 2002 Z06 Broken valve spring.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show...n+valve+spring

Steve Row 2002 Z06 Broken valve spring.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show...n+valve+spring

JackD 2003 Z06 Broken valve spring.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show...n+valve+spring

redroket 2002 Z06 Broken valve spring.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show...n+valve+spring

blueangelfightr 2003 Z06 Broken valve spring.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show...n+valve+spring

99trplblk 2002 Z06 Broken valve spring.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show...n+valve+spring

Bill Hilt 2003 Z06 Broken valve spring.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show...n+valve+spring

Numb 2002 Z06 Broken valve spring
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show...post1564862954

Wild Horzes 2003 Z06 Broken valve spring.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show...n+valve+spring

urwtdrm

My old Z went at 40k and was the first 02 sold in Sacramento. (So an early production one)

Bill Dearborn

Manufacture date is 10/02. Everything OEM.

Bill