@@JoshVanVeld made my own comment before seeing this one but i think you should get a katech race lt1. if you dont want such a tall intake you can get a BTR intake.
Josh, you handled this like a badass. You've shown all viewers that your character is stout and that you possess amazing resiliency. Even if you cried off-camera, you had every right to do so. Now, all that being said, I really hope you don't leave the C6 world. I'd understand, but I would be SO bummed. I'll always give your vids a thumbs-up, though. Just please don't talk yourself out of being a car guy and please keep releasing videos!
Thanks Roger! I'm not a badass, but mama didn't raise no b*** either (pardon my language 😆). Literally no chance I'm walking away from Goldie, even though that would probably be the best decision from a financial standpoint. I appreciate the encouragement!
If we wanted to save money, we would take up knitting as a hobby! Sorry about the loss! I’d go LS3, with some bolt ons a tune and you’d be close to the same power and very reliable. But I understand the allure of the LS7!
Great content again! Don't give up on the "GT3 Killer"! The C6 Z06 has the tools (low Cg, proper track width and wheel base, light weighting, good weight distribution, great braking, lots of tire contact patch, double wishbone suspension, and now a new and improved power unit coming soon!!), to beat the GT3 991. It would have been awesome to have stig drive your buggy and ride along.
I agree and no way I'm giving up when I was just getting a taste of what the car could do with proper tires and brakes. I'm hoping this won't be the last time Ben visits AMP and next time I'll be ready!
Josh, your channel is phenomenal and is going to grow in massive ways. Awesome video - one of the most entertaining videos Ive watched on UA-cam in recent memory. THANK YOU so much for taking us on that lap with Ben!. Looking forward to seeing what you do with the Z06.
Thanks, I really appreciate the comment. The way Ben could hop in that car on a track he'd literally driven for one short session and then go ripping around while having a conversation with me... the word "impressive" barely covers it!
My Mazda had the same thing happen at Road America. Not enough oil at the pick up during high G cornering, starved the engine and spun a bearing after like 5 laps. Now I'm building an 07 mustang gt xD
I am really sorry to hear this. I have been following for a while now since you got the C6 Z06, and I remember following your journey with the C5 as well. In 2021 I also bought a 2007 yellow Z06 with similar intentions as yourself. I had a C5 Z06 long ago, and I sold it because I knew the LS engines had oil pressure issues on track. I experienced a low oil pressure warning on a left had sweeper at Roebling Road even after I overfilled it and I didn't want to take a chance. So jumped into the C6 partly because I knew it had a dry sump, but I knew it had its limits. After all my research and with this new purchase, engine reliability was important to me. I replaced the original 21k mile heads with machined heads. I did this because I knew others experienced dropped valves. The early hollow stem exhaust valves had thin walls and manufacturing tolerances could make them a potential failing point. The intake titanium valves had a coating that could fail, and the titanium could wear the valve guides. I was lucky and found a pair of ported and fixed heads with ti moly intake valves and lightweight stainless steel exhaust valves along with aftermarket guides. Comparing the original and new heads, there was definitely play in the original valve guides. I checked the new heads after 8k miles of street driving, and they still feel solid. I didn't measure them, and its not scientific, but it was enough for me to be confident that they are fine for now. Long left sweepers like at AMP also concerned me. You may have seen the thread on the corvette forum, but someone (Dreamin) captured data on the loss of oil pressure (20psi) at Thunderhill with a similar high speed left sweeper in their 07 Z06. They solved it by installing a larger oil tank. I went in the same direction but I installed a 2009 oil tank and added an Aviad oil tank insert. There is a lot of information out there and some of it conflicting, but I would recommend keeping your next engine as stock as possible with fixes for reliability. I added long tubes and a cold air, and the car is more than fast enough. I added an MSD manifold and NW throttle body, but it ended up being problematic and removed them. I've been tempted to replace the stock cam, but these cars really don't need it for the track and it just takes away from the reliability. If you see what others are doing to make their LS7s more reliable for track usage, they are reducing power and not trying to make them monsters. I don't know if this will help, but I thought I would share. Don't give up, and this doesn't have to cost 20k. I'd buy a low mileage replacement engine, and use it as an opportunity to update the valvetrain and install a bigger oil tank with better oil control. There are plenty of LS7s that have lived long lives on track.
Wow, I was wondering if anybody'd seen my C5Z thread. I did read that oil starvation post on the forum and thought it made a lot of sense. I am definitely all about prioritizing reliability over power and I was planning on making those mods, I had just been putting them off. Everybody thinks it won't happen to them until it does 😅
Anyone who has ever blown an engine on track understands the pain. I’ve been there and it stinks. Curious to hear what you learn about the cause. Good luck and look forward to seeing the next steps in the journey.
