[Z06] 02-03 valve spring failures: any thing new?
11-09-2006, 07:46 AM
#1
Safety Car
Thread Starter
02-03 valve spring failures: any thing new?
Wondering if there is anything new that I am missing...
...facts as I know them:
1. There have been some failures in '02 and early '03 cars. These were stock motors. Mileage varies widely, as low as 20 k mi. Many fail idling, these are not racing failures on tracked cars.
2. When they break, ?most of the time they blow the motor, but if you are lucky the SES light will come on and warn you to shut the car down and no harm will come. If you here a bad sound, shut car off and DO NOT start it for the tow guy or the shop.
3. No failures in '01's or '04's. A different cam used in '01 and a newer spring (different part #) in '04.
So is that right? If I upgrade to the '04 spring am I safe? Are most of these failures resulting in blown motors or are most guys able to save it?
I am trying to weigh whether to just swap the springs next year just as insurance (not cheap). I don't have a warranty right now.
Thanks
...facts as I know them:
1. There have been some failures in '02 and early '03 cars. These were stock motors. Mileage varies widely, as low as 20 k mi. Many fail idling, these are not racing failures on tracked cars.
2. When they break, ?most of the time they blow the motor, but if you are lucky the SES light will come on and warn you to shut the car down and no harm will come. If you here a bad sound, shut car off and DO NOT start it for the tow guy or the shop.
3. No failures in '01's or '04's. A different cam used in '01 and a newer spring (different part #) in '04.
So is that right? If I upgrade to the '04 spring am I safe? Are most of these failures resulting in blown motors or are most guys able to save it?
I am trying to weigh whether to just swap the springs next year just as insurance (not cheap). I don't have a warranty right now.
Thanks
11-09-2006, 08:39 AM
#2
Dogface
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St. Jude Donor '15, '17
Andy,
I have 50K on my 02 Z now. It has a build date of 10/26/01 No problems at all. I do know some guys with March/April 02 build dates that have broken them. I think there was a small window on the bad springs issue.
If you just want the insurance get the new 04 springs. Brian Cobra4b just did his and the thread is on here somewhere look at the Grond ain't got @#$5 on this threads. Enjoy your new Z. Take care, Don
I have 50K on my 02 Z now. It has a build date of 10/26/01 No problems at all. I do know some guys with March/April 02 build dates that have broken them. I think there was a small window on the bad springs issue.
If you just want the insurance get the new 04 springs. Brian Cobra4b just did his and the thread is on here somewhere look at the Grond ain't got @#$5 on this threads. Enjoy your new Z. Take care, Don
11-09-2006, 09:51 AM
#3
Safety Car
Thread Starter
Originally Posted by dwjz06
Andy,
I have 50K on my 02 Z now. It has a build date of 10/26/01 No problems at all. I do know some guys with March/April 02 build dates that have broken them. I think there was a small window on the bad springs issue.
If you just want the insurance get the new 04 springs. Brian Cobra4b just did his and the thread is on here somewhere look at the Grond ain't got @#$5 on this threads. Enjoy your new Z. Take care, Don
I have 50K on my 02 Z now. It has a build date of 10/26/01 No problems at all. I do know some guys with March/April 02 build dates that have broken them. I think there was a small window on the bad springs issue.
If you just want the insurance get the new 04 springs. Brian Cobra4b just did his and the thread is on here somewhere look at the Grond ain't got @#$5 on this threads. Enjoy your new Z. Take care, Don
Is the change an easy job? I want somebody to do it who has done it before; wondering if I go to a performance oriented place (like Tony's or even F-body central) or just a good shop (Gallant's).
Hope you are still enjoying yours. The market has gotten soft in the last couple of weeks. I just saw a local dealer offering a Black 2003 Z for $30k asking, 19k mi, with the caption " Get it now before we auction it Monday".
11-09-2006, 11:37 AM
#4
Burning Brakes
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Originally Posted by sothpaw2
Wondering if there is anything new that I am missing...
...facts as I know them:
1. There have been some failures in '02 and early '03 cars. These were stock motors. Mileage varies widely, as low as 20 k mi. Many fail idling, these are not racing failures on tracked cars.
2. When they break, ?most of the time they blow the motor, but if you are lucky the SES light will come on and warn you to shut the car down and no harm will come. If you here a bad sound, shut car off and DO NOT start it for the tow guy or the shop.
3. No failures in '01's or '04's. A different cam used in '01 and a newer spring (different part #) in '04.
So is that right? If I upgrade to the '04 spring am I safe? Are most of these failures resulting in blown motors or are most guys able to save it?
I am trying to weigh whether to just swap the springs next year just as insurance (not cheap). I don't have a warranty right now.
Thanks
...facts as I know them:
1. There have been some failures in '02 and early '03 cars. These were stock motors. Mileage varies widely, as low as 20 k mi. Many fail idling, these are not racing failures on tracked cars.
2. When they break, ?most of the time they blow the motor, but if you are lucky the SES light will come on and warn you to shut the car down and no harm will come. If you here a bad sound, shut car off and DO NOT start it for the tow guy or the shop.
