[Z06] [B]2008 Z06 Blown Motor[/B]
07-23-2014, 05:20 PM
#41
Safety Car
stock exhaust valves + stock guides = grenade with pin pulled. Heard that opinion in Bowling Green in 2007. Nothing has changed.
Sorry to hear about your engine failure. Been there myself.
Sorry to hear about your engine failure. Been there myself.
07-23-2014, 05:21 PM
#42
I followed the advice of the shop doing the work by not doing any valve work if I was only looking for and extra 80-100hp. I had to argue for the shop to install the KATECH Torquer 116 cam (very mild IMHO) instead of their own custom cam which had an aggressive lift and I did't want to beat the valve train apart or lose low speed driveablilty. I was VERY happy with the cam choice. I dynoed at 560hp at rear wheals with stock valves and head but new rocker arm bearings, valves springs, adj lifters. I wanted and asked about titanium exhaust valves and was told it was over kill. Trust me people - I wish I had spent the money on the BRODIX BR7 heads I wanted so badly which I was told was unnecessary. By the way people, I spoke to half the vendors on here and have the emails to prove it but only 2 out of the many suggested valves jobs. I will respectfully reframe from naming vendors but I called everybody recommended on this forum and others and discussed my options until I was blue in the face or that wouldn't return my calls! HATERS GONNA HATE, I'm fine with that...
I only hope that you don't make the same mistake twice, and on the bright side, your example should help stop others from making the same mistake.
Folks when it comes to this matter, you can make your own mistakes, or you can learn from other's mistakes.
07-23-2014, 06:27 PM
#43
Burning Brakes
No hating going on here, just trying to make a point so no one else makes the same mistake.
I had two shops tell me the same thing, no need to do the heads. It was my choice and I told them flat out the heads will be done - period.
You could have done the same thing and told them to do the heads anyway. Again - not hating on you here just stating a fact in hopes that others will learn. YOU opted to not spend the money.
Not getting the heads done with a stock cam is a bad decision.
Not getting the heads done with a performance cam is just insane.
These cars are pretty much bulletproof with the exception of the valve guides, we all know that.
I had two shops tell me the same thing, no need to do the heads. It was my choice and I told them flat out the heads will be done - period.
You could have done the same thing and told them to do the heads anyway. Again - not hating on you here just stating a fact in hopes that others will learn. YOU opted to not spend the money.
Not getting the heads done with a stock cam is a bad decision.
Not getting the heads done with a performance cam is just insane.
These cars are pretty much bulletproof with the exception of the valve guides, we all know that.
07-23-2014, 07:48 PM
#45
I followed the advice of the shop doing the work by not doing any valve work if I was only looking for and extra 80-100hp.
[1] I had to argue for the shop to install the KATECH Torquer 116 cam (very mild IMHO) instead of their own custom cam which had an aggressive lift and I did't want to beat the valve train apart or lose low speed driveablilty. I was VERY happy with the cam choice. I dynoed at 560hp at rear wheals with stock valves and head but new rocker arm bearings, valves springs, adj lifters.
[2] I wanted and asked about titanium exhaust valves and was told it was over kill. Trust me people - I wish I had spent the money on the BRODIX BR7 heads I wanted so badly which I was told was unnecessary.
[3] By the way people, I spoke to half the vendors on here and have the emails to prove it but only 2 out of the many suggested valves jobs. I will respectfully reframe from naming vendors but I called everybody recommended on this forum and others and discussed my options until I was blue in the face or that wouldn't return my calls! HATERS GONNA HATE, I'm fine with that...
[1] I had to argue for the shop to install the KATECH Torquer 116 cam (very mild IMHO) instead of their own custom cam which had an aggressive lift and I did't want to beat the valve train apart or lose low speed driveablilty. I was VERY happy with the cam choice. I dynoed at 560hp at rear wheals with stock valves and head but new rocker arm bearings, valves springs, adj lifters.
[2] I wanted and asked about titanium exhaust valves and was told it was over kill. Trust me people - I wish I had spent the money on the BRODIX BR7 heads I wanted so badly which I was told was unnecessary.
[3] By the way people, I spoke to half the vendors on here and have the emails to prove it but only 2 out of the many suggested valves jobs. I will respectfully reframe from naming vendors but I called everybody recommended on this forum and others and discussed my options until I was blue in the face or that wouldn't return my calls! HATERS GONNA HATE, I'm fine with that...