I've learned it's easier to have sympathy for somebody in a tough situation if you've been through something similar yourself. Thanks for the encouragement!
Some thoughts having a fair amount of experience with these cars. The oiling system needs to be addressed, especially for that track. At a minimum upgrade to the 09+ tank. There are several other aftermarket upgrades worth considering as well. For track use, I'm also a big fan of adding an oil accumulator (plus you can eliminate cold start OP issues with them). I thought I saw oil under the car, if so, it likely has a new window in the block and it's scrap. A fairly bulletproof solution is to switch over to the LS3. They are stout, cheaper, and can still make decent power. Personally, even though I have one in my SL-C, I'm not a big fan of going this direction in a C6Z. It decreases the value of the car, both financially and emotionally. And IMO, having had the LS7 in the car, it's hard to go backwards. The LS3 lacks that specialness of the larger LS7 with it's better flowing heads, more cubes, and higher rpm. Yes, you can mod them to make similar power, but no matter what, they still lack the better flowing heads and usually the higher rpm. But this is a sound option if you just want increased reliability. Whatever you do, you absolutely want to stick to an aluminum block for weight reasons. I would stick with the LS7 and use this opportunity to add mods and make improvements. I'd look for a donor engine and go through it and do the basic upgrades. Inspect the bottom end and address as needed. If budget allows, aftermarket forged rods and pistons. I would absolutely go with a good set of "fixed" CNC ported heads (preferably aftermarket IMO), install a slightly larger cam ("stage 2") to keep it awake closer to redline, do headers and possibly an MSD intake. I know some folks say stick with the stock cam for reliability, but installing a slightly larger cam really allows these engines to pull a lot more on the upper end, it's totally worth it IMO. The extra NA power will be quite noticeable and welcomed on the street and track (watch out GT3's!) Yes, you'll still need to keep an eye out for the valve guide wear from time to time, but it's not like you're going to rack up high milage on this car and to me this is worth the effort as the performance results and retained value of the car will be superior. Once you experience a C6Z with H/C/I done, you'd be really hard pressed to leave it stock, lol! Even with a mild cam, those mods will add around 100rwhp and be amazing on the street and track. Ditch the cats if you're okay with the smell, otherwise get a set of high-flow lower cell count cats. Speed Engineering offers a great header and exhaust system for these cars and it's fairly cheap. No cats, but they can be retrofitted. Lot's of different options out there, but I guess it all comes down to what your wallet will support, what your expectations are, etc. But again, what really makes these cars special IMO is the LS7, and I'd be extremely hard pressed to give it up! I'd stick with it, make it better, and mitigate as many of the known weaknesses as possible, but that's just me! Obviously you can go with another beefier aluminum block, but the cost will certainly escalate. BTW, absolutely don't forget to upgrade the clutch (and install a bleeder) while it's all apart! It might be worthwhile to rebuild the torque tube as well while it's out of the car.
The oil looks like it came out of the intake. Not sure what to make of that. I feel the same way about the LS3. Probably a wise choice, but not really in keeping with what made the car special in the first place. Thanks for the write-up, great food for thought.
@@JoshVanVeld I would suggest bringing the car home (I'm assuming you already have), pulling the valve covers for inspection, checking behind the TB, and sticking a bore scope into the spark plug holes. You can get a cheap bore scope for use with your cell phone for little money and they are handy to have in general. I suspect the bore scope alone with tell you what direction you're headed... It would be nice to see if you have oil pressure, but I wouldn't turn the engine over until you have a better idea of where/what the failure was. This could be a rocker arm bearing, valve spring, broken valve, etc. If you don't have oil dripping from a new window in the block, and there's no spare parts behind the TB blade, it's quite possible some of the big ticket items are salvageable. Pulling the valve covers and inspecting with the bore scope should give you some valuable info for your next steps.
Fabulous write up. Thank you. I own an LS3 base Vette and I have driven a couple LS7s and I have to say the LS7 is just special even if just for the sound. My next will be a Z06 for sure.
