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C6 Corvette ZR1 & Z06General info about GM’s Corvette Supercar, LS9 Corvette Technical Info, Performance Upgrades, Suspension Setup for Street or Track
I’ve had the caged go fast C6Z once, and decided to buy another and stay stock and just enjoy the car.
Well, stretched her legs out, top of 3rd she popped, big white puff out the back, I stomp clutch, too late, tach fell to zero, that was that…
Towed her back home, ordered a 2013 GMPP LS7, did the swap, have a 3yr warranty, once that’s up, she’s getting the H/C love…
Heart Surgery On her way home…. Off with its head New toy in a box Dear Bruce.. Ouch Yup Offfff Offfffff She’s home, enjoying her meticulous break in period with BR30 juice
Sorry that happened, good to see you got it taken care of. I'm sure Bruce Ackerman would be sorry to hear about as well. He assembled the motor, but the heads were provided by Linamar:
Let's give credit where it's due. CEO of Linamar Linda Hasenfratz.
Speaking of LS7 heads, it would be interesting to look at the valve stem to valve guide clearances of the head that dropped a valve. To date no one has done that and reported the results. It would shed some light on the LS7 loose valve / valve drop issue.
Looking at your photos of the damage, I see that the exhaust valve is what failed.
Since the LS7 exhaust valve is a hollow stainless steel / sodium filled valve, I am thinking that the head of the valve just snapped off the valve's stem ... and then that valve head banging around in the cylinder just destroyed the piston, head and cylinder wall.
What a mess !
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Seems like everyone is so concerned with the LS7 hollow titanium intake valve failing, we now see there is also a big problem with the LS7 exhaust valve too. I think a good fix for the problematic hollow stainless steel / sodium filled LS7 exhaust valves is a set of solid stainless steel exhaust valves (as what's used in the LS3).
I’ve had the caged go fast C6Z once, and decided to buy another and stay stock and just enjoy the car.
Well, stretched her legs out, top of 3rd she popped, big white puff out the back, I stomp clutch, too late, tach fell to zero, that was that…
Towed her back home, ordered a 2013 GMPP LS7, did the swap, have a 3yr warranty, once that’s up, she’s getting the H/C love…
Heart Surgery On her way home…. Off with its head New toy in a box Dear Bruce.. Ouch Yup Offfff Offfffff She’s home, enjoying her meticulous break in period with BR30 juice
I am really sorry to hear this. So sad that this engine is plagued (is there any other way to word it??) with crap like this. It should've never happened. It sucks. I removed my Ti valves, or should I say they removed themselves, at 20,000 miles. They had a Serdi machined valve job before the heads ever went on the block. All 16 guides were shot, bad enough that an indicator wasn't required to measure wear. So much for eccentric valve seats being the main reason guides wear rapidly. So much for stock engines being safe, as well. You're lucky you could afford to fix it as quickly as you did. I'm sure a lot of LS7 owners used a substantial amount of $$$$$ to buy the Z06, and may not have another 20k kicking around to get their cars back on the road quickly. Best of luck to you....
Sorry that happened, good to see you got it taken care of. I'm sure Bruce Ackerman would be sorry to hear about as well. He assembled the motor, but the heads were provided by Linamar:
Let's give credit where it's due. CEO of Linamar Linda Hasenfratz.
Speaking of LS7 heads, it would be interesting to look at the valve stem to valve guide clearances of the head that dropped a valve. To date no one has done that and reported the results. It would shed some light on the LS7 loose valve / valve drop issue.
Did GM ever update and revise these ls7 crate heads? I just bought a z06 it had the engine replaced 2 years 13,000 miles ago, with warranty. Should I "fix" the heads when the warranty ends?
I’m lucky enough to be in a position that buying a LS7 crate made sense. GM gives it a 3 yr warranty since it was installed at the dealership and was a direct OEM replacement.
I’m lucky enough to be in a position that buying a LS7 crate made sense. GM gives it a 3 yr warranty since it was installed at the dealership and was a direct OEM replacement.
So I’m happy to drive it.
Once that’s up, she’s getting some extra love
That is exactly what I did when my LS7 spun a main bearing at 130k. Replaced it with a 2013 LS7 and when the warranty was up I had the heads addressed. So far so good at 190k miles.
I’ve had the caged go fast C6Z once, and decided to buy another and stay stock and just enjoy the car.
Well, stretched her legs out, top of 3rd she popped, big white puff out the back, I stomp clutch, too late, tach fell to zero, that was that…
Towed her back home, ordered a 2013 GMPP LS7, did the swap, have a 3yr warranty, once that’s up, she’s getting the H/C love…
Heart Surgery On her way home…. Off with its head New toy in a box Dear Bruce.. Ouch Yup Offfff Offfffff She’s home, enjoying her meticulous break in period with BR30 juice
Sorry for the loss bud. This is what the valve drop looks like when it does drop. To the peeps who say the valve drop doesn't exist, and that the fix actually fixes the issue. The only fix to correct the valve drop from happening is replacing the OEM crap with a TFS aftermarket head. They are the ONLY head manufacturers who get completely away from the OEM perch and geometry. A valve dropping into a cylinder isn't an if but more so a when. If I were you I would swap the new heads off the long block say screw the warranty, drop the OEM castings in the trash and get a set of MMS 265 castings in their place.
I almost suffered the fate you have 2 times by trying to have the "fix" done
Sorry for the loss bud. This is what the valve drop looks like when it does drop. To the peeps who say the valve drop doesn't exist, and that the fix actually fixes the issue. The only fix to correct the valve drop from happening is replacing the OEM crap with a TFS aftermarket head. They are the ONLY head manufacturers who get completely away from the OEM perch and geometry. A valve dropping into a cylinder isn't an if but more so a when. If I were you I would swap the new heads off the long block say screw the warranty, drop the OEM castings in the trash and get a set of MMS 265 castings in their place.
I almost suffered the fate you have 2 times by trying to have the "fix" done
Tony will be the one I go to for heads, but not until my “new car” motor warranty is up. I don’t care what it does during the warranty period, it’s not on me. Just gonna drive and smile.
Did GM ever update and revise these ls7 crate heads? I just bought a z06 it had the engine replaced 2 years 13,000 miles ago, with warranty. Should I "fix" the heads when the warranty ends?
Honestly, you should fix the heads now.
Just look at the pictures in this thread at what could happen to any LS7 at any moment.
Yeah I purchased what was my dream car the 60th Anniversary Edition and the dealer had just put a crate engine in it I've had it 2 years and put 2000 miles on it but I think I need to have heads done even though it has a rebuilt crate engine. The engine alone was $14.5k so my buddies keep saying I have a ticking time bomb
Did GM ever update and revise these ls7 crate heads? I just bought a z06 it had the engine replaced 2 years 13,000 miles ago, with warranty. Should I "fix" the heads when the warranty ends?
Yessir GM never legally owned up to it. So basically if you get a crate engine realistically you're purchasing same problem only it more cost effective give attention to the heads. Then the real issue is do I completely replace the head or have it repaired and the real true answer is to just do away w the head because of the geometry of the head sell the old ones and purchase a new set from someplace else like AHP or Katech or Frankenstein. I have to do mine this winter and I'm still up in air about it sucks
04-24-2023, 12:34 PM
2007 Dropped a Valve