2. Well, you got 'sold' there.
3. Without knowing exactly how long it's been since you had the work done (you said you got the car a year ago?), I suspect some peoples' opinion has changed over the past year since we've seen some evidence of original guides checking pretty good but going south soon after an aftermarket cam is installed. At the moment I suppose nobody knows why, but I think most of them now know that if you're going to upgrade the cam then you'd better go ahead and have the heads rebuilt at the same time. It does indeed suck for you that everyone didn't figure that out earlier
07-24-2014, 12:43 AM
#46
Burning Brakes
Don't beat yourself up. You should report the incident to the NHTSA at their website. Only two reports have been made for dropped valves - that is why GM gets away without a recall. Sure, your car was modified, but it is likely the guide to seat concentricity machining error was the root cause of the problem and it would have blown if left stock as well. Sorry this happened.
Please report to NHTSA.
Please report to NHTSA.
07-24-2014, 07:30 AM
#47
Melting Slicks
Member Since: Apr 2009
Location: Virginia Beach VA
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C2 of the Year Finalist - Modified 2020
C2 of Year Finalist (performance mods) 2019
I started my research on this issue about two years ago. I had two local shops tell me this is all internet hype. A 3rd in NC agreed. Clogan's post about his car and Vengeance Racing along with hours on the phone with WCCH sold me on getting my heads done. Richard takes a lot of heat on this forum for not being a vendor but he has saved hundreds of LS7's from he junk yard. So, for someone who does not spend a lot of time on this forum, I can see how the OP was lead in the wrong direction. OP, sorry for your loss.
07-24-2014, 08:52 AM
#48
I started my research on this issue about two years ago. I had two local shops tell me this is all internet hype. A 3rd in NC agreed. Clogan's post about his car and Vengeance Racing along with hours on the phone with WCCH sold me on getting my heads done. Richard takes a lot of heat on this forum for not being a vendor but he has saved hundreds of LS7's from he junk yard. So, for someone who does not spend a lot of time on this forum, I can see how the OP was lead in the wrong direction. OP, sorry for your loss.
07-24-2014, 08:16 PM
#50
Sorry to the op, that sucks my z would be sitting the the driveway for at least a year if the motor went. 
But just like what I was told, Just because it passes the test now does not mean it will pass in a few thousand miles. Some go at 10k,15k, 20k from just reading a few threads on the forum. 2.5k piece of mind or a 15k wild card...
But just like what I was told, Just because it passes the test now does not mean it will pass in a few thousand miles. Some go at 10k,15k, 20k from just reading a few threads on the forum. 2.5k piece of mind or a 15k wild card...
07-24-2014, 08:26 PM
#51
Sorry to the op, that sucks my z would be sitting the the driveway for at least a year if the motor went.
But just like what I was told, Just because it passes the test now does not mean it will pass in a few thousand miles. Some go at 10k,15k, 20k from just reading a few threads on the forum. 2.5k piece of mind or a 15k wild card...
But just like what I was told, Just because it passes the test now does not mean it will pass in a few thousand miles. Some go at 10k,15k, 20k from just reading a few threads on the forum. 2.5k piece of mind or a 15k wild card...
Did you have something done for 2.5K which would address the problem?
If so, then what?
Thanks
07-24-2014, 09:00 PM
#53
and then more mods once you save your money back up
07-25-2014, 12:10 AM
#54
07-25-2014, 01:38 AM
#57
Team Owner
DH
07-25-2014, 01:41 AM
#58
Team Owner
07-26-2014, 10:54 AM
#59
Well I guess I am the latest casualty as my Z06 engine seized on the way home from work Thursday night with 20k miles. As I was shifting from fourth to fifth gear, heard a bang, rattle and engine seized. No smoke, no oil, and no hole in the block as I can tell. Will pull heads to see how screwed I am. Bought an 08 with 9k mi a year ago and had the wiggle test performed at 15K mi when I had Katech Torquer 116 cam installed with Brian Tooley valve springs, Comp Cans Trunion upgrade, Comp Cams adjustable push rods, C5-R timing chain. Running with Callaway Honker intake and Pfadt headers/mid pipe with Akropivic mufflers at the rear. Setup was making around 620hp at the crank. Just sick to my stomach now...
07-26-2014, 12:53 PM
#60
Drifting
I just got back from leaving a deposit with SLOWHAWK Perf. in Mass. so he could order my TSP LS7X 265 heads. I'm not going to risk harming the original motor in my car for 4 or 5 thousand dollars.
There have just been too many failures
There have just been too many failures