I’m assuming you dropped a valve or had oil starvation during hard cornering. I’m sorry this happened it is a bummer. Maybe buy a used ls7 and have the heads ported and built. Possibly the best option. I’ve owned 2 c6z06 one red and current yellow. I have ran the absolute fuck out of both of them and never had issues knock on wood. C6 z06 is a phenomenal platform. Can be a super car killer all day. I love your videos. Keep your head up. Keep making videos we love c6z06 content. ❤
Sorry to hear about the engine 😢 You've now gotten the full C6Z experience. It was surreal listening to you describe it blowing because mine was so similar. My built motor blew up on track at Pocono. I had just dusted my buddy in his C7Z and was feeling great and then heard a slight change in sound (pretty sure it was one of the dual valve springs breaking) and the next lap I got the smoke show. I had a great experience getting an all new built LS7 with RHS block from Chad Golen at Golen Engines in NH. He offers a fully built engine to just about whatever spec you want with a 1 year warranty and didn't up charge for the RHS block. Good luck!
Well said. Having made car videos for a couple years, Ben is a hero, not just for his driving, but for having been a big part of the most successful and influential car show of all time. So it’s difficult to describe what a treat it was to have him participate in one of my videos. He’s so good at what he does. A real inspiration.
Josh, I just found your channel a few weeks ago. In that time I’ve become a subscriber and huge fan. As someone who loves the track too, I find your videos relatable and so well done. I was very excited to have a new video come from you today, but hate to see what happen to Goldie! Looking forward to see what you do going forward.
That’s sad to hear about your motor. With that being said, I was having some issues with my motor. I ditched the LS7 and had a darton sleeved 434 (Gen 4 5.3L block) with a forged rotating assembly, reworked the stock heads, went with a Katech high pressure oil pump, Aviaid crank scraper with their oil pan trap door system and baffles in the sump tank. Hope that gives you some ideas with your engine build
First, Wow! Not only did you get to meet The Stig but you had the opportunity to take a ride with him in his element. Truly amazing and a bucket list moment for sure! Have Goldie (sp?) assessed. It may not be as bad as you think. If it’s not, heads, cam, valve springs, piston rings, bearings, timing refresh, long tubes, and a tune. If it is, source a long block and do the above. With a little help, I’ve seen prices in the 10-15k range.
Hey Josh, love the channel. Owner of a red 2007 Z06 myself. Hopefully wasn’t the notorious valve guide/ valve issue with the LS7. Might be an LSX upgrade opportunity. Keep up the good work!
Wouldn't surprise me at all if it's a dropped exhaust valve, in which case I knew full well that I should have gotten the heads fixed and I procrastinated one track day too many...
Josh, I really feel for you, this really sucks to hear. I was worried because we hadn’t heard from you in a while and this is anyone’s worst nightmare. I’ve had many second thoughts about tracking my c6z as well (even with heads addressed and larger oil tank). I’m sure we all do, even those prep’d to the max. I wish I had some great wisdom to share to make you feel better, but I won’t even try. From my perspective, the real fear is not being able to source an LS7 when my time comes. P.s. The STIG? You’ve got to be kidding me! That’s just freaking amazing!
Thanks, I saw your comment on the other video and I just knew this one would make you sad. Hopefully the lessons I'm learning will help some other people avoid the same situation, but I think a lot of it is luck of the draw when it comes to things going wrong on a car that sees track use. Curious to dig in and see if I can figure out exactly what failed.
@@JoshVanVeldYeah, wasn’t the update we were looking for! I see Summit Racing has LS7 long block in stock. Looking forward to see your future videos, and what direction you take.
Josh, I just discovered your channel and I love your general philosophy of driving and commitment to learn and improve and your passion for recording every step of the way.......at least when you can remember to hit the button for (haha). So cool you got to ride with Ben, and that he let you take a couple of laps in the 488. I too was a huge fan of the BBC TG and the whole "tamed racing driver" "some say......." was a blast!!! True story, for the fun of it I used to wear an "I'm the Stig" sticker on my W210 wagon, and I plastidipped my helmet white and went to a Halloween party as the stig one year. LOL!! Frankly, that track appears too small for that as well as a C6. While relatively interesting and with ele change, much like your autocross footage, that car needs more room to stretch it's legs. Track construction ain't cheap, so I get it. Keep recording and let me know when you wanna come to COTA. Ebb
Josh sorry to hear about the Vette. The look on your face while riding with Ben is worth 1k words. Good luck with the Vette, an aftermarket dry sump system is worth it.
@@2801race my old 08 dropped a valve early in it's life. Around 30k miles. Had a built 427ci LS3 in it ready for boost. Never boosted it before I sold it though. Thatdudeinblue actually reviewed my Z06 lol
I had the same setup as yours Nick on my C5Z Track Car with an Aviaid Dry Sump system. That’s why I mentioned it before but it would probably be overkill for a dual purpose car. I must say thought I never worried about oil pressure or temps with it.
