[Z06] Engine goes BOOM!!
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 4,434
Likes: 18
From: Bartlett IL
St. Jude Donor '07-'08-'09-'10-'11
Engine goes BOOM!!
Long story short, my LS7 did the common self destruction move and dropped an exhaust valve.
5 years ago when I purchased the engine, it came with brand new, never installed PRC heads. They came with dual valve springs and I assumed the valves were swapped out, especially the exhaust side, but unfortunately my assumption was wrong. For whatever reason at that time they kept the stock valves and one decided to drop at 5800 rpm while my car was on a dyno a few months back.
I've already located another LS7.
Coming back leaner and stronger.
On a side note, I sometimes really hate this hobby, but I can't seem to peel myself away from it
5 years ago when I purchased the engine, it came with brand new, never installed PRC heads. They came with dual valve springs and I assumed the valves were swapped out, especially the exhaust side, but unfortunately my assumption was wrong. For whatever reason at that time they kept the stock valves and one decided to drop at 5800 rpm while my car was on a dyno a few months back.
I've already located another LS7.
Coming back leaner and stronger.
On a side note, I sometimes really hate this hobby, but I can't seem to peel myself away from it
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 4,847
Likes: 10
From: Bartlett, IL
Cruise-In XI Veteran
St. Jude Donor '06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12
That sucks Pete
I just found out about your car on Friday as I was talking with Jim Moran from Speed Inc. Hope you're back on the road again really soon
I just found out about your car on Friday as I was talking with Jim Moran from Speed Inc. Hope you're back on the road again really soon
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 4,434
Likes: 18
From: Bartlett IL
St. Jude Donor '07-'08-'09-'10-'11
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 2,724
Likes: 149
From: chicago area IL.
i'm sure the 1st ride with the new engine will give you, your high back
thats one bad *** car! hop to catch you some times out and about love to see it in person
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 2,691
Likes: 165
From: Greenwood Indiana
damn man, thats really unfortunate, BUT.....the excitement of a new set up is always fun. i just had mine tuned on the dyno last sat and found that my 90/90 is holding me back above 4500.....so even though i made good numbers, now the hunt for a new winter set up is under way, and hell, mine runs just fine LOL
good luck and keep us updated
good luck and keep us updated
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 2,396
Likes: 52
From: Sicamous BC
Originally Posted by PeteZ06
For whatever reason at that time they kept the stock valves and one decided to drop at 5800 rpm while my car was on a dyno a few months back.
& a bad day .......... I broke two valve springs last season & dodge the dropped valve somehow.I terrifies me when we ramp these things up on the dyno. I learned the hardway what that pop means when doing a power run with my HCI 346 on the dyno
Then I heard the same pop when I was attending a tuning class in Florida. No one else in the class picked on the pop, so I went over to the instructor who was doing the run. I asked if he heard the pop, he nodded his head
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2
Michael S. Palmer
2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor
Joe Kucinski
10 Most Common Corvette Problems of the Last 20 Years!
Joe Kucinski
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 11,060
Likes: 291
From: Pasco WA
That was a bad sound & a bad day .......... I broke two valve springs last season & dodge the dropped valve somehow.
I terrifies me when we ramp these things up on the dyno. I learned the hardway what that pop means when doing a power run with my HCI 346 on the dyno
Then I heard the same pop when I was attending a tuning class in Florida. No one else in the class picked on the pop, so I went over to the instructor who was doing the run. I asked if he heard the pop, he nodded his head
& a bad day .......... I broke two valve springs last season & dodge the dropped valve somehow.I terrifies me when we ramp these things up on the dyno. I learned the hardway what that pop means when doing a power run with my HCI 346 on the dyno
Then I heard the same pop when I was attending a tuning class in Florida. No one else in the class picked on the pop, so I went over to the instructor who was doing the run. I asked if he heard the pop, he nodded his head
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 4,434
Likes: 18
From: Bartlett IL
St. Jude Donor '07-'08-'09-'10-'11
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 16,027
Likes: 170
From: oregon
it is more of an addiction than a hobby. the only way i can stay normal is to not mod a car at all. the second i start tinkering forged race motors and countless hours tuning the suspension happen
if you make 6 figures plus and are single, no big deal. if you're a family man or money is harder to come by this can be a destructive hobby that hurts the finances
if you make 6 figures plus and are single, no big deal. if you're a family man or money is harder to come by this can be a destructive hobby that hurts the finances
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 7,784
Likes: 2,255
From: Brighton MI
Very sorry to hear - that just sucks.
Hopefully you will be back on the road soon and stronger than ever.
You are probably already aware, but if not - there are a number of threads in the C6 Z06 section - some of which are about as long as War and Peace - regarding LS7 dropped valve issues. From all the reading I have done, there is no consensus on the cause. The two leading theories have to do with excessive valve guide clearance and valve seat/guide concentricity. There are other theories as well.
Damn shame the LS7 suffers this issue...such a great engine...
Hopefully you will be back on the road soon and stronger than ever.
You are probably already aware, but if not - there are a number of threads in the C6 Z06 section - some of which are about as long as War and Peace - regarding LS7 dropped valve issues. From all the reading I have done, there is no consensus on the cause. The two leading theories have to do with excessive valve guide clearance and valve seat/guide concentricity. There are other theories as well.
Damn shame the LS7 suffers this issue...such a great engine...
Team Owner
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 34,124
Likes: 105
From: Pensacola FL
I just shopped C6Zs all through the Spring, but just couldn't pull the trigger with all the LS7 drama.Sad to hear every time a LS7 lets go...
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 2,946
Likes: 55
From: b.b. n.j.
On a side note, I sometimes really hate this hobby, but I can't seem to peel myself away from it [/QUOTE]
I say this alot more as i get older....
Than I go and stab in 3rd at 70 and I'm ok for a week or two...LMAO
[/QUOTE]I say this alot more as i get older....
Than I go and stab in 3rd at 70 and I'm ok for a week or two...LMAO
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 4,434
Likes: 18
From: Bartlett IL
St. Jude Donor '07-'08-'09-'10-'11