LS6 vs. LS1 Mixup
Safety Car
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 4,237
Likes: 11
From: Lacombe Louisiana
Since you can buy a ZO6 crate engine from GM (for lots less) why did they go to an after market rebuilder? Unless you agreed before hand to accept a replacement part numbered engine(LS1),the dealer has NO choice but to install the proper engine.Even if they were shipped the wrong engine,it is up to them to make sure it is right BEFORE they installed it.The rebuilder should have your engine for a core,least of all they should be able to have that builder do your original engine.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 43,084
Likes: 33
From: Raleigh / Rolesville NC
Since you can buy a ZO6 crate engine from GM (for lots less) why did they go to an after market rebuilder? Unless you agreed before hand to accept a replacement part numbered engine(LS1),the dealer has NO choice but to install the proper engine.Even if they were shipped the wrong engine,it is up to them to make sure it is right BEFORE they installed it.The rebuilder should have your engine for a core,least of all they should be able to have that builder do your original engine.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 11,405
Likes: 26
From: Whippany NJ
CI 6-7-8-9 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '08-'09
NCM Sinkhole Donor
I paid alot less for an brand new LS3 installed with H/C by a reputable tuner shop
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
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
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 6,119
Likes: 156
From: Huntington tx
Dang this is a nightmare thread, for $12K I'd have a LS3 pushing 630+ hp. Of course I would do the install myself. BUT dayummmm, I'd be all over that dealership stirring up trouble for them. They'd regret EVER screwing me over.
Thread Starter
4th Gear
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
Thank you for the helpful comments. I feel more confident dealing with this situation now.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 2,186
Likes: 2
From: Woodinville WA
I am so embarrassed, please forgive me. It is differential, not distributor. I have never done any major work to a car before, so this is all new to me. If anything, hopefully my mistake brought humor to your day.
Thank you for the helpful comments. I feel more confident dealing with this situation now.
Thank you for the helpful comments. I feel more confident dealing with this situation now.
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 4,977
Likes: 256
From: St. Louis Missouri
Listen to Bill. Be calm, explicit and reasonable and you have a better chance of getting satisfaction. This problem is above the pay grade of the service manager, but I'd start there and set a reasonable expectation for a response, in writing. If you are dissatisfied with the response, contact an attorney.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 18,048
Likes: 53
From: long Island NY
Just a curious question not trying to crap in your easter basket but with all the great vendors here and great info why wouldn't you ask or inquire prior to getting it done? Surely you could build a kick *** motor for that price.
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 122
Likes: 0
Did you see the motor come in personally from the rebuild company? If not, I'd bet you it's not the dealership itself that's trying to pull one over, but a tech that tried to pull a fast one.
Im sure they figured that someone that payed 12K for a stock rebuild wouldn't look close enough at the engine to know squat, so they probably yanked the motor from their camaro and tried to give it to you, so they could keep the new Z06.
I'm not saying all mechanics are corrupt, but I believe its more likely a corrupt single tech than a conspiracy from the dealer.
I know many techs that, back in the gravy Ford days, would have a car come in for warranty work. A new mustang would need something simple - they would warranty out a transmission, but not really replace it - Ford would never come get the old parts - bam - now tech has a brand new transmission. SVT was a bit picky about the Cobras, so it didn't work on them, but the regular cars - man, Ford was a gold mine for a tech that could game the system. He even got paid labor hours for the transmission he kept and didn't replace!
Im sure they figured that someone that payed 12K for a stock rebuild wouldn't look close enough at the engine to know squat, so they probably yanked the motor from their camaro and tried to give it to you, so they could keep the new Z06.
I'm not saying all mechanics are corrupt, but I believe its more likely a corrupt single tech than a conspiracy from the dealer.
I know many techs that, back in the gravy Ford days, would have a car come in for warranty work. A new mustang would need something simple - they would warranty out a transmission, but not really replace it - Ford would never come get the old parts - bam - now tech has a brand new transmission. SVT was a bit picky about the Cobras, so it didn't work on them, but the regular cars - man, Ford was a gold mine for a tech that could game the system. He even got paid labor hours for the transmission he kept and didn't replace!
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 1,438
Likes: 4
From: Always in my lane.
