[Z06] Valve spring issue?
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 5,393
Likes: 17
From: Belleville Mich.
Those springs in your picture are not the GM original 03 springs & that is a good thing.
They have been replaced with a single coil spring & that's a good thing too.
(with a stock cam, you wouldn't have wanted to see a double spring replacement)
I think that you should be just fine, depending on your mileage & age of
the replacement springs.
They have been replaced with a single coil spring & that's a good thing too.
(with a stock cam, you wouldn't have wanted to see a double spring replacement)
I think that you should be just fine, depending on your mileage & age of
the replacement springs.
Racer
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 307
Likes: 1
I have same build date 3-03 ZO6... Bought it 5 weeks ago and coming home broke a valve spring. I got lucky and didn't drop a valve. My springs looked just like yours. No color or stripes and they were factory. The new upgraded ones I ordered through Summit, are Blue and are LS6/LS2 valve springs.
Many cases of factory ones braking due to bigger cam in the 02/04 Z's.... If your not sure change them. If they were yellow or had a stripe It will wear off with time....
Many cases of factory ones braking due to bigger cam in the 02/04 Z's.... If your not sure change them. If they were yellow or had a stripe It will wear off with time....
Last edited by ZO6DRIVER; Apr 7, 2013 at 11:43 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 5,393
Likes: 17
From: Belleville Mich.
Well, Let's put it this way.
I know for a fact that my springs were yellow & original.
I bought my 03 Z06 brand new in Dec of 02.
Build date was July of 02.
I changed out my original springs in 2011 & the yellow paint on them
was easily visible & almost the same as new paint.
The valve springs that I replaced them with (Manley's single coil ) had a brushed on ink style mark on each spring.
The last time I had the covers off, this brushed on marking was completely gone.
I know for a fact that my springs were yellow & original.
I bought my 03 Z06 brand new in Dec of 02.
Build date was July of 02.
I changed out my original springs in 2011 & the yellow paint on them
was easily visible & almost the same as new paint.
The valve springs that I replaced them with (Manley's single coil ) had a brushed on ink style mark on each spring.
The last time I had the covers off, this brushed on marking was completely gone.
Racer
Joined: Nov 1999
Posts: 346
Likes: 10
From: Easton MA
I have same build date 3-03 ZO6... Bought it 5 weeks ago and coming home broke a valve spring. I got lucky and didn't drop a valve. My springs looked just like yours. No color or stripes and they were factory. The new upgraded ones I ordered through Summit, are Blue and are LS6/LS2 valve springs.
Many cases of factory ones braking due to bigger cam in the 02/04 Z's.... If your not sure change them. If they were yellow or had a stripe It will wear off with time....
Many cases of factory ones braking due to bigger cam in the 02/04 Z's.... If your not sure change them. If they were yellow or had a stripe It will wear off with time....
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 3,355
Likes: 113
From: Los Angeles
I have same build date 3-03 ZO6... Bought it 5 weeks ago and coming home broke a valve spring. I got lucky and didn't drop a valve. My springs looked just like yours. No color or stripes and they were factory. The new upgraded ones I ordered through Summit, are Blue and are LS6/LS2 valve springs.
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 651
Likes: 17
From: MD
I figured I'd upgrade my springs anyway for cheap insurance. are these the upgraded springs? part# 12499224
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/nal-12499224
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/nal-12499224
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 2,364
Likes: 4
From: Bedford MA
All right. One more question related to the valve springs.
How long should it take a good mechanic to do the entire job ?
My Dad's 02 Z06 is ready to have them done, and I'll be ordering them most likely from Gene Culley.
TTT
Thanks all...
How long should it take a good mechanic to do the entire job ?
My Dad's 02 Z06 is ready to have them done, and I'll be ordering them most likely from Gene Culley.
TTT
Thanks all...
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 16,028
Likes: 170
From: oregon
a friend of mine who's a very skilled engine builder said it will take 2-3 hours. i haven't done the spring swap on an LS before and bribed him into showing me the tricks of the trade with doing the swap.
also note i just picked up the new GM springs today and the blue paint on them is like powder. it absolutely will wash off after a few thousand miles. my hands looked like smurfs after handling them
also note i just picked up the new GM springs today and the blue paint on them is like powder. it absolutely will wash off after a few thousand miles. my hands looked like smurfs after handling them
Race Director
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 15,866
Likes: 196
From: PA
I changed mine last summer, it was first time working on this car or an LS engine, I took my time with it, spent at least 8 hrs on it. The hardest part for me was getting the air fitting in the cylinder holes (stock exhaust manifolds). Other than that not a really hard job.
Intermediate
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 45
Likes: 3
From: Upper Tantallon Nova Scotia
Just had mine replaced yesterday at the dealership. They charged me for 4 hrs labour (also had new spark plugs and wires installed). Most dealers I contacted in the area said they would charge 6-7 hrs for the job.
My old springs were yellow... 08/02 build date.
My old springs were yellow... 08/02 build date.
Last edited by rxmatt; Apr 9, 2013 at 06:03 PM.
Instructor
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 233
Likes: 0
I had mine changed to PAC 1518's about a year or so ago, the original springs that were replaced were blue. 2003 Z06. Bought the car with 26k on the odo, probably had about 79k mi last year when they were swapped out.
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 651
Likes: 17
From: MD
swapped them out today! pretty easy. broke a couple plug wires getting them off the plugs but was swapping the plugs and wires anyway. lost a keeper thank God it made it to the ground so i can fetch it. other than that pretty straight forward. the first start-up there was a loud tapping but has went away after 5 mins or so, i figured it was the lifters needing oil to pump up.
Last edited by Dave02C5; Apr 13, 2013 at 06:44 PM.
Race Director
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 15,866
Likes: 196
From: PA
swapped them out today! pretty easy. broke a couple plug wires getting them off the plugs but was swapping the plugs and wires anyway. lost a keeper thank God it made it to the ground so i can fetch it. other than that pretty straight forward. the first start-up there was a loud tapping but has went away after 5 mins or so, i figured it was the lifters needing oil to pump up.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 1,202
Likes: 5
Well, Let's put it this way.
I know for a fact that my springs were yellow & original.
I bought my 03 Z06 brand new in Dec of 02.
Build date was July of 02.
I changed out my original springs in 2011 & the yellow paint on them
was easily visible & almost the same as new paint.
I know for a fact that my springs were yellow & original.
I bought my 03 Z06 brand new in Dec of 02.
Build date was July of 02.
I changed out my original springs in 2011 & the yellow paint on them
was easily visible & almost the same as new paint.
Racer
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 307
Likes: 1
I figured I'd upgrade my springs anyway for cheap insurance. are these the upgraded springs? part# 12499224
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/nal-12499224
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/nal-12499224
Mine are darkish blue in color...I also change the push rod on the valve spring that broke too...