You’ve got lots of gr8 comments out here…awesome support. My two cents are…you’ve found the main weakness and now it’s an opportunity to build reliable fun. The $ hurts…we get it. I’m doing that now with my projects. But it’s a journey, that requires the first step. Dude…we’re expecting to watch this entire process unfold! Lol. You won’t be alone. And seriously, thank you for sharing… …your time with the Stig. What a surprise…it was unreal! I’m glad I got to share that experience with you. What a dream come true! I look forward to seeing your next post and will send recommendations if good ones come to mind.
Thank you! I'm glad people enjoyed seeing the Ben Collins portion, that was a real treat and I think this is a video I'm going to come back and rewatch for myself many times in the future because it was such an amazing experience. Having him kicking the rear end out of the 488 on purpose as we exited AMP's (terrifying) Turn 16 gave me a whole new perspective on car control.
Depending on what your budget is there is a lot you can do. If you want to go all out, RHS or C5R blocks are the way to go, you’ll definitely be spending well above $20k to build one of those though. If you don’t want to spend that much the stock block holds N/A power fine and reliably, even though they’re not priority mains. Keep us updated with what you find.
Lots of research in my future. I'm looking forward to hearing what everyone's ideas are and also thinking about how much of the work I can handle doing myself.
So sorry to hear, time to build it stronger then ever. I heard so many things about the LS7 and I was told you would have to spend some money, to build it up or it will blow up 😫 and GM spokesman on a video said it was a solid motor just don't touch it. Well I see differently, please don't give up on the LS7. Rebuild it stronger with more HP.
Yeah, I guess I'm now on the list of people who've had their LS7 fail. It's a shame because it's a brilliant performer. Hopefully V2 will be more reliable 😀
What an enjoyable video. Great stuff. I don't drive anything fancy, came from an old E90 which I still have, to a 4th gen Mazda 3 Hatchback awd, but the C6 Z06 is one of my absolute favorite cars. The LS7 engine is holy not to mention you have Ben Collins driving you around. Love the man's character.
Hey Josh, I just recently found your channel and have been watching several of your videos. Absolutely amazing content, keep it up! I am a fellow C6Z owner, and one that also had a valve drop at that. I am incredibly sorry to hear about your LS7 failure, and I hope you can get her running again soon. My '06 dropped it's #6 exhaust valve at 19,922 miles on the dot on my brother's birthday in August 2022. I went with the LS7 route once again and got myself a crate motor from Scoggin Dickey for $14.7k. I had some trouble along the way getting it together, but that's irrelevant right now. I ended up going with American Heritage Performance fixed and ported heads and a BTR stage 3 cam with supporting mods. My car has ran flawlessly 3 months into having it fixed, although the car was down for 7 months total. It's your car and you're welcome to do as you please, but I'd really recommend to keep your faith in the LS7 and go for a crate motor and just get some reputable fixed heads. Oddly enough, I wouldn't recommend a huge cam. If you want your car to perform well on AutoX and track days, I have found the cam becomes a handful and slightly less usable than the LS7s already decent power output, and streetability takes some getting used to. That being said, I really have a blast with my car being cammed and I need to get it on the track sometime soon. Being in Arkansas makes it difficult being that there's only one circuit within 5 hours of where I live. Good luck to you and whatever you decide! I tried to keep this concise, but I know my way around the LS7 pretty well despite me being in the youngest C6 owner age group, so feel free to reach out to me on Instagram @lunarz06! I'm definitely a new subscriber and will be a returning one.
Thanks and I’m glad you’re enjoying the videos! Sorry to hear you’re in the blown LS7 club, but it sounds like it worked out Ok! Hopefully I’ll have some progress to post soon.
For the LS7 block, a company out in Oceanside CA, Racing Engine Development (R.E.D.) can make you a replacement LS7 block from an LS3 block. Actually his LS3 to LS7 block conversions are better than the OEM LS7 block. He can also re-sleeve your block if the block damage is minor. Next, get a forged bottom end kit, steel crank, forged rods and forged pistons. This is your chance to get away from the titanium rods which can gall at the bearing cheeks and can also be a cause of engine/rod bearing failure. Also changes to an upgraded piston from the eutectic pistons to forged. Next are the cylinder heads and valves. I figure you have a least one cylinder head completely survive and hopefully the other can be welded(?). In any case, go to Katech and get their head package for the LS7. This solves all the issues with the LS7 valves. Fixes the bad OEM valve job ( main issue with breaking valves), replaces the DLC coated titanium intake valves with Moly coated valve stems. Much better for the application as the DLC coating is rough and wears out the guides. Replaces the powered iron guides with hardened bronze. Slightly better heat transfer which helps the exhaust valve and bronze machines very well so the guide to stem clearance can be held very tight and keep the valve dead centered in the port bowl and valve seat. Your 2007 had the first generation exhaust valve which were updated in late 2008 or 2009. Katech will likely recommend to replace those exhaust valves with the updated valves. For the track, as you know, the dry sump lubrication system as designed doesn't fully solve the G loading issues. The dry sump update to the 2009 12 quart sump may be good or an aftermarket dry sump. What is also needed though is a better windage tray. Improved has a good kit that is a crank scraper and windage tray, their part no. : EGM-740C Configurator. They have track data on their site that shows how well this solves (improves) oil pressure from hard cornering and braking. I figure around $13,000 in parts to do the above which is a lot of money. However, this LS7 is better than the stock one which, (fixes all the fragility items) when available sold for more like $17,000+ from GM. Hope this helps. Reach out if you think I can help.
