1993C4LT1

We already drove it, everything seems fine. Ran great etc. I know you guys are annoyed, but I have to ask. Yes, about the valves. I understand it happens to very little cars. But if we felt the need to change them, is there some sort of kit or?? He's owned many C3-base C6s. And two C5 Z's. Seacrhed older threads and it was mostly people fighting, which is why I am asking.

Brandon

Hischar

You can pull the heads yourself and send them off to get worked or you can straight up buy a new set for little to no downtime.

itomh

Brandon, I purchased an 08Z last year and have probably read the same arguments as you have. Yes, it is a small number, some speculate 1%, and that is of the ones that have reported it that this has happened to. The question you have to ask yourself is, do you have $15K plus in your bank account if it happens to you? That's the bottom line. We are talking about something that can happen on a Sunday drive to church without warning, total engine failure here if it happens. You will never really enjoy driving it with that thought looming around, I know I didn't. I will cost you nothing to call Kohle at AHP and here it from a guy who sees these heads out of spec on a daily basis. Get the heads fixed and put it behind you. I didn't see the need to pay and have them inspected, I just got them fixed.

MTPZ06

Nearly every member on here that takes the time to inspect the valve guides, finds an issue...some issues more severe than others. Catastrophic engine failure occurs with far less frequency...but who wants to risk a $15K engine just to see how far one can drive on excessively worn valve guides?

AHP (American Heritage Performance) has core sets of heads ready to ship to minimize downtime, and they also sell an "install kit" which includes all the gaskets and hardware needed. Essentially, all that's left is fluids and your elbow grease to complete the job. There's even DIY head swap threads on here, and AHP offers cust support if you hit a sang.

https://www.americanheritageperformance.com

1993C4LT1

Perfect, thanks guys. Very good point it being a probable $15k fix, even though it happens to little cars. Cool. Will keep you guys updated

TXGS507

Brandon, I too am in Dallas and own an 08Z.... Happy to help if I can.

1993C4LT1

Sweet! Will let you know.

Unreal

If by very little you mean 99%+ of owners, then yes, that is "very little".

Turbo2L

No way I would own one and not fix the heads. It's a predictable failure and the odds are not in your favor.

dmuellenberg

I'm sure by 'very few' he meant ones that have actually dropped a valve. But yes, almost every LS7 will experience excessive valve guide wear.

Unreal

Exactly, people have to define the problem.

That being said, cars with extreme low mileage, cars never driven, cars that are fixed, etc artificially lower the failures. I've seen it happen in person multiple times. I've met way too many people in person who lost a motor. I know guys that it happened to more than once. So throwing out <1% is crazy IMO.

1993C4LT1

Exactly.

psp6158

I was here for the arguments you saw in the old threads, most of the nay sayers are gone. I have always suggested to people like yourself, look at the for sale section of cars on here... so I did when I saw your thread, and the first beautiful Z06 I saw for sale, opened up, and there it is... dropped valve, replaced by GM at 20,000 miles. Glad you did your research, mine were bad at 4000 miles. You and Pops will love the car...

1993C4LT1

Wow, can never underestimate something. Glad you got it repaired Oh hell yeah, I'm sure we will.

Dirty Howie

I blew my motor on my 2008, seen others blow in person, know of many more that I didn't personally see and also know of others with multiple replacements on same car.............


DH

LV Vette

The way I look at it, it’s like an insurance policy. The chances of a good driver having an accident is relatively small, just as the dropped valve problem. But as time goes by, the more likely, you will have an accident as you will more likely have a valve drop. So, ask yourself, would you drive without insurance, so why would you go without fixing such a potentially expensive problem?

Just my 2 cents

Clayton

mggray87

I bought my 08 last year I think in May. Had 5200 miles on it. I've read about the issue on here before I bought it. And this one was stock. After buying it. I went into a different perspective. I was pumped I got my z06 that I wanted. But now I turned to. Spending money on heads is yes an insurance policy. Now that I owned it. I was all in invested in 40k. I didn' like the idea of what if. What if. One day I went on Chevy website to look up.ls7 crate. I saw. 20k I said nope. I' getting heads done. Plus while it' there add a small cam. Long story short. Getting it done allows me to sleep at night knowing now the cat is more reliable.

itomh

here's a look at 1%.


https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...ped-valve.html

trogdor

dallas type here as well

i have a 427 vert and we have 21st century muscle cars right in our back yard.

they stocked west coast cyclinder heads right there and set me up quick fast and in a hurry slapped them on tuned it done and done... but here in dallas you have multiple tuners all with good reputations for taking care of customers and priced very competitively.

i sided with the crowd... cheap insurance pay ~2k and not have to worry about replacing the motor

1993C4LT1

So even after upgrading, the probability is still there?
That's exactly how I view it.
If he gets it, hopefully I'll convince him to cam it at the same time
Ouch, poor guy
Yup, have always heard good stuff of 21st.