When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
C6 Corvette ZR1 & Z06General info about GM’s Corvette Supercar, LS9 Corvette Technical Info, Performance Upgrades, Suspension Setup for Street or Track
Hello All,
I have a Z06 20O6 with 29K on it and it blew up at 5000 RPM.
Engine was up to temp. Traction control on. Blew up like a NASCAR!
Oil and coolant all out the back and on the ground. Locked up motor. Sounded like rods came loose.
Does anyone else have a story?
Any ideas on how to approach GM?
Hello All,
I have a Z06 20O6 with 29K on it and it blew up at 5000 RPM.
Engine was up to temp. Traction control on. Blew up like a NASCAR! Oil and coolant all out the back and on the ground. Locked up motor. Sounded like rods came loose.
Does anyone else have a story?
Any ideas on how to approach GM?
Any TPS reports for 2006 on the 427?
You dropped an exhaust valve from worn guides, problem is in all years pull the valve covers see if you see anything broke if not pull the heads next that rod that came loose more than likely put a hole in the block and the piston will be in the oil pan...Sorry to hear of another good luck on the fix,
Last edited by chadyellowz; 05-21-2015 at 11:57 PM.
Sorry about your motor. Many of us here have lost motors as well. I would definitely reach out to GM and see if they will help you. That motor is barely broken in with that low milage. Are you the original owner? Did you track the car at all or only street driven? Did you maintain is well? Was it using oil or making lots of valve train noise?
Sorry I don't bealive you have been a member since 2007 there is an issue with all years sorry pm your number if you need info...sorry again some people have lost 2 motors ....
Definately file a complaint with the NHTSA as I fear the Fed forcing GM's hand is the only way we will ever get to the bottom of this issue. Apparently GM doesn't have as savvy of engineers as they would like to believe, and they lost their spine, soul, and integrity in the bailout.
And for what it's worth, if you have get a whole new engine block, consider an alternative 427 in something like TSP's LS3 427 derivative. It's actually less expensive than the LS7 route and you wouldn't have the LS7 cylinder head drama to worry about.
Definately file a complaint with the NHTSA as I fear the Fed forcing GM's hand is the only way we will ever get to the bottom of this issue. Apparently GM doesn't have as savvy of engineers as they would like to believe, and they lost their spine, soul, and integrity in the bailout.
And for what it's worth, if you have get a whole new engine block, consider an alternative 427 in something like TSP's LS3 427 derivative. It's actually less expensive than the LS7 route and you wouldn't have the LS7 cylinder head drama to worry about.
Don't stick a GM replacement crate engine in the car to get it running. TSP also has LS7 based engines available using new LS7 blocks, but use aftermarket internals plus their heads, which I have on my stock GM block(I was being proactive, so I replaced my OE heads with the PRC265 heads from TSP before I lost my engine due to a dropped valve in a crappy GM head).
I don't inherently disagree, but a failed engine at 29K mi's. that has been maintained is a major component.
Given all the attention the LS7 issues have had with GM, who knows ?
The OP's car is going on 10 years old. That's how old this problem is. I don't think GM is going to jump up and take care of this guy either. Mine were bad at 3400 miles.
Hello All,
I have a Z06 20O6 with 29K on it and it blew up at 5000 RPM.
Engine was up to temp. Traction control on. Blew up like a NASCAR!
Oil and coolant all out the back and on the ground. Locked up motor. Sounded like rods came loose.
Does anyone else have a story?
Any ideas on how to approach GM?
Any TPS reports for 2006 on the 427?
What were the conditions when the motor let go; were you on a track, coming out of a sustained left hand turn? Reason I ask is the exact same thing happened to my '06 Z06 with 33K miles. Engine let go at around 5K RPM, oil out the back, fireball, parts out the side of the block.
However, it wasn't a valve/head problem (what !!!!) but oil starvation on the 3/4 rod journal (sorry valve drop fans). Valves and heads were fine (I sold them after my engine was replaced by GM) but the block was obviously toast.
Suggest you have the block torn down to determine if it was oil starvation or a head issue. If it was a head issue you may have a case that GM will listen to provided the motor was not modded. If it's oil starvation or something else, afraid you're on your own.
Sorry to hear about your engine failure. Like everyone mentioned, you probably dropped a valve. My 2006 Z06 car had an engine replacement around 2008 at about 15k miles. I bought the car in late 2014 and the 2nd engine in the car (36k miles on vehicle, 21k on engine) was already over 2x the service limit on the valve guide tolerances. First thing I did to my car was have the heads repaired.
Like others mentioned, have an engine built by a reputable company, don't replace it with a GM crate LS7....unless you want to go through this again in 20k miles. If I toasted my engine, I would go to ERL for one of their prepped GM alum blocks, less expensive than RHS block, but stronger cylinder sleeves than the factory, plus, more cubes and precision machine work. Just a thought, I've never purchased from ERL before, but their "superdeck" design philosophy is appealing to me.
What were the conditions when the motor let go; were you on a track, coming out of a sustained left hand turn? Reason I ask is the exact same thing happened to my '06 Z06 with 33K miles. Engine let go at around 5K RPM, oil out the back, fireball, parts out the side of the block.
However, it wasn't a valve/head problem (what !!!!) but oil starvation on the 3/4 rod journal (sorry valve drop fans). Valves and heads were fine (I sold them after my engine was replaced by GM) but the block was obviously toast.
Suggest you have the block torn down to determine if it was oil starvation or a head issue. If it was a head issue you may have a case that GM will listen to provided the motor was not modded. If it's oil starvation or something else, afraid you're on your own.
Good luck.
Not all failed engines go Kaboom because a valve dropped. Before the valve drop syndrome started being the favorite subject on the forum a couple of years ago it was proceeded by the oil starvation syndrome and what you could do to modify your engine to avoid oil starvation. When my engine dropped a valve almost 4 years ago it was still able to run on 7 cylinders and some of the first comments I received were about oil starvation being the cause.
Besides oil starvation and valve heads breaking off there are all sorts of other causes like dirt in the oil causing a bearing problem, a mechanical over rev, a spun bearing, etc, etc, etc. The only way to know is to tear down the engine until the cause of the failure is found.
As for GM covering the problem the only way to find out about that is to ask GM. You start by asking the dealer if they will approach GM on your behalf to see if GM will cover the replacement. The dealer doesn't make the determination GM does so if the dealer stiff arms you then you need to write letters to GM management (not the Customer Service subcontractor). I recommend a letter to Mary Barra explaining the situation, the number of miles on the car and stating exactly what you would like them to do for you. It is always easier to address a complaint or request when you know exactly what will make somebody happy. Of course if the driver did something to the car to cause the engine to fail then it won't be covered.
05-21-2015, 11:44 PM
2006 ZO6 Engine failure
LS7
Don't stick a GM replacement crate engine in the car to get it running. TSP also has LS7 based engines available using new LS7 blocks, but use aftermarket internals plus their heads, which I have on my stock GM block(I was being proactive, so I replaced my OE heads with the PRC265 heads from TSP before I lost my engine due to a dropped valve in a crappy GM head).
!!!!) but oil starvation on the 3/4 rod journal (sorry valve drop fans). Valves and heads were fine (I sold them after my engine was replaced by GM) but the block was obviously toast.