@@JoshVanVeld First off thank you Josh for the doing the C6 Z06 upgrade to Porsche GT3 level track configuration. Viewed all your videos and was encouraged that a very knowledgeable track driver was working through upgrading a Z06. Excited with the progress so far and anxious to see what track times you get from the car.
I, like many others, have only just recently found your channel. I was looking forward to seeing progress on the Z06 as told/shared by your storytelling. Sorry that happened, it sucks but as you know its part of being an enthusiast. Personally I hope to see the Z06 back on the road again, but either way I know I'm here for your journey going forward. Looking forward to what's next!
Damn. Sorry about your car man. I’ve been following this build as a first time vette owner and enthusiast (13 C6 Grand Sport). I chose the GS simply because of the LS7 issues as I daily drive the car, but if it were a track/fun only car I probably would’ve gone Z06 anyway. The valve guide issue is 100% real and even cars with “heads fixed” still drop them sometimes. Even if you had addressed it there was still a chance of this happening with track use. Still, it remains a phenomenal platform and I hope you get her fixed up. Curious to see what you go with for a replacement engine. Can’t go wrong with LS3 but then it wouldn’t really be a Z06 anymore. Bulletproofing a LS7 gets expensive but probably worth it long term if you’re planning on keeping it. Best of luck!
The LS7 really defines the car so an LS3 is a tough pill to swallow even if it's the wise choice. This channel hasn't really been about wise choices so far, even if that was the goal when I started 😅
@@JoshVanVeld yes to the masses the 427/7.0 sounds so much cooler on paper. However, I think many people forget the carbon body panels, the aluminum tub, the magnesium cradles, the better shifter, the stiffer dampners and leafs, the better trans gear ratios, the better diff also make stock C6Zs the monsters they are compared to the GS & base models too. But yeah if no budget than yeah LS7 is way cooler.
Dude! Best video EVER! Ben is such an absolute legend. Only downside was that absolute ape of an assistant camera man you had in the background. What is that guy, like 6’6” ish? 😜
I'd say that guy was 6'8" easily. No way he could have crammed that giant frame into a 488. But I will say, dude could wield a camera like Andre Agassi with a tennis racket. 🤣🤣
Good content as always regarding your Z06. I hope to see your teardown to see what happened to your engine. Then see where you go from there. It is a bummer the rough experience you have had with your C6 Z06, but I admire you for sticking with it and sharing it on your channel. I have tracked my 08 Z06 a number of times in the 11 years I have owned it, not as much as you it seems. Before I did, I changed to the larger oil tank from the later C6 Z06's. Not sure if this has prevented issues for me, I think oil starvation issues can be track dependent to some extent, but GM seemed to see the need to improve the oil tank after a few years production, so I did that upgrade as well.
That upgraded tank (the Lingenfelter version) was on my to-do list. I think AMP has characteristics that probably expose that issue if you're going fast enough.
Sorry about the blown motor, sir. Best of luck with the next steps. May I recommend, as you source another motor, looking up American Heritage Performance in California for go-fast LS7 components that are built to better spec than OEM. Also, The Stig laps were incredible, what a way to end a bad day!
My heart goes out to you. As for video ideas, maybe the film the whole assessment and repair process. What broke, what went wrong, what could have prevented it etc…
I'm so sorry for what happened to Goldies engine. I agree that your next step should be to understand the failure so you can determine an efficient solution and keep it from happening again. This is just a learning experience and you will come out of it better and smarter than you were before. Just remember to keep Goldie balanced.
This video brought back some terrible memories - my C5Z did the same thing to me ON THE WAY to the track while driving on the highway, intake valve spring in cylinder 6 gave up and sent the valve straight down 😢 almost 2 years later, she’s still down but getting close to being back on the road! I’m sorry brother.