OH BOY!! 
That service manager and the General Manager are SWEATING BULLETS hoping this will go away QUIELY!
You can bet a PAY CHECK on that! There going to try to convince you that EVERYTHING IS JUST FINE!
Start with GM Customer Service Assistance and file a complaint. Talk to the service manager and tell him you want the ZO6 LS6 engine that is standard to the ZO6 installed in the car. Be nice , to the point, factual and don’t be an ***. Take names, dates, problems discussed answers given and all the stuff to build your case. KEEP ALL PAPERWORK!
BUILD A CASE like it a murder trial!
If you paid with a credit card, file a complaint with the credit card company and use that as a last resort to deny payment due to the dealership inability to complete the repair correctly.
I would NOT sleep until this is FIXED correctly and to your favor!! They would NOT want me in that corner. I would be a wolverine ready to attack if they tried to bamboozle me!! :-o
Your car was BUILT with a ZO6 engine,, went in for service with a ZO6 engine and it should drive out of the Stealership with a ZO6 ENGINE!
YES,, a ZO6 engine is different enough that I would raise a royal SH!& Fit if they denied service to fix the issue!!
Bill
That service manager and the General Manager are SWEATING BULLETS hoping this will go away QUIELY! You can bet a PAY CHECK on that! There going to try to convince you that EVERYTHING IS JUST FINE!
Start with GM Customer Service Assistance and file a complaint. Talk to the service manager and tell him you want the ZO6 LS6 engine that is standard to the ZO6 installed in the car. Be nice , to the point, factual and don’t be an ***. Take names, dates, problems discussed answers given and all the stuff to build your case. KEEP ALL PAPERWORK!
BUILD A CASE like it a murder trial!
If you paid with a credit card, file a complaint with the credit card company and use that as a last resort to deny payment due to the dealership inability to complete the repair correctly.
I would NOT sleep until this is FIXED correctly and to your favor!! They would NOT want me in that corner. I would be a wolverine ready to attack if they tried to bamboozle me!! :-o
Your car was BUILT with a ZO6 engine,, went in for service with a ZO6 engine and it should drive out of the Stealership with a ZO6 ENGINE!
YES,, a ZO6 engine is different enough that I would raise a royal SH!& Fit if they denied service to fix the issue!!
Bill
Pro
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 732
Likes: 3
From: Maryland
Take it to another GM certified mechanic and inspect all of the work they said they did to see if in fact they did. If they did pay for what they said they did minus the motor work. Tell them you want your old LS6 block back and they can have their alleged rebuilt ls1 back. Of course they will not be able to provide you with your old LS6 block back, so deny that portion of the payment and either be happy with what you got, or take the money you saved and get an actual LS6 block built up by a reputable forum vendor. Based on the differences with the blocks, they do not have a leg to stand on in court and would spend several thousand dollars defending a suit so most likely they will just write off that portion.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 5,284
Likes: 235
From: Rockledge FL
Also, Im willing to bet that when its time to trade/sell that Z, the next guy will want a 100% ZO6. I would. Would you buy a ZO6 that didnt have that LS6 engine,but instead had an LS1? I DOUBT IT. And that trade in ....inspecting that engine block will reveal that LS1, which will mean a much,much lower trade in, not to mention,salespeople looking at you like youre trying to con them.
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 228
Likes: 0
From: Ottawa Ontario
As a retired "stealership" Service Manager several things in this story do not add up. From the prices quoted just for an engine, to the incorrect part installed, to the lack of accountability of the dealer doing the work. Jobs would be lost and franchise agreements would be reviewed very seriously. GM doesn't screw around, especially these days.
As for techs stealing parts, as someone else has posted, I can tell you that's BS.
All the managers, dealer principle, parts staff, techs, car wash dudes, porters, shuttle bus drivers would have to be in on it.
Risk your 6 figure job and a multi million dollar franchis for stealing parts, come on.
As for techs stealing parts, as someone else has posted, I can tell you that's BS.
All the managers, dealer principle, parts staff, techs, car wash dudes, porters, shuttle bus drivers would have to be in on it.
Risk your 6 figure job and a multi million dollar franchis for stealing parts, come on.