[Z06] Which replacement valve springs?
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 982
Likes: 18
From: Seattle WA
Which replacement valve springs?
After reading the thread about broken valve springs, I'd like to have mine replaced now before they possibly fail on me. I'm wondering which replacement valve springs I should get. The engine is currently stock and will probably remain that way. I don't mind spending a little extra though to get something that may be stronger, even if it's not really needed at stock HP levels.
What would you recommend?
What would you recommend?
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 3,904
Likes: 29
From: Vancouver Washington
After reading the thread about broken valve springs, I'd like to have mine replaced now before they possibly fail on me. I'm wondering which replacement valve springs I should get. The engine is currently stock and will probably remain that way. I don't mind spending a little extra though to get something that may be stronger, even if it's not really needed at stock HP levels.
What would you recommend?
What would you recommend?
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 1,813
Likes: 0
From: Tampa Fl
Your crazy don't replace the springs unless you replace the cam. Z06 springs don't brake that ofter or there would be a recall. Just drive it and have fun. There are people out there with over 100k miles and they haven't replaced there springs. just my .02
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 1,083
Likes: 0
There are plenty of stories of broken springs here on this forum, when they bumped up the cam size in the 02 z06 they started having breakages, I have had all my springs changed out to the ls2 springs and have not had a problem for 3 years now.. If you have an 02, or early 03 I would do this in a heartbeat, new engines are expensive
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 3,398
Likes: 2
From: Allentown PA
I agree, let them alone. This forum is only a small sample of the Corvette population, plus people don't post comment unless bad things happen. For every broken spring, there are tens of thousands of springs that are just fine. The Z06 clutch sticks sometimes too, maybe you want to replace that? I know some people have bad gas gauges, maybe you should consider a new one? How about the CLB recall, might want to just buy a new column. Etc... If it ain't broke don't fix it...It's more work than you think and a pain in the butt...
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 982
Likes: 18
From: Seattle WA
I agree that for every car that has had a failure there are far more than have been just fine. But it has happened enough times to be recognized as one of the likely places of failure on the LS6.
My Z06 is my daily driver and I'm willing to spend a couple of hundred dollars now to eliminate a point of failure rather than risk it happening at another time and causing thousands of dollars worth of damage, plus leaving my main vehicle disabled.
I installed a CLB for the same reason, even though mine hadn't failed yet. The clutch problem is easily remedied in 10 minutes using the Ranger Clutch method. I also changed my battery before the original failed because even though they all didn't leak, if it did leak it's a very costly repair.
My Z06 is my daily driver and I'm willing to spend a couple of hundred dollars now to eliminate a point of failure rather than risk it happening at another time and causing thousands of dollars worth of damage, plus leaving my main vehicle disabled.
I installed a CLB for the same reason, even though mine hadn't failed yet. The clutch problem is easily remedied in 10 minutes using the Ranger Clutch method. I also changed my battery before the original failed because even though they all didn't leak, if it did leak it's a very costly repair.
Last edited by efranzen; Aug 11, 2008 at 11:18 PM.
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Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 4,030
Likes: 6
From: Maryland
I agree, let them alone. This forum is only a small sample of the Corvette population, plus people don't post comment unless bad things happen. For every broken spring, there are tens of thousands of springs that are just fine. The Z06 clutch sticks sometimes too, maybe you want to replace that? I know some people have bad gas gauges, maybe you should consider a new one? How about the CLB recall, might want to just buy a new column. Etc... If it ain't broke don't fix it...It's more work than you think and a pain in the butt...
But seriously...fixing the clutch just takes good fluid, the CLB is cheap enough, relative to the cost of a new column, are not new springs at $50 a set cheap enough compared to a new motor? Purely on the numbers, if you pay $700/yr to insure the car against an accident on the road, each and every year, isn't $50+ labor worth it for the motor which might be say 1/3 the cost of the whole car?
I see it as insurance. I buy the insurance because I can't afford a big loss on the street and I can't afford a new motor right now either.
PS--I did leave the column lock go and I would let the guages go too!!
Last edited by sothpaw2; Aug 11, 2008 at 11:23 PM.
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 1,813
Likes: 0
From: Tampa Fl
prc duals gold springs but do a cam while you are there and also if you are staing n/a do an underdrive pully system. You won't regret that you did that stuff. If your fixing unnecessary thing you might as well gain some hp out of it. just my .02 once again
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 3,398
Likes: 2
From: Allentown PA
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 4,030
Likes: 6
From: Maryland
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 1,876
Likes: 0
From: Edmond OK
The cam is more work for sure, but it would be worth it. The good thing is that if you only do the springs now, you can leave them alone when you do choose a cam. I would choose the newer Comp 918 springs.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 3,398
Likes: 2
From: Allentown PA
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 4,816
Likes: 132
From: Plano TX
My dealership has only seen a few with broken LS6springs, Most are the LS7.. He remembers one LS6 that broke a spring had an aftermarket cam and springs and the owner being upset , because the warranty would not cover repairs Another Corvette Performance shop who deals with these on a daily bases told me they have never seen a stock Ls6 with a broken spring,, but has seen problems with the Ls7 springs breaking at his shop.. Makes me feel a little better as both the dealership and speed shop are high volume Corvette facilities in Dallas Tx
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 1,083
Likes: 0
My dealership has only seen a few with broken LS6springs, Most are the LS7.. He remembers one LS6 that broke a spring had an aftermarket cam and springs and the owner being upset , because the warranty would not cover repairs Another Corvette Performance shop who deals with these on a daily bases told me they have never seen a stock Ls6 with a broken spring,, but has seen problems with the Ls7 springs breaking at his shop.. Makes me feel a little better as both the dealership and speed shop are high volume Corvette facilities in Dallas Tx
