I ran my car at the local 1/8 mile track and missed third gear and ended up in first. After the tire chirp and the rev limiter made a fuss, I made. Gear change and shamefully crossed the finish line. Within seconds the car popped up the message "service charging system". I made it home without a problem, but the next morning I moved the car and the message was back only this time I could hear a odd sound coming from the belt system on the 7.0L. Since I had my father at the house without mentioning it to him I had him take the car for a short ride, looking for an unbiased opinion. When he came back 10 minutes later she was screaming like I pig. We put the good old stethoscope to the alternator and at first we had nothing, but with some probing around on it we found a nice flat spot near were the input shaft is on it and we had our suspect. Next we took the belt off and gave it a twist, instantly we had the culprit. With only 4000 miles and never even been wet it's hard to understand how this could have died so young living such a sheltered life. I'm guessing this one was wound right before a much needed siesta on the mexican assembly line. Has anyone had a similar experience? Is this a common issue on a 06 z06? Could it be from the missed shift? Is that even possible? Let me know what you guys think.

 

Count your blessings that only your alternator died from a mechanical over-rev like that. Usually that'll bend pushrods and introduce valves to pistons in a shotgun wedding.

Not a good marriage.

Ranger made a great tutorial to help ensure that you don't miss gears. I had trouble going from c5 to c6 due to the shorter shift gates, I missed 3rd a lot and went into 5th.

This really helped me, I very very seldom miss a shift anymore.

http://rangeracceleration.com/Improved_Shifting.html

 

How can I be sure it didn't hurt the engine, or would it be odvious?

 

Catastophic failure would be of course; bent pushrods(s) normally cause a tick.

If it's running normally and quietly you should be fine.

 

Well I just got home and started the car, I hear some ticks but I think it's normal valve train noise. Odiously I'm worried so I'm sure I'm overanalizing any noises the car makes now, but is it safe to say, that it safe to assume that if there was an issue it would be odious, or would you need a trained ear to hear it? I'm also going to assume that it's the type of thing that once the rods meet valve that failure will happen shortly after.

 

I wouldn't worry. If something was wrong you'd hear it. It is loud.

 

Thanks Joe, and god. In the words of my little league baseball coach " not good coach, not good at all". I can't imagine breaking this car. Have you seen this before, any idea what the repair would have cost?

 

Yes, it's not that uncommon actually. Best case is nothing happens, like you did. I have a couple of friends who've done exactly what you did and had no troubles. Worst case you blow the engine. I'd say most common thing is bent pushrods which causes a loud tick. Pushrods are cheap and easy to replace, one hour job or so. Bent valves are more expensive and require head removal, and of course a blown engine is very expensive. I've seen more than one LSx engine survive a valve kiss incident and live to run for a long time though....they are pretty tough engines!

If I was you I'd stop worrying and read that article I sent you. It really helped me and I race a lot.

 

I've read them before, just slipped back into old habits in the heat of of the moment. I will stop worrying now, thanks again Joe

 

One rule of "thumb" is to NEVER let your thumb touch the shifter.

And the drill of practicing really helps. it's like typing or anything else that you do repetitively, it becomes second nature and you don't need to think about it.

Oh and out alternators are really expensive...I read on this forum some guys have had great luck with local electrical motor rebuilders. You might consider that option.

Good luck with your car and keep racing!