Ugh! That's terrible. I hope you manage to get back on the road soon. I'm going to try my best to keep my momentum going. Sometimes that's the hardest part.
Hey Josh, I feel you completely here as I just had a rod bearing failure a couple months ago that lost me oil pressure and the factory rods. I'm replacing the factory short block with a forged one from Dart since I'm going for stroked and higher compression n/a build and will probably go for higher power with a decent shot of the good stuff eventually, but that means I have a factory ls7 block and crank that are still good with roughly 29,000 miles (2009) on them so if you end up wanting them let me know and I can arrange shipping with the shop that currently has the car. I personally wouldn't reuse the factory pistons as they are cast and a weak point and the factory block has only proven reliable up to 800 wheel as the cylinder walls are fairly thin to support high cylinder pressure. That's a big reason why people are recommending the ls3 block to use with boost. It definitely is the cheapest of the safest options to support boost.
Hey fellow Josh, thanks for the offer! If it makes sense after I've dug into it I'll look you up. Sorry to hear about your issue but sounds like you're going to have a monster on your hands.
Car problems as an enthusiast always hurt more!! Wish you all the best with getting back up and going as soon as you can. Cars can humble you so quickly its ridiculous.
It was best of times, it was the worst of times… so sorry to hear the LS7 laid down. Like you said, it’s time to see what’s what. I pray your block is intact but they usually don’t survive drop as I understand it. I’ve heard people talking about swapping an LS3 which might be a lower cost option however I only go that route if it was my only option. But first thing first, what failed needs to be determined.
One step at a time! I feel like a dry-sump LS3 is probably a really prudent option... but I also feel like 7 liters kind of defines the C6Z... Lots of research to do.
@@JoshVanVeld - my first corvette - 98 C5 - LS1 - Vortec V3si - stock internals through an A-4 trans with 3.42 gears. 9lbs boost - stock exhaust manifold - borla cat back - 473 WHP/442 TQ - black wing cold air. 60 lb injectors and beehive valve springs. Basically a stock LS1 with a Vortec V3si and 9 lbs boost. A bullet proof combination. This in stock LS7 territory. I would have been making 500 wheel with a manual trans. Anyway, power & torque is linear. It acts like an ls7. About $8K for kit/install and Dyno tune. 1998 C5 Corvette 0-60 mph in Under 4 sec ua-cam.com/video/vmAYGxwxqcw/v-deo.html
@@JoshVanVeld - sourced V3 kit through A&A Corvette. They have a great mounting bracket design for the head unit. Never had any issue with belt slip under WOT.
There are a lot of good engine builders so you shouldn't have a hard time getting that done, I personally went with LME in Texas, they built Feras's motor who holds the production lap record for almost every big track in the states. One thing I would 100% recommend is going with aftermarket heads. The aftermarket addresses alot of the issues that the stock casting has and are a lot more reliable. Check tolerances every other season (depending on how much you track) and do the necessary oiling upgrades, pan baffle/trap door, bigger tank from lingenfelter, etc. Log your runs and pay attention to oil pressures under braking and corners, that is the best way to know your setup is working right. Another recommendation that I was told from one of the biggest LS shops in the states, in LS7 motors the piston velocity and speed is so immense which puts huge stress on the valve train, invest as much as you can on the valve train and the motor will last a lift time, make sure to do link bar lifters and shaft mounted rockers for valvetrain stability. Good luck!
I couldn't take the chance and just got a LS3. Several good blower systems out there for 10k or less. I searched all these forums for literally years and the LS7 bomb is real . If you have one be proactive on the fix.
Wow. What an opportunity. I don't comment often on videos, but if my input means anything - I say keep on keeping on with the C6Z! I am sort of paralleling your progress as well with my own C5Z that I got in November. My next hurdle is engine cooling - I was just at Thunder Hill and hit 250* with my coolant. I got home and sprung a coolant leak when I took it for gas. Replacing the water pump/thermostat is nothing compared to a blown engine though, obviously. Bring Goldie back to life! Hopefully the interaction with your channel earns you some youtube revenue to put towards the cost to fix her!
Thanks! I had a C5Z and loved it. The LS6 can have oil starvation issues too depending on the track and how hard you're pushing so that's something to be mindful of as well. I appreciate the support 🤜🤛
Same thing happened to me with my 2007 Z06 following a track day... Broke a piston land and ended up with micro cracks in the sleeve. I wish I had a more competent shop repair the car. They recommended a TSP427 to replace the LS7. They told me that people do not re-sleeve LS7 blocks (which is not true)... They convinced me to go with the TSP block. It runs fine, revs slower than the LS7 due to heavier rotating assembly (pistons/rods), but it killed the value of the car even though it can hold twice the power of the original block. The LS7, although legendary, is also kind of fragile. I always thought they were indestructible (after valve guide replacement) until I owned one.
