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Hello all, Been absent from this site since 2008 because I no longer owned a Corvette. Sold due to very bad luck ( Long story ) Things have finally gotten better and I recently purchased a 2020 Chevrolet Camaro SS with the 1LE track package. Not a Corvette but it does have a Corvette heart ( LT1 engine ) In fact the purpose of this post is to discuss this Corvette heart.
While working on the car I removed the driver’s side fuel rail cover and found a metal plaque attached to the lower corner of the intake manifold cover from the Performance Build Center Bowling Green Ky.
From the research I’ve done so far this means that the engine that bears this tag was assembled by hand at the Corvette factory in Bowling Green. From what I discovered this type of build is usually reserved for the LT4 and LT5 engines that are installed in higher end Corvettes and also the LS7 engine that was installed in the Camaro Z/28. This plaque is also showing up on a few of the Camaro ZL1 with the LT4.
My question is does this plaque come on the base Corvettes with the LT1 engine?
Thanks,
Keith
That’s really cool. Thanks for sharing. Hey the next time that you speak with him could you ask him when they first started doing the hand builds and tagging those engines? Thank you so much in advance.
Keith
Here is the answer : The Performance Build Center started in 2005 in Wixom,Mi. They built several different engines. It was moved to Bowling Green in 2014. At that time they were building LS engines, expanded with the new LT engine in 2016 and earlier models had to order the Z07 option package to get a hand built engine. If It didn’t have a Z07 option, the engine came from Tonawanda NY. In 2017 the PBC was given all Z06 engines. From then on, all Z06 and ZR1 cars were PBC engines. LT1 engines were added, but in small numbers, but I believe the engine plants were at full capacity. At some point, we got all LT1 manual transmission cars.
Hello all, Been absent from this site since 2008 because I no longer owned a Corvette. Sold due to very bad luck ( Long story ) Things have finally gotten better and I recently purchased a 2020 Chevrolet Camaro SS with the 1LE track package. Not a Corvette but it does have a Corvette heart ( LT1 engine ) In fact the purpose of this post is to discuss this Corvette heart.
While working on the car I removed the driver’s side fuel rail cover and found a metal plaque attached to the lower corner of the intake manifold cover from the Performance Build Center Bowling Green Ky.
From the research I’ve done so far this means that the engine that bears this tag was assembled by hand at the Corvette factory in Bowling Green. From what I discovered this type of build is usually reserved for the LT4 and LT5 engines that are installed in higher end Corvettes and also the LS7 engine that was installed in the Camaro Z/28. This plaque is also showing up on a few of the Camaro ZL1 with the LT4.
My question is does this plaque come on the base Corvettes with the LT1 engine?
Thanks,
Keith
It does not. I found the one on my 19 Corvette GS and relocated it so I could see it. I also found the person on my plate on FB. He retired from GM this year and we now keep in touch He wants to buy my car when I am ready to sell as none of his builder friends could ever locate a unit they built after leaving the plant.
IF, there is one, it will be under the driver fuel rail?
On my 2020 SS 1LE it is under the driver side fuel rail cover attached to the driver side intake manifold cover. So far everyone who has replied who has one at this location (at least on the LT1 engine Corvette Camaro).
Last edited by X99HARDTOP; Aug 1, 2020 at 04:03 PM.
It does not. I found the one on my 19 Corvette GS and relocated it so I could see it. I also found the person on my plate on FB. He retired from GM this year and we now keep in touch He wants to buy my car when I am ready to sell as none of his builder friends could ever locate a unit they built after leaving the plant.
That’s really cool. Thanks for sharing. Hey the next time that you speak with him could you ask him when they first started doing the hand builds and tagging those engines? Thank you so much in advance.
Keith
Last edited by X99HARDTOP; Aug 1, 2020 at 04:10 PM.
I "think" it's on the 2020 Corvette since the engine is exposed. Read something a while back about it being added to show appreciation for the engine builders.
That’s really cool. Thanks for sharing. Hey the next time that you speak with him could you ask him when they first started doing the hand builds and tagging those engines? Thank you so much in advance.
Keith
Here is the answer : The Performance Build Center started in 2005 in Wixom,Mi. They built several different engines. It was moved to Bowling Green in 2014. At that time they were building LS engines, expanded with the new LT engine in 2016 and earlier models had to order the Z07 option package to get a hand built engine. If It didn’t have a Z07 option, the engine came from Tonawanda NY. In 2017 the PBC was given all Z06 engines. From then on, all Z06 and ZR1 cars were PBC engines. LT1 engines were added, but in small numbers, but I believe the engine plants were at full capacity. At some point, we got all LT1 manual transmission cars.
From: I live my life by 2 rules. 1) Never share everything you know. 2)
St. Jude Donor '11-'12-'13, '16-'17-'18
Originally Posted by ftlaud1
It does not. I found the one on my 19 Corvette GS and relocated it so I could see it. I also found the person on my plate on FB. He retired from GM this year and we now keep in touch He wants to buy my car when I am ready to sell as none of his builder friends could ever locate a unit they built after leaving the plant.
Here is the answer : The Performance Build Center started in 2005 in Wixom,Mi. They built several different engines. It was moved to Bowling Green in 2014. At that time they were building LS engines, expanded with the new LT engine in 2016 and earlier models had to order the Z07 option package to get a hand built engine. If It didn’t have a Z07 option, the engine came from Tonawanda NY. In 2017 the PBC was given all Z06 engines. From then on, all Z06 and ZR1 cars were PBC engines. LT1 engines were added, but in small numbers, but I believe the engine plants were at full capacity. At some point, we got all LT1 manual transmission cars.
Thank you and your friend very much for the information! Very interesting information indeed.
Here is a pic of your engine building teams from Bowling Green : Hand-building teams
single “perfect” engine is a huge feat. Because of the sensitivity of the torque guns & machines, this takes concentration, dedication & a little luck. Members of the exclusive “Perfect 10” Club at #BowlingGreen have successfully built 10 perfect engines in a row!
Performance center engine plaque
He wants to buy my car when I am ready to sell as none of his builder friends could ever locate a unit they built after leaving the plant. 
