TrooperDLA

So guys,

I absolutely love my 2007 Z06 and have not had a single issue yet. It is bone stock besides the muffler mod and lowering it on stock bolts. My question is this: In everyone's opinion, is it safer and/or better to leave it stock, or is it safe with bolt ons? I'm tired of hearing about the sky is falling crap, because I refuse to believe that there's a large percentage of Z06's (07 or not) having engine failure just because there was a flaw in the materials or craftsmanship. My opinion is that there's sometimes it's "the carpenter and not the tools." I'll close by saying that I know that everyone that had an engine failure/ problem didn't cause it themselves and that there are bad apples (engines) in every bunch. Thanks in advance.

Sincerely, Keeping My Z and never letting go

TrooperDLA

P.S. I have barely 23,000 miles on mine if that matters to anyone.

JJC5

I don't track my Z and I am leaving it stock; drive line wise. The car performs unbelievably for a stock car. Mods= less reliability and mild bolt ons don't do enough for performace to make it worthwhile......IMO.

RedZ4me

I'll probably go with the MF103 and Tune ......to be done at Katech. I will not touch the valvetrain with cam, new pushrods etc for reasons you listed.......although cam'd Z's sound soooo good!

2000FRCZ19

the sky isn't falling but the ls7 does wear exhaust valves and guides. I pulled mine at around 50,000 miles when I had a cam install done. I wanted them checked because of the extra stress I would be putting on them and wanted to be safe. I had the heads milled and ported at the same time. I didn't expect the results I got. machinist found all the guides worn and most of the exhaust valves were worn to the point they had to be replaced. had I not pulled them when I did and just did a cam only, I would have been rebuilding my engine very soon after. not all ls7s will fail but if you are modding and actually driving the car its a good idea to upgrade or inspect the valves and guides. my car showed no signs of anything being wrong while it was running. i am very lucky i took the extra time to have my heads checked. the bonus was by milling the heads I picked up 3 to 4 mpg on the highway even with the cam.

2000FRCZ19

I also love my car as well. I love it even more with the heads ported milled and upgraded. this is by far the most enjoyable car I have owned.

Unreal

Mod it. I pulled my heads at 28k and had all 8 exhaust guides out of spec. Put some new heads on it along with a blower and I'm loving it.

Cheesecake 07

IMO bolt ons(exhaust and intake) arent going to affect reliability. God forbid the engine dumps a valve, it would have happened regardless.

Power wise a few bolt ons might not make an enormous difference but sound wise LT's, X and Corsa Sports is unregretable

LS7-EB

I was curious as to which cam you used and how much did you mill on the heads?

Thanks

LS9Drew

Mod it, a simple intake/tune really wakes up the car for little money with no affect in reliability IMO plus helps out ur MPG's too. I'd suggest new tires (if you still have oem runflats)

triblk6spd

Mod it. Simple bolt-ons are a must do.for these.cars imo. I have and would ne er own.a.stock car..especially a.Corvette.

bullitt4110

Mod it!

ospreycorvette

Check the wear on your guides then say there is no issue.

walhan_qtr

it doesnt really matter... My buddy's 06 Z06 just dropped a valve last week. his car was stock and had the stock tune. he did some pulls on the streets but really took care of that car. about 30k miles. he is glad he got the ext warranty. he is getting a new engine in about a month under warranty!!

my car had bolt-ons after 3k miles. took them off by previous owner at 36k miles. I added headers, CAI, tune at around 38k miles up till ~45k miles with no problems.

so really it all depends on the car!!! hope this helps!

Quick Silver Z

Mine is stock (12K) and will stay that way till my GMPP is up (purchased specifically for the valve concern). After that I'll probably go full bolt on...

dcamick

Why????

This car has it all!!! Unless your racing this car, you will never see or feel a signification difference in performance.

I believe that you will have more problems with even "bolt-ons".

I know!!!I have done it! In many cases it is "Money Wasted"

No one that I know ever Modified a 1967 427 or the same year "L88". I never touched mine and the car screamed. Guess I'm showing my age!!!!!

With that said.....The LS7 screams!!!! What more do you want from it!!! Other than bragging Rights!!!!!

I would Wheel it.....And do some mild Aerodynamics. I love those Mods because they eliminate dating of the car. Very few people know what year my Z is when you change the wheels to your preference.

Just my opinion!!

dcamick

extents

The excessive exhaust valve wear issue obviously gets worse with mileage, but the problem is either there or it's not. My car had 4k on it when I pulled the heads to have them milled. All the exhaust valve guides were excessively worn and the valves physically wiggled in the guides. I upgraded the exhaust valves, and I believe it's really the new valve job that corrects the problem.

Yes anytime you mod you risk breakage, but if done right you can build the reliability. I don't regret it at all. After cam, heads, intake, and headers the car completely woke up. It's a rocket.

LS9Drew

You will feel a BIG increase in performance with minor mods, don't believe that guy. My car was Night and Day different after my tune I gained over 21whp/10wtq all I had done prior was a Halltech Killer Bee I

Mr. Gizmo

Did you see any problems with the bearings in the rockers? I thought the problem that caused the excessive exhaust valve wear was due to this? Thats inredible you had that kind of visible wear and being able to wiggle around after 4k miles.
Maybe thats why these cars so freely rev
Tightnening them out probably costs 40 rwhp

Landru

Zo6 & LS-7 is perfrct as-is. IF I needed more power, I'd step-up to a ZR-1.
Even then unless I won a lottery, it'd remain stock also. YMMV