[Z06] Valve failure - sue in class action ?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 5,109
Likes: 334
From: Chicago IL
That is the same cam I ran in my C5 Z you have a Cartek? BTW I floated a valve on mine after I had the car all built, the block and heads were detroyed, but back then dealers were more forgiving, got a new engine under warranty.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 5,955
Likes: 161
From: PNW
I don't think the stock valve spring failure issue is "over blown" ... it has happened to quite a few members on this board on bone stock Z06s. There was probably a bad batch or two of OEM springs made, and those unfortunate owners got bit. Change them out if you're worried about them failing ... or play the odds.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 43,084
Likes: 33
From: Raleigh / Rolesville NC
I do change my 918s just about every winter. as my car is basicly only a track day car.
Engine only sees 3000 to 6700, 3 -4 time every 2 min, 20-30 min at a time, Very little low rpm cruzing
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 831
Likes: 2
From: Houston Texas
I would have to agree with you on that .
Think the best route if worried is to have the valve springs replaced.
Of course - would it not be ironic to go and have the valve springs replaced only to have one of the 16 new ones fail. Certainly is a possibility- any spring could have a random manufacturing defect. And why would some smaller company have better QA/QC then the oem suppliers to GM?
The old adage plays - "if not broke don't fix it". I am probably going to replace my springs in the next couple of months on my 2002. But part of me sais - ain't broken why fix it?
Last edited by NatB; Dec 13, 2009 at 05:51 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 5,955
Likes: 161
From: PNW
Odds players might wait for it to break before doing a preemptive fix to prevent a possible catastrophe.
Last edited by ZeeOSix; Dec 13, 2009 at 10:54 PM.
Racer
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 488
Likes: 8
From: Datil NM
Well, in this case the adage doesn't quite fit ... if you wait for it to actually break, then it could very well be too late at that point and end up costing you a new motor for the "fix".
Odds players might wait for it to break before doing a preemptive fix to prevent a possible catastrophe.
Odds players might wait for it to break before doing a preemptive fix to prevent a possible catastrophe.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 7,683
Likes: 3
From: La La land cali
St. Jude Donor '09
My question is this: After a complete (crate) LS6 motor replacement, has the issue been resolved, or can it happen again?
I had much more peace of mind with my LS1... and much less power.
I just finished putting 1500 miles on a brand new LS6 in a 2002 Z. I drive with my fingers crossed.
Nobody seems to have the answer. The only other car that has these motors is the 2004 CTS-V.
It would be nice to have an answer from someone who actually knows what he's talking about.
Has the issue been resolved?
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Racer
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 272
Likes: 0
From: Houston Texas
People are so parinoid.
Yes it happened on a small percentage of cars. Freaking drive the thing and don't worry about it. If it bothers you so much get aftermarket springs.
Or maybe you could infiltrate GM and get thier serecet records on what batch of springs were bad and what motors/cars they were put in....?
:P
Yes it happened on a small percentage of cars. Freaking drive the thing and don't worry about it. If it bothers you so much get aftermarket springs.
Or maybe you could infiltrate GM and get thier serecet records on what batch of springs were bad and what motors/cars they were put in....?
:P
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 14,581
Likes: 10
From: City of Turbo Buicks in Corvette County FL
i was really concerned too, until I did my own research.. Its way overblown.. You have about a 2% chance of breaking a spring.. I live in the Dallas/Ft Worth area.. I called 3 large Corvette Perfoemance shops. LG Motorsports, 21st Century Muscle Car, Corvettes of Dallas.. And 1 large high volume dealership. Huffines Chevrolet.. My buddy Keith has been my service tech for years.. Guess what I found when I brought the question up?? Maybe less handfull of broken springs betwwen all of these places..
Drifting
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 1,695
Likes: 0
From: Long Island NY
Just an opportunity in disguise. 
As long as it doesn't risk my life or injury, let it fail, and when it does, fix it, and go back out there and continue having fun. Short of crashing the car and totaling it, there isn't much on these cars that can't be repaired. So why worry about it?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 7,683
Likes: 3
From: La La land cali
St. Jude Donor '09
People are so parinoid.
Yes it happened on a small percentage of cars. Freaking drive the thing and don't worry about it. If it bothers you so much get aftermarket springs.
Or maybe you could infiltrate GM and get thier serecet records on what batch of springs were bad and what motors/cars they were put in....?
:P
Yes it happened on a small percentage of cars. Freaking drive the thing and don't worry about it. If it bothers you so much get aftermarket springs.
Or maybe you could infiltrate GM and get thier serecet records on what batch of springs were bad and what motors/cars they were put in....?
:P
What an ***...
You think for one second that I don't drive this thing? I guarantee you I drive it more in 4 months than most guys drive in a year (possibly two)- not ever gonna be a garage queen. Ever!
It's an honest question, and I don't think the answer should be so difficult. I have heard from some mechanics that the issue was resolved in 2004, I just haven't heard it from the omnipotent ones here in CF.
It was a costly venture... and I will be driving the living hell out of it over these next twelve months.
WTF ever. Damn Corvettes. They can be like women.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 5,955
Likes: 161
From: PNW
Use these search words in the C5 Z06 Forum:
valve spring fail
Last edited by ZeeOSix; Dec 19, 2009 at 12:42 AM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 7,683
Likes: 3
From: La La land cali
St. Jude Donor '09
edited for ambiguity.
I would have to figure out when this new block was issued. I'll have to run the serial numbers on the block.
Last edited by tricep; Dec 19, 2009 at 02:57 PM.
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 227
Likes: 1
From: Frisco TX
Mine broke when I was on my way out of town to a Corvette show. It's going to cost me a lot more then 10 grand to fix it. My valvespring broke and the valve drop and hit the piston broke the head off the valve and put to holes in my piston.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 5,955
Likes: 161
From: PNW
If I was putting a more aggressive cam in than the stock cam, I would definitely upgrade the valve springs too.