Big Top Gt

I'm looking at a 2009 Z06 with around 20k on the clock for $45k asking

Heads done less than 5000 miles ago (cnc ported, milled .030, etc... ), Dual Springs w/Ti Retainers, Ferrera Exhaust Valves, etc....

The oil analysis shows concern for Titanium and a few other things.

Should I be concerned, am I in the clear, and at what threshold is the titanium in the oil an indication of a mandatory tear down? (or is 21 not a big deal?)

Thanks!

KennyPowers

I can tell you from the experience of the last owner of mine... from the receipt in the glovebox for $20K new LS7 from Chevy dealer... new LS7 NOT CHEAP!

seamus2154

Not cheap and hard to find one! I can tell you my 2011 bought new and maintained by me to a high level had zero titanium for first 5 years. The 1 then 3 then 9 and eventually 19. I had trick flow heads put on at 5 years due to valve issue...so i knew it wassnt the valves. Well, I had a rocker issue and decided to pull the motor and go though it and refresh and upgrade. Engine builder called ragarding bottom end. 6 of the 8 rods ends were shot to hell. No coating and worn. 25,000 miles on the car!! Yes it had seen the track but nothing crazy and a few times. My shop said its your titanium retainers dont worry.......Nope it was the rods. I also did many extra oil changes to keep fresh none abrasive oil in there when i saw the titanium tick up. Didnt matter.

So thats full retail on that Z and you will be doing a bottom end...which aint cheap. There are several threads what this looks like. No way to know except oil analysis and actually looking at rods. You have one...and I'll bet the visual will confirm it.
21 is a high number! Which confirms it wore through the coating.

KennyPowers

How much power adders(Heads Cam etc)?

Word is lotta powa makes the crank flex and bye bye bottom end(expedited)

Masonpauls1

What company performed the analysis?

SPDKLZ1

I'd stay away from that one. I had 0 Titanium on my first 2 oil changes with the first one being at 4k miles on the engine. Titanium showed up on the 3rd oil change, 1,000 miles after heads/cam install. Here are my titanium levels every roughly 2k miles from 4k miles on the engine to 36k miles. 0-0-7-8-4-4-4-5-4-3-3-3-4-4-4-5. From what I gathered my levels are most likely due to the Ti retainers. Oil temperatures and their corresponding oil pressures have remained identical for 30k + miles.

vetteuphoria

Looks like a Blackstone analysis so very reputable. I do mine through them as well, but at 42k miles on my last report I only had 2 titanium. I know there are many variables especially with aftermarket, but I’m concerned for that vehicle.

CorvetteFan1953

Blackstone analysis will not tell you of an impending valve failure, as one guy on YouTube found out the hard way.

Big Top Gt

I want to say it makes somewhere in the high 500 to low 600 range, wheel.

It was Blackstone.

I'm leaning towards a pass on this one, at this point.
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Gdow

here is the blackstone report from my 06 Z shortly before I bought it. About 6,000 miles after heads and cam were done

Wass

It looks like the Ti went up right after the ti retainers were installed. That could explain the increase.

seamus2154

As someone who actually followed the numbers and owned since new, a 1or a 2 is of no concern and "could" be retainers maybe valves. My shop told me that. They were proven wrong. But over the years it kept going up. When your over 10 thats not retainers . I was over 15 and we took it apart to freshen as I intended to track more. 6 of 8 no coating left worn into each other. Highly maintained many short oil changes. 21 is not good. I'd have to look at my Blackstone report but I think I was at 19 at that point and only 25,000 miles.

For reference on the new motor with a callies crank, callies rods and TF heads there is no titanium except the retainers. My titanium is 2 after a track day. So that IS the retainers. Unless you tear into the bottom end its just a hope its not the rods. There are threads on this with pictures on this forum. Its pretty common when checked or rebuilding.

seamus2154

https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...-question.html

Here is a pic of what it looks like. He had high titanium. You cant see it unless you disassemble as its the side of the rod. In other threads there is a member who has high mileage and 0 titanium. There are several threads with pics. If you have a catch can and saw pixie dust (there is a thread on this) its the coating on the rods. We didnt know this many years ago till all the rod issues showed up. This is the second big issue with the LS7. But it wont blow up like a dropped valve so many have the issue and dont know till rebuilding or it really starts eating into each other. Mine ran fine not one sound or issue. We thought we just had a rocker issue and would refresh. I was shocked 6 of 8 rods were toast. I thought maybe a little coating wore off and i would have rods redone?/ They were heavily grooved and worn. Many have had this at lower miles and some have high mileage a 0 titanium. I am a lunatic with maintenance and oil changes. I bought new, and it was a forever car. Still is. I never thought it would happen with my care of this Z. When I redid my motor, my builder said he had many of them. He presently had one in there with ALL track miles...his rods were fine!! Maybe some were set up wrong, or some had too little coating???

Masonpauls1

I may be wrong with my thought… how come bronze doesn’t show up in the analysis results? Bronze guides are used on most valve guides right?

SPDKLZ1

Bronze is an alloy of copper and tin.

Masonpauls1

So you focus on copper and tin if looking for bronze retainer guide wear?

Just Looking for guidance. Thanks!