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Hey everyone out there. I wanted to know if all C7 Z06 engines are hand built. Thank you for the info, you guys are always very helpful. Have a blessed day
Who in the right mind would pay GM $5,000 to build his engine? It should be a deduction.
I guess that I fall into that category (not in my right mind) because I did the engine build for my car. If you just reduce it to the cost, it may not be worth it to you, but doing it along with my son, made for immeasurable memories for us and was worth every penny. When the time comes and you can't make these memories any more, the money you spent will long be forgotten but the fond memories will still be there. A small price to pay IMO. Guess it just depends on your priorities in life.
Hey everyone out there. I wanted to know if all C7 Z06 engines are hand built. Thank you for the info, you guys are always very helpful. Have a blessed day
Only the Z07 engines are hand built. They are produced in a clean room in the Bowling Green plant. The remaining engines come from a factory in NY.
Hey everyone out there. I wanted to know if all C7 Z06 engines are hand built. Thank you for the info, you guys are always very helpful. Have a blessed day
You can build your own LT4 engine, either for a Z06 or a Z07, auto or manual at the Performance Build Center (PBC) at the Bowling Green Plant. Check the PBC option when ordering your Z, add $5000 to your bill and schedule a build date through the Museum.
Barry
St. Jude Donor '09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17-'18-'19-'20
Originally Posted by bearmans
You can build your own LT4 engine, either for a Z06 or a Z07, auto or manual at the Performance Build Center (PBC) at the Bowling Green Plant. Check the PBC option when ordering your Z, add $5000 to your bill and schedule a build date through the Museum.
Barry
Who in the right mind would pay GM $5,000 to build his engine? It should be a deduction.
Who in the right mind would pay GM $5,000 to build his engine? It should be a deduction.
I guess that I fall into that category (not in my right mind) because I did the engine build for my car. If you just reduce it to the cost, it may not be worth it to you, but doing it along with my son, made for immeasurable memories for us and was worth every penny. When the time comes and you can't make these memories any more, the money you spent will long be forgotten but the fond memories will still be there. A small price to pay IMO. Guess it just depends on your priorities in life.
I thought the Z07 package was aero, brakes and tires? The engine is the same?
The engine is the same, it's just the Z07's are hand assembled in BG and the other Z06 engines are assembled at a (Tonawanda?) NY assembly line with very modern equipment.
I thought the Z07 package was aero, brakes and tires? The engine is the same?
Yep engine is the same except some of the bolts are tightened by a human. The rest of them is done by machine. The machines don't make human error. Over blown is the value of the human touch.
Either is just as good. Just have human run the impact instead of the machine.
Neither is really hand built!
Yep engine is the same except some of the bolts are tightened by a human. The rest of them is done by machine. The machines don't make human error. Over blown is the value of the human touch.
Either is just as good. Just have human run the impact instead of the machine.
but the hand run tool still torques the bolts to the specified torque and records it so they have the same documentation of engine assembly torque numbers on both the BG and NY engines.
Yep engine is the same except some of the bolts are tightened by a human. The rest of them is done by machine. The machines don't make human error. Over blown is the value of the human touch.
Either is just as good. Just have human run the impact instead of the machine.
Neither is really hand built!
Robots are much more reliable than humans (no Monday blues, or lazy Fridays,.....). The exotics often tout that their engines are hand-built, which is just another reason why those cars costs more, and have less reliability than robot-built Camrys, Accords,.....
Yeah, I've had hand-built engines before, they are just usually an engine unique to that model. Just plain strange to construct the same engine two different ways...
I have to believe that tighter tolerances are available at assembly, as the tech has the opportunity to measure and match up the best fit, mating available parts to suit whatever product spec is deemed ideal by the product engineer. Also, the additional human eye inspection of parts (eg hairline fractures in pistons, burred edges, etc.) could be beneficial in the long run.
Since seemingly most (including me) were not aware that the Z07 motors were hand built, it seems GM has been doing it for these tangible, rather than marketing-based, benefits. They must be assuming buyers of the Z07 package are more likely to track their cars and therefore place the most stress on the engines.
I have to believe that tighter tolerances are available at assembly, as the tech has the opportunity to measure and match up the best fit, mating available parts to suit whatever product spec is deemed ideal by the product engineer. Also, the additional human eye inspection of parts (eg hairline fractures in pistons, burred edges, etc.) could be beneficial in the long run.
Since seemingly most (including me) were not aware that the Z07 motors were hand built, it seems GM has been doing it for these tangible, rather than marketing-based, benefits. They must be assuming buyers of the Z07 package are more likely to track their cars and therefore place the most stress on the engines.
I believe that there is a prominent plaque on the Engine with the name of the maker, a la AMG - so they aren't exactly hiding it.
Z07 optioned cars have hand built engines that also come with a small placard attached to the engine with the name of the builder. Early engines had the placard on the passenger side of the engine up front under the valve cover. Later in 2015 they added a flat on the casting up front on top for the placard.
This is mine..
And this is Steve Stinson, the guy that built mine...
I believe that there is a prominent plaque on the Engine with the name of the maker, a la AMG - so they aren't exactly hiding it.
When I bought my '03 Cobra I knew the motor was handbuilt from heavy advertising. When I bought my Z07 I didn't know it was handbuilt until I read this thread. I really think GM is doing it because the motors will be run the hardest, or they would add "hand built motor" to the list of items in the Z07 option package.
All LS7 engines in the C6's and the LS9 in the ZR-1 were hand assembled in Wixom MI. When they moved engine manufacturing to Tonawanda NY, they also made provisions to do hand assembly at Bowling Green.
In reality, they went from having all C6 LS7's hand assembled to having only the more expensive C7 w/Z07 option hand assembled. Of course they have sold a lot of new Z07's in the first year+.
RE extra inspection by humans, the LS7 engines came with heads assembled by an outside supplier and the hand assembly did nothing to catch the valve guide clearance problem that has led (and continues) to many blown $15K engines.
All LS7 engines in the C6's and the LS9 in the ZR-1 were hand assembled in Wixom MI. When they moved engine manufacturing to Tonawanda NY, they also made provisions to do hand assembly at Bowling Green.
In reality, they went from having all C6 LS7's hand assembled to having only the more expensive C7 w/Z07 option hand assembled. Of course they have sold a lot of new Z07's in the first year+.
RE extra inspection by humans, the LS7 engines came with heads assembled by an outside supplier and the hand assembly did nothing to catch the valve guide clearance problem that has led (and continues) to many blown $15K engines.
Also, the LS3's with Dry Sump systems in the Grand Sports were hand assembled in Wixom.
12-01-2015, 08:18 PM
Z06 Hand Built Engines
