Modification = Reliability Issues?
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 2,151
Likes: 69
From: Odenton MD
Modification = Reliability Issues?
As a new Z06 owner, my car is bone stock. Is it possible to do heads, cam, headers, intake, exhaust without affecting reliability of the car? I probably won't mod the car for at least 6 months, as I am still overwhelmed with the car's power stock. Hell, I haven't even broken it in yet, which leaves me to my next question.
The mechanic at my dealership who has been a corvette mechanic for 37 yrs, and has professionally raced corvettes, said that there is no need for a break in period. He said "if it's gonna break, it is gonna break and it is not because you didn't baby it for a few hundred miles." Just looking for feed back on this. So far I haven't exceeded 3500 rpms or 70mph. In addition, I have been varying speeds and no hard breaking, etc.
Thanks in advance!
The mechanic at my dealership who has been a corvette mechanic for 37 yrs, and has professionally raced corvettes, said that there is no need for a break in period. He said "if it's gonna break, it is gonna break and it is not because you didn't baby it for a few hundred miles." Just looking for feed back on this. So far I haven't exceeded 3500 rpms or 70mph. In addition, I have been varying speeds and no hard breaking, etc.
Thanks in advance!
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 14,555
Likes: 1,255
From: Saint Albans, WV
The break in period is always debatable. As far as reliablity goes I can only speak for me....I've had my blower and other mods on for over 3 years and never had a problem with GM reliability.
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 224
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There is a break-in period if the rule book covering the 15 thousand dollar engine in your car says there is a break in period.
Top Fuel dragsters don't break in their engines, but they have millions to **** away on broken parts and they tear their engines down after every run.
having said all that, once you get about 2500 miles on it, go crazy. if you take it to a reputable shop, you won't have any realiabilty issues. you would be surprised at what these things can handle.
Top Fuel dragsters don't break in their engines, but they have millions to **** away on broken parts and they tear their engines down after every run.
having said all that, once you get about 2500 miles on it, go crazy. if you take it to a reputable shop, you won't have any realiabilty issues. you would be surprised at what these things can handle.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 2,508
Likes: 71
From: round rock tx
There is a break-in period if the rule book covering the 15 thousand dollar engine in your car says there is a break in period.
Top Fuel dragsters don't break in their engines, but they have millions to **** away on broken parts and they tear their engines down after every run.
having said all that, once you get about 2500 miles on it, go crazy. if you take it to a reputable shop, you won't have any realiabilty issues. you would be surprised at what these things can handle.
Top Fuel dragsters don't break in their engines, but they have millions to **** away on broken parts and they tear their engines down after every run.
having said all that, once you get about 2500 miles on it, go crazy. if you take it to a reputable shop, you won't have any realiabilty issues. you would be surprised at what these things can handle.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 2,151
Likes: 69
From: Odenton MD
There is a break-in period if the rule book covering the 15 thousand dollar engine in your car says there is a break in period.
Top Fuel dragsters don't break in their engines, but they have millions to **** away on broken parts and they tear their engines down after every run.
having said all that, once you get about 2500 miles on it, go crazy. if you take it to a reputable shop, you won't have any realiabilty issues. you would be surprised at what these things can handle.
Top Fuel dragsters don't break in their engines, but they have millions to **** away on broken parts and they tear their engines down after every run.
having said all that, once you get about 2500 miles on it, go crazy. if you take it to a reputable shop, you won't have any realiabilty issues. you would be surprised at what these things can handle.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 14,555
Likes: 1,255
From: Saint Albans, WV
As far as the break in period goes, I bought my car new in Connecticut and drove home 750 miles at interstate speeds and of course the manual says not to do that but the car has never skipped a beat. You know a lot of cars are beat on while at the dealer on test drives or by sales people so as I say the break in period is questionable. BTW...2500 miles is way overkill.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 905
Likes: 0
From: BURTON MI
As far as the break in period goes, I bought my car new in Connecticut and drove home 750 miles at interstate speeds and of course the manual says not to do that but the car has never skipped a beat. You know a lot of cars are beat on while at the dealer on test drives or by sales people so as I say the break in period is questionable. BTW...2500 miles is way overkill.
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 6,149
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From: Greater Detroit Metro MI, when I'm not travelling.
SERIOUSLY... 2500 mile break in? 
BTW race cars (not just top fuel. Virtually all forms of racing) don't do break ins not because they "have millions to spare in case something breaks), but rather because a well assembled engine does not require much of a break in period; they start the engine, let it idle for a while, change the oil and it is good to go.
ALL Corvette engines are started and run at the factory...
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 18,396
Likes: 169
Drivetrain reliability is determined by how the car is driven. If you track the car alot, and beat the crap out of it regularly, then expect high maintanence costs and questionable reliability. But if it's a street driven, modded car, then if you drive in a sane manner, you can probably have the reliability of just about any other hi-perf car. My ProCharged, 550 rwhp 2005 has 40k miles on it, and it looks and drives absolutely like new. And it's got the weak-*** differential!
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2003
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http://forums.corvetteforum.com/1567028340-post54.html
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c6-t...e-trouble.html
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c6-t...gine-help.html
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2006
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St. Jude Donor '12-'13
Mods= minor annoiances. Loud valve train & exhaust. Loss of factory warranty. hotter under hood temps which leads to hotter cabin temps. All in all If you like to go on long distance cruise can be annoying. IMO. If you learn how to drive the car like the guys in the fast list going sub 10's. That is cooler then saying I've got $10g in this pig & wow it's fast. running 10's also...................Joe
Last edited by JT Metal; Mar 29, 2009 at 10:11 PM.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 14,555
Likes: 1,255
From: Saint Albans, WV
As I thought at the time it was a blown engine. I guess you missed the post where ECS found two injectors stuck open dumping mass amounts of fuel through the engine when they checked the car and they weren't factory injectors. Easy fix and went with more mods while there.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 38,314
Likes: 35
As I thought at the time it was a blown engine. I guess you missed the post where ECS found two injectors stuck open dumping mass amounts of fuel through the engine when they checked the car and they weren't factory injectors. Easy fix and went with more mods while there.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 11,549
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From: Southampton NJ
As I thought at the time it was a blown engine. I guess you missed the post where ECS found two injectors stuck open dumping mass amounts of fuel through the engine when they checked the car and they weren't factory injectors. Easy fix and went with more mods while there.
what other mods meth injection
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 14,555
Likes: 1,255
From: Saint Albans, WV
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 11,549
Likes: 27
From: Southampton NJ
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 14,555
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From: Saint Albans, WV
ECS was already building the forged block while I transported the car to them. To say they easily could have gone through with the engine replacement and not said a word speaks volumes of their honesty. Chris said they could sell the motor with no problem. ECS is first class for me at this point. While the car was there along with the Mototrons I had cats put back on, their 100% meth system, turn up the boost to 10psi and install a Spec twin disc clutch. They removed my FAST and probably should have kept it on.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 11,549
Likes: 27
From: Southampton NJ
ECS was already building the forged block while I transported the car to them. To say they easily could have gone through with the engine replacement and not said a word speaks volumes of their honesty. Chris said they could sell the motor with no problem. ECS is first class for me at this point. While the car was there along with the Mototrons I had cats put back on, their 100% meth system, turn up the boost to 10psi and install a Spec twin disc clutch. They removed my FAST and probably should have kept it on.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 14,555
Likes: 1,255
From: Saint Albans, WV
