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[ZR1] LS9 valve-train matters reported on the CF

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Old 01-31-2021, 08:52 PM
  #61  
Gary '09 C6
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thanks, Joey...and if you are aware of any relevant CF reports that I have overlooked, please direct me to the same.

Gary
Old 02-01-2021, 07:10 AM
  #62  
Joey D
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Keeps coming up on corvette Facebook groups. Someone just pulled their heads on a 32k mile car and there was some serious wiggle when he tested them..


Last edited by Joey D; 02-01-2021 at 07:37 AM.
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Old 02-01-2021, 08:51 AM
  #63  
chubbs6350
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Originally Posted by Joey D
Keeps coming up on corvette Facebook groups. Someone just pulled their heads on a 32k mile car and there was some serious wiggle when he tested them..

https://youtu.be/wR0U9_KNcTA

​​​​​​Throughout the years on here I've read that there has been wiggle tests that were bad, but I've never read that a stock zr1 dropped a valve, and I know there's a lot of higher mileage zr1's out there now.
The ls7 and ls9 have different heads, they're not designed the same way. I'm sure every shop wants zr1 owners to do their heads now too
It'd be nice to actually know though cause it's a great excuse for me to pull my heads off and add more power 😂

Last edited by chubbs6350; 02-01-2021 at 08:54 AM.
Old 02-01-2021, 09:05 AM
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Lol- yeah. The zr1s are interesting in terms of falling into 2 main groups
1- low mileage examples which haven’t been driven much
2- modded with heads and cam

i would think the one way to get any insight From group 2 would be to poll the guys on Kong s face book group (Zr1 everything) and see of the modded guys checked their heads when they pulled them.
Old 02-01-2021, 08:20 PM
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Originally Posted by chubbs6350
​​​​​​...but I've never read that a stock zr1 dropped a valve, and I know there's a lot of higher mileage zr1's out there now...
Mine's at 60K miles now on stock heads. Stock engine for that matter, only within the last few thousand miles has it had any mods and those are all "bolt-ons".
Old 02-15-2021, 02:35 PM
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chubbs6350, the first two "reference links" on the list (see the first post in this thread) reference a "dropped valve" by an LS9 (same car).

Gary
Old 06-27-2021, 12:25 PM
  #67  
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Updated the list for the LS9 reports by corvettejoe09 and C6ZRJuan.

Gary


Last edited by Gary '09 C6; 06-27-2021 at 12:36 PM. Reason: sp
Old 06-30-2021, 06:04 PM
  #68  
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Updated the list for the LS9 report by Joey D.

Last edited by Gary '09 C6; 06-30-2021 at 06:07 PM. Reason: sp
Old 06-30-2021, 10:49 PM
  #69  
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So it looks like this is a LS9 issue too. Here I was thinking it was an ls7 issue only. The other thread mentions the lt4 too. Why is this such an issue for GM?

Last edited by sprayer; 07-01-2021 at 01:34 AM.
Old 07-01-2021, 01:05 PM
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so what's the actual guide measurement they are finding for actual clearances on the guides and stems ?
Old 07-01-2021, 05:32 PM
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If you download the attached list (in post #1), and follow the referenced links, you will come across specific information for each report (if provided therein by the poster of that report).
The measurements have all been all different; each car is different.
Old 07-02-2021, 06:48 AM
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Originally Posted by Gary '09 C6
If you download the attached list (in post #1), and follow the referenced links, you will come across specific information for each report (if provided therein by the poster of that report).
The measurements have all been all different; each car is different.
yeah I tried three of them, none had actual guide to stem measurements.
Old 07-02-2021, 11:18 AM
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So just to be clear, per the spreadsheet we have two (2) reported cases of dropped valves on LS9s. One of those (poster has a grand total of 2 posts on the forum) and in his 2nd post clarified that the spring broke and retainer popped off, so I'm not sure I'd classify that as the same issue as the LS7. This leaves us with one reported issue of valve drop on the LS9. Beyond that is looks like 22 reported cases of valve train wear outside of spec. Even if we count the ones where someone saw a "failed" head at a shop, out of 4684 ZR1s made we have less than 0.5% that have been reported here with valve train issues.
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Old 07-02-2021, 04:51 PM
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mirage2991, I did post measurements with the report on my own car. There are others on the list that have done so, but I agree you do need to hunt for them...

EvanZR1, that is all of the data I've been able to collect from the C-F thus far. Unfortunately (IMO), the sample size isn't representative of the universe of C6 ZR1s,
as it is likely that not all C6 ZR1 owners are C- F members. I am not sure that "sample" difference can be meaningfully addressed when looking to compare relevant statistics.

I do not have all of the answers. All I can conclude is that the matter should not be ignored.

Thanks again to all for their input.

Last edited by Gary '09 C6; 07-02-2021 at 04:58 PM. Reason: sp & formatting
Old 07-02-2021, 07:06 PM
  #75  
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I asked for the measurements when I sent the heads in to be worked on. The service limit on the guide to valve stem clearance is .0037" , a few of my intake valves were up to .0058". They had a decent amount of wiggle when I checked. Would they have failed? I don't think anyone can say yes or no to that question, but they were above the service limit, so I had work done to them.
Old 07-06-2021, 06:52 AM
  #76  
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Originally Posted by C6ZRJuan
I asked for the measurements when I sent the heads in to be worked on. The service limit on the guide to valve stem clearance is .0037" , a few of my intake valves were up to .0058". They had a decent amount of wiggle when I checked. Would they have failed? I don't think anyone can say yes or no to that question, but they were above the service limit, so I had work done to them.

mine were checked by ecs here in in NJ and were out .0052 - .0054. I had them removed. Waiting for the work to be completed.
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Old 07-06-2021, 01:15 PM
  #77  
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just for reference... from my helm manual....




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Old 07-07-2021, 09:54 AM
  #78  
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So I will be having my car modded in the near future. While the supercharger is removed can someone give me an idea of how much a shop would most likely charge to measure and inspect my stock heads?



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