Cooked #7 piston
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 66
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From: Saugus CA
Cooked #7 piston
Hi Guys
I purchased a 2003 C5 last August and after reading several times in the Corvette forum about #7 piston I'm a little worried. Is this problem from hard use, high rpm, cooling issues or what?
I'm 64 years old and never race my car, very seldom put my foot to the floor but like to get on the free way in style. I sure hope I have nothing to worry about here because I would be less than pleased with General motors if this happen to my vette when it is not driven hard. At my age I don't feel like changing an engine with only 49000 miles on it, and on retirement pay it would be tough to come up with the bucks to have it done some where. Maybe I should have gotten that extended warrenty after all.
Concerned, Ron
I purchased a 2003 C5 last August and after reading several times in the Corvette forum about #7 piston I'm a little worried. Is this problem from hard use, high rpm, cooling issues or what?
I'm 64 years old and never race my car, very seldom put my foot to the floor but like to get on the free way in style. I sure hope I have nothing to worry about here because I would be less than pleased with General motors if this happen to my vette when it is not driven hard. At my age I don't feel like changing an engine with only 49000 miles on it, and on retirement pay it would be tough to come up with the bucks to have it done some where. Maybe I should have gotten that extended warrenty after all.
Concerned, Ron
Former Vendor
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 7,607
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From: ECS Sales & Service Advisor
Cruise-In III Veteran
Cruise-In V Veteran
I've never personally seen it on a car that wasn't driven hard, and mostly with bordlerline tunes. And, I've seen many, many hilgh mileage stock, and modified LSx cars.
You have nothing to worry about. Romp on it! I have over 50k on mine with big time compression. Absolutely, no worries.
You have nothing to worry about. Romp on it! I have over 50k on mine with big time compression. Absolutely, no worries.
Thread Starter
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Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 66
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From: Saugus CA
#7 piston
Thanks Mike
That makes me feel a little better, love my car and don't need that kind of problem, had a 65 Stingray 40+ years ago and I bet the crap out of it and never broke anything. The 65 was much easier to work on but it needed some thing done all the time, plugs, valve adjustments, points, etc. For the most part the C5 just needs driving and what a driver it is, try to get 30mpg with a 65 vette, not going to happen. Having trouble with my e-mail and don't think my first reply went through.
Thanks Ron
That makes me feel a little better, love my car and don't need that kind of problem, had a 65 Stingray 40+ years ago and I bet the crap out of it and never broke anything. The 65 was much easier to work on but it needed some thing done all the time, plugs, valve adjustments, points, etc. For the most part the C5 just needs driving and what a driver it is, try to get 30mpg with a 65 vette, not going to happen. Having trouble with my e-mail and don't think my first reply went through.
Thanks Ron
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 10,962
Likes: 29
From: Van Buren Arkansas
Wounded Warrior Escort '11
I'm the guy with 309K on my '99 and I still get on it from time to time. Mostly it rolls the freeways back and forth to work. With this mileage, the engine is a bit more noisey but very little. No problem with compression ever. I did have a lifter or two go bad a few years ago and took the top off for that. No issues with #7 for me and a recent cylinder bleed-down test was great.
Thread Starter
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Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 66
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From: Saugus CA
Hi
Thanks for your reply, sounds like these cars will run for some time according to your milage, how was the cam when you changed lifters? have you always used Mobil 1 oil?
It is amazing that your leak down was still good, my car pulls real hard and has tons of torgue compared to my last vette 40 + years ago, that liitle 327 365 horse engine had no torque and I always had to go for a lower gear to race. Of course I don't race any more, but it would be fun to see just how fast my car will go but I'm to chicken and don't want a ticket.
Thanks Ron
Thanks for your reply, sounds like these cars will run for some time according to your milage, how was the cam when you changed lifters? have you always used Mobil 1 oil?
It is amazing that your leak down was still good, my car pulls real hard and has tons of torgue compared to my last vette 40 + years ago, that liitle 327 365 horse engine had no torque and I always had to go for a lower gear to race. Of course I don't race any more, but it would be fun to see just how fast my car will go but I'm to chicken and don't want a ticket.
Thanks Ron
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 2,498
Likes: 4
From: Brentwood TN
It'll start laying down at about a buck 45 in 6th. To reach top speed (somewhere north of 160 in 5th, depending on the size of your stones). And that's stock. Anybody know what the accurately measured top speed for a stock LS1 C5, done on a track or other safe environment, might be?
Charlie
Charlie
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 10,962
Likes: 29
From: Van Buren Arkansas
Wounded Warrior Escort '11
Hi
Thanks for your reply, sounds like these cars will run for some time according to your milage, how was the cam when you changed lifters? have you always used Mobil 1 oil?
It is amazing that your leak down was still good, my car pulls real hard and has tons of torgue compared to my last vette 40 + years ago, that liitle 327 365 horse engine had no torque and I always had to go for a lower gear to race. Of course I don't race any more, but it would be fun to see just how fast my car will go but I'm to chicken and don't want a ticket.
Thanks Ron
Thanks for your reply, sounds like these cars will run for some time according to your milage, how was the cam when you changed lifters? have you always used Mobil 1 oil?
It is amazing that your leak down was still good, my car pulls real hard and has tons of torgue compared to my last vette 40 + years ago, that liitle 327 365 horse engine had no torque and I always had to go for a lower gear to race. Of course I don't race any more, but it would be fun to see just how fast my car will go but I'm to chicken and don't want a ticket.
Thanks Ron
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