I have a yellow 2006 Z06 that looks just like yours. I bought it with low miles and the previous owners had tracked the car. The heads were in great shape but I was too scared and got them fixed before I went to the track. I am so sorry to hear about your car.
I don’t have much to add other than you should try a lightweight clutch/flywheel. I have one in my c6z and it’s brutal for street driving, but in a road course application it would be terrific. It revs incredibly quickly. In your case I’d yank the engine out through the top, it’s actually not that difficult. Put in a new rotating assembly, get the heads worked over by AHP, add a small cam and good lifters, good oil pump, some 1-7/8 headers, lightweight clutch, new balancer. And slap it all back in.
@@JoshVanVeld you got it, it’s really not that bad of a job. I did it with jackstands and I hadn’t wrenched on a car in 15 years. Plus it’ll make for great content.
Tough part is the rotating assembly. You’ll have to find a shop that can do that properly and provide rods, pistons, and a crank. What’s in the ls7 now is likely toast. Fortunately the block is good.
Ha Haaa!! What a great driver that guy was!!! Amazing to see what a true driver can do. Sorry about the Corvette... you're not alone, that's for sure. I hope you get it fixed to the point where you can push it and not worry anymore. IMO it's the only newer Corvette that I would own.
New viewer and subscriber, here. The C6Z platform is definitely worth sticking with! Plenty of engine options available. I'm not sure how forced induction fits into your racing / class plans, but an LS3 with an A&A supercharger setup would definitely be my choice replacement for the LS7. Looking forward to seeing more of your content! Cheers!
I've been this route and I'd suggest sticking to NA. Cooling is already a concern with these cars and adding a SC and intercooler makes it that much worse. Not to mention the significant weight added right over the front hurts handling and braking, less than idea for a track car. If you're looking to make 525-600 rwhp, that can easily be done NA with a H/C/I LS7 with better handling and braking dynamics.
Soooo very sorry to hear that Goldie might have lost the mighty LS7. Crossing my fingers it's something minor in all this but likely will need some serious attention. If you're going to replace the old one with something new then I'd suggest looking through some of the Texas Speed line of engines as I've seen a ton of luck out of those. You could try LMR to get a sponsorship with them on an engine build too or even RPM for that matter. Either way, wishing you the best of luck with the old girl. Sad to see her down and out.
sooner or later it would have happened anyway, from what I read that engine is just like that, it likes to drop valves... even though GM says it's only a limited number of cars...channel is fantastic, you will soon get tons of subscribers. I would put an LS6 in goldie and if you want more power you can work on that motor, car will still be plenty fast even with a standard one, you are a track guy and you know a few horses do not make a huge difference on lap times. keep it up with the great content! ciao
I could be completely way off base here but Texas Speed & Performance could be a good option. I have an 2008 LS3 z51 with 95k miles, if I ever have issues in the future I have been thinking to go that route.
definitely check out savage goose's video on the LS7. I think most agree just ponying up for another LS7 is worth it. From there, do the common sense reliability things with oil capacity. Consider a remote reservoir and/or filter to make changes easy in the future. Changing your oil "too" often is worth it long term. It's well documented that the valve guides in these, esp earlier ones, can have defects and there exist kits with better tolerancing to fix it. Best of luck man.
Hey buddy, I live right there in and Gwinnett county close to you. I have a Z06 as well. LS7 more than likely if you were running stock heads you probably dropped a valve or lifter related ditch those stock castings go aftermarket. Trick flow makes a nice set. That's what I've got on my car. Tony mamo full top end build ,wish you the best. If you need anything I can sure help you with it ✌️
Ah man! This is super unfortunate. Great content though.. wasn’t what I was expecting when you said it’d be worth the wait. Just a thought for your next engine, I’m fairly certain all LSX blocks are iron… definitely not what you’re going to want if you wanna keep the weight distribution for track use. You can buy a aluminum 5.3 and have it re-sleeved into a 7.0L again. I am not sure though how it would work with the crank, you may end up with a weird stroke that gives you all the power and no torque or vice versa 🤷♂️ best of luck man. Excited to keep watching… the yellow ‘06 Z I just picked up has the heads fixed with a BTR stage 2 cam and full exhaust. Made 535whp. I will learn from your experience that I will focus on oil cooling and capacity first and foremost. “Improved racing” is a company that makes unreal quality stuff for the Z06 that you’ll wanna check out. Comes highly recommended.