3. No failures in '01's or '04's. A different cam used in '01 and a newer spring (different part #) in '04.
So is that right? If I upgrade to the '04 spring am I safe? Are most of these failures resulting in blown motors or are most guys able to save it?
I am trying to weigh whether to just swap the springs next year just as insurance (not cheap). I don't have a warranty right now.
Thanks
All of the stories i've seen with dropped valves due to broken springs were rebuilt.
11-09-2006, 12:02 PM
#5
Safety Car
Thread Starter
Originally Posted by 03QuicksilverZ06
I've broken 2 springs at idle and luckily no motor damage,
All of the stories i've seen with dropped valves due to broken springs were rebuilt.
All of the stories i've seen with dropped valves due to broken springs were rebuilt.
Did they finally replace all your springs (after 2nd time)? Or 1 by 1 as they went?
I'm inclined to at least wait a bit on this if the motor is not going to blow up, if there is some really obvious warning before I need a rebuild.
If not, I would like an '04 spring as long as the '04's are doing ok. The cam in the LS2 is smaller so that spring would not have been as stout. I want OEM spring quality.
11-09-2006, 12:17 PM
#6
Dogface
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St. Jude Donor '15, '17
Originally Posted by sothpaw2
Mine is May 02 so that is dangerously close. I have seen some failures on cars as late as December 02.
Is the change an easy job? I want somebody to do it who has done it before; wondering if I go to a performance oriented place (like Tony's or even F-body central) or just a good shop (Gallant's).
Hope you are still enjoying yours. The market has gotten soft in the last couple of weeks. I just saw a local dealer offering a Black 2003 Z for $30k asking, 19k mi, with the caption " Get it now before we auction it Monday".
Is the change an easy job? I want somebody to do it who has done it before; wondering if I go to a performance oriented place (like Tony's or even F-body central) or just a good shop (Gallant's).
Hope you are still enjoying yours. The market has gotten soft in the last couple of weeks. I just saw a local dealer offering a Black 2003 Z for $30k asking, 19k mi, with the caption " Get it now before we auction it Monday".
I guess easy depends on your mechanic type skills. You need a good air compressor with the adaptor for your spark plug hole 14mm I think and the crane type tool (others have this tool as well) for the spring job. 04 springs are fine or aftermarket comp cams 918 springs are fine also. Tony's =expensive so if you have another place you trust check with them on pricing. I would send Brian Cobra4b a message as he just did this job himself very recently. Don
11-09-2006, 07:04 PM
#8
Team Owner
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St. Jude Donor '06
because my LS6 is blown and i heard about these failures and I have an 02, I converted to the 918 springs and hardened pushrods 3K miles ago with 0 issues.
I did a TON OF RESEARCH on the best replacement spring for the stock LS6 springs and if you do replace them and your going to stick with your stock motor then GO WITH THE COMP 918 single beehive replacement springs and hardended pushrods, as they will keep your lightweight valve train the way it should be and give you a step up more durable spring than the stock LS6 behives.
I did a TON OF RESEARCH on the best replacement spring for the stock LS6 springs and if you do replace them and your going to stick with your stock motor then GO WITH THE COMP 918 single beehive replacement springs and hardended pushrods, as they will keep your lightweight valve train the way it should be and give you a step up more durable spring than the stock LS6 behives.
Last edited by Mopar Jimmy; 11-10-2006 at 12:34 AM.
11-10-2006, 02:23 PM
#9
Safety Car
Thread Starter
Originally Posted by BLOWN ECS Z06
because my LS6 is blown and i heard about these failures and I have an 02, I converted to the 918 springs and hardened pushrods 3K miles ago with 0 issues.
I did a TON OF RESEARCH on the best replacement spring for the stock LS6 springs and if you do replace them and your going to stick with your stock motor then GO WITH THE COMP 918 single beehive replacement springs and hardended pushrods, as they will keep your lightweight valve train the way it should be and give you a step up more durable spring than the stock LS6 behives.
I did a TON OF RESEARCH on the best replacement spring for the stock LS6 springs and if you do replace them and your going to stick with your stock motor then GO WITH THE COMP 918 single beehive replacement springs and hardended pushrods, as they will keep your lightweight valve train the way it should be and give you a step up more durable spring than the stock LS6 behives.
Any body tried the '04 spring? Is it the same as the LS2 spring?
I used the 918 springs on my lightly cammed LT1 and I think they are overkill for a stock cam. Will have to look into the specs though. I want something that will last and not break for 200k mi with a stock cam. I am not sure any Comp spring is really engineered to do that.
11-10-2006, 04:24 PM
#10
Drifting
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Last June with about 30000 miles on the car, I had a valve spring break.
I had it running about three minutes on my way home from work. RPM was about 1500. The engine got real rough like it was trying to quit. I put the clutch in and tried to rev it. It might have gone up about 500 rpm and them died. No metal on metal noise, nothing. I coasted to a stop and tried to start it. It spit and sputtered but never quite got there.
I had all the springs replaced with "stock" springs, whatever GM is providing these days. I want it "stock".
It was fixed the next day. When I picked it up, they were working on another 02 that had just been towed in with a broken spring. They said it was even the same cylinder as mine. Sorry, I don't remember which one.
