I have a 2019 Z06 being built next week and I included the PBC option in my order. Last Friday I spent the day in BG building my LT4. All I can say is what a fabulous experience.

They really roll out the red carpet from the moment you enter the plant. Kai Spande spent 15 minutes with us outlining the program and then a further 30 minutes during the lunch break talking Corvettes and answering every question he could - great guy.

You are assigned an engine builder who works with you the whole day from start to finish. We had a terrific dude named Duck and he was super patient and fun. We did all of the work ourselves but, if you prefer, you can let him/her do it while you watch. No better way to really understand the inner workings of the LT4, the engineering that has gone into it and the use of smart technology every step of the way to ensure a top-notch quality build. You start at 6:30 am with a block and by 3:00pm it's being fired up live. The crowning event was when they removed the exhaust manifolds and ran the engine while blue flames spewed out - very cool!!

Very nice swag handed out as well - a PBC polo shirt, a personalized poster and a sharp piston trophy with date and name plate affixed.

I realize that it is a $5,000 option but if you are thinking about it at all, do it. You will not regret it.

P.S. running parallel to the engine build is an 8' high plywood wall...no question that behind that wall they are installing the mid-engine production line...

 

Sounds like a lot of fun, good to hear you enjoyed the engine build.

 

Wow I thought they discontinued the engine build option because they didn't want anyone in the plant seeing the mid engine car. That sounds like an awesome experience.

 

Good that you enjoyed the experience. $5K is a lot of money, but not many can say the built the engine that was put in their new car.

 

Sounds like a fun time. Tho I might have put that 5K into helping/watching install different internals in the engine after I purchased the car.

 

Thanks for the description. It sounds like a very good program with good support. A worthwhile expense if one can afford it.

 

Sounds like a nice experience although I am not sure to me it would be a 5k one.

 

As a time value investor, I must agree with dvilin. However, I would pay for some excerpts of video and photos of the experience. Sounds bada**!

 

Thanks for sharing your experience with us,much Appreciated
Somethings you can't put a price on.If you got the cash,Do it
You torqued Everything, Right? Rear main seal in the right direction
Just Bustin....

 

In my opinion owning a corvette is all about the experiences and 5 grand to connect to the dream machine that you will be living with for years to come is money very well spent. For me my happiness with owning something like the corvette is connected to all of those experiences especially the ordering and buying experience and I want that to be happy and exciting and a complete thrill - if that happens the long term ownership will be much more enjoyable. What great memories

I'm buying a GS so that option isnt available to me but I will do the museum delivery - should be a lot of fun. And then I'll probably do the Ron Fellows track school too!!!

Thanks for sharing that luckyguy

 

If I had the extra $$$$, I would do it in a heartbeat. I have assembled bypass fan engines in the past. Doing an LT4 would be even more fun!

 

I've been thinking hard about doing this, I might do this on my next vette when the C7 is in last model year. Never heard anything but good things.

 

I am so thinking on doing but 5k is a lot plus travel expenses but agree that the experience would be fun and first class plus having your car that you were able to help build is a great memory. So I am more to do than not to do. Thanks for the info

Tom

 

Sounds awesome! Thanks for sharing.

I've always wondered though, it would be interested to see a comparison of reliability between the standard engines and the ones built by their owners

 

And you didn't see anything or hear any rumors when you were there?

 

Of course Kai got lockjaw when I mentioned the ME but that's what he has to do. The engine build area has temporary covers over the glass windows so you cannot see out into the assembly area....and they were careful not to let us see too much when we went in and out of the plant during the day.

However, based upon the amount of construction activity I saw last Friday and the expansion of the plant footprint (in addition to the new paint facility) since I was last there in October 2015, there HAS to be new production line being completed in the very near future. As they can already build all the C7s they need, this can only be the next generation or mid-engine IMHO.

 

Very cool. Last year we did the build tour watching our car being built and walked past the engine build area seeing a few guys like you doing the build. Having built a few engines in my day, it would have been nice to do that option, but $5K, little steep for me. $1000 to watch the car being built was more my speed. I assume you won't be able to walk along to see your car build with the plant locked down, to bad.

 

I wish it wasn't so darned expensive-I'd love to do it. But....maybe they made it $5,000 so the actually don't get too many people doing it.....

 

OP,
got any photos of the engine build experience to share with us here?

 

That's a lot of money but it's also sure to be a great experience.....maybe someday