My car runs as well as it ever has. No problems at all.
I had it running about three minutes on my way home from work. RPM was about 1500. The engine got real rough like it was trying to quit. I put the clutch in and tried to rev it. It might have gone up about 500 rpm and them died. No metal on metal noise, nothing. I coasted to a stop and tried to start it. It spit and sputtered but never quite got there.
I had all the springs replaced with "stock" springs, whatever GM is providing these days. I want it "stock".
It was fixed the next day. When I picked it up, they were working on another 02 that had just been towed in with a broken spring. They said it was even the same cylinder as mine. Sorry, I don't remember which one.
My car runs as well as it ever has. No problems at all.
11-10-2006, 05:33 PM
#11
Safety Car
Thread Starter
Originally Posted by Steve Row
Last June with about 30000 miles on the car, I had a valve spring break.
I had it running about three minutes on my way home from work. RPM was about 1500. The engine got real rough like it was trying to quit. I put the clutch in and tried to rev it. It might have gone up about 500 rpm and them died. No metal on metal noise, nothing. I coasted to a stop and tried to start it. It spit and sputtered but never quite got there.
I had all the springs replaced with "stock" springs, whatever GM is providing these days. I want it "stock".
It was fixed the next day. When I picked it up, they were working on another 02 that had just been towed in with a broken spring. They said it was even the same cylinder as mine. Sorry, I don't remember which one.
My car runs as well as it ever has. No problems at all.
I had it running about three minutes on my way home from work. RPM was about 1500. The engine got real rough like it was trying to quit. I put the clutch in and tried to rev it. It might have gone up about 500 rpm and them died. No metal on metal noise, nothing. I coasted to a stop and tried to start it. It spit and sputtered but never quite got there.
I had all the springs replaced with "stock" springs, whatever GM is providing these days. I want it "stock".
It was fixed the next day. When I picked it up, they were working on another 02 that had just been towed in with a broken spring. They said it was even the same cylinder as mine. Sorry, I don't remember which one.
My car runs as well as it ever has. No problems at all.
What shop was this? I can at least be assured that they have done the work before.
When was your car made (what month)?
11-10-2006, 06:45 PM
#12
Team Owner
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St. Jude Donor '06
Originally Posted by sothpaw2
Thanks. Where'd you do research, here you mean?
Any body tried the '04 spring? Is it the same as the LS2 spring?
I used the 918 springs on my lightly cammed LT1 and I think they are overkill for a stock cam. Will have to look into the specs though. I want something that will last and not break for 200k mi with a stock cam. I am not sure any Comp spring is really engineered to do that.
Any body tried the '04 spring? Is it the same as the LS2 spring?
I used the 918 springs on my lightly cammed LT1 and I think they are overkill for a stock cam. Will have to look into the specs though. I want something that will last and not break for 200k mi with a stock cam. I am not sure any Comp spring is really engineered to do that.
The 918 is not overkill for a stock LS6 motor and its the perfect replacement. I did my research talking to about 6 TOP TUNERS on both here and LS1 tech and in person with face to face discussions from the tuners at ECS, FLP, Powerhouse Perf. Speed Inc, and several other LSX tuners locally in Chicago and on this forum. The 918 is a direct replacement spring for a stock LS6 spring but one would certainly want to go with hardened pushrods at the same time and you will be GOOD TO GO!!!!!!!!!!
11-10-2006, 08:16 PM
#13
Drifting
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Originally Posted by BLOWN ECS Z06
The 918 is not overkill for a stock LS6 motor and its the perfect replacement. I did my research talking to about 6 TOP TUNERS on both here and LS1 tech and in person with face to face discussions from the tuners at ECS, FLP, Powerhouse Perf. Speed Inc, and several other LSX tuners locally in Chicago and on this forum. The 918 is a direct replacement spring for a stock LS6 spring but one would certainly want to go with hardened pushrods at the same time and you will be GOOD TO GO!!!!!!!!!!
the stock LS6 spring has an open pressure of 271in./lbs. and the 918's are 313in./lbs. so they are fairly close in spec. to a certain extent. I'd recommend the 918's for any LSx cam under .600" of lift.
11-10-2006, 10:20 PM
#14
Team Owner
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St. Jude Donor '06
Originally Posted by zo6vetteman2003
the stock LS6 spring has an open pressure of 271in./lbs. and the 918's are 313in./lbs. so they are fairly close in spec. to a certain extent. I'd recommend the 918's for any LSx cam under .600" of lift. 
11-10-2006, 11:46 PM
#15
Le Mans Master
Originally Posted by sothpaw2
I want OEM spring quality.
When I do it, I’m going top notch aftermarket valve springs specific for LS6. Why spend the time and money if you’re opening it up and then not do it the best way possible.
Last edited by ZeeOSix; 11-10-2006 at 11:54 PM.
11-11-2006, 12:27 AM
#20
Drifting
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Originally Posted by Steve Row
Tony's Corvette Shop in Gaithersburg.
My car was built in Dec. 01 - Jan. 02.
My car was built in Dec. 01 - Jan. 02.