I'm going to assume you dropped a valve which is very common in the LS7 (valve guide issue), after seeing all these videos I'm pulling the heads off mine before I drive it again and definitely getting those valve guides fixed. Sorry about your engine, I know that sucks. You could always build an LSX motor and turbo it :P
I work at Atlanta motorsports park and I remember hearing the motor and seeing the smoke right after. Sorry you lost a motor but I hope to see you back out here turning out laps.
Recently drove amp. T1 is bearing killer if the sump is oriented at the rear of engine. The braking + downhill grade throws all the oil to front. I have oil pressure gauge with memory on my e36 saw less than 5psi at turn in with stock oil system.
It's a super technical track to drive, also tough on components, especially if you start pushing the car hard. Turn 6 is rough too - right on the heels of the long turn 3 carousel you have a really hard downhill braking zone that transitions into uphill at the end so you can really dig in with the brakes. I saw -1.3G on my AIM lap timer in the wet with the new tires and brakes right before it blew.
Good attitude about the situation. The LS7 is what makes the C6 Z06 special. Nothing like a 7 liter engine singing at 7k. I think GM makes a LS427/570 wet sump crate engine. You could take the pan off and convert to a dry sump with your existing parts. A 570 horsepower LS7 would be a nice upgrade. Good luck.
I agree, 7 liters and 7K define the C6Z experience. I just need a version that delivers that reliably and still allows me to afford to send my kids to college 😅
from a reliability standpoint i'd be considering a crate LS3 plus a cam, make similar power to stock at a decent price point without overwhelming yourself with a ton of horsepower while you continue to learn on the track. that would be under 10k usd easily, with plenty of headroom for other unexpected costs or extra hop-ups if you really want some more power (head work can get SBE LS3s into the 500+ whp range easily). might not be as "special" as an LS7 but it'd be expensive to replicate in a reliable manner. also wouldnt consider forced induction for a track car, superchargers put out too much heat to comfortably manage and turbos arent viable in the limited space under the hood (plus more components to possibly fail)
@@JoshVanVeld indeed, you could go for a 416 stroker or similar and still keep it on a budget. or just drop the big bucks for a new 427/440ci monster, wouldnt be the most reliable or economical idea but it'd be fun lol. something based on a dart LS next block would be a good starting point that still stay relatively reasonable cost-wise
With your massive increase in braking and cornering performance (and i assume Hoosiers are next) cooling and oiling for your next LS7 is key. We all know, massive power increase is SEXY, but safe and reliable longevity is the true goal. In the future, show us Goldie's 1000th session video
Really sorry to hear Josh. Having the community add salt to the wound wont help you. But it turned around quickly with Ben and the 488! Happy to see that. I will second the advice of going with Katech as they built motors for GMs racing program with Pratt and Miller for the GTLM Le Mans series, which dominated the series year over year during the time of the C6. No one else has the pedigree or the experience. I had them redo my LS7 heads. Talk to them about your goals and budget and they can give you options. I kept stock power numbers in the interest of reliability and cost. Maybe a used LS7 with forged rods and their fixed heads would be the most cost effective option.
Thanks! I appreciate the advice, I'll definitely look at Katech more closely. Honestly the community has been stellar and I'm amazed at how few negative comments I've gotten over the course of this project given all the screw-ups I've made 😅
Mast Motorsports Black Label LS7 also in Texas! At least three of what seem to be popular engine shops are in Texas. A hands on visit to each of the shops to check the reality of each shop & quality matches the online presence.
Imho, I think you should just stick with an LS7 long block crate engine. Especially now they've been discontinued. And see about retrofitting in the 10.5 quart oil system. I've been running my 2013 for 10 plus years and now nearly 120Kmiles, including some time on the track. So far, so good. But, it's not a robust track engine for constant track use. But, perhaps a better solution is a LS3 GS engine with forced induction of some sort. The LS3 has a rep for being nearly indestructible as well as being able to take up to 1000 bhp with little internal upgrading. But, my LS7 is a gem for street and occasional track use. But, probably not suited for the kind of track use you'll be putting on it. I think it's more of a high performance road car engine than an all out track unit....But, maybe with the larger OEM oil tank, it might survive.
I once tore a tranny apart, after already purchasing it's replacement. I already had planned to replace the thing but the experience was a complete downer. My replacement is still in the car and still works a charm. DO your rebuild and come back stronger and more reliable ...
So sorry-everyone's nightmare. I have a base C4, Base C5, and Procharged C7 Z51. They have all been on a track, and I was worried about oil starvation on the C4/5. I have been watching your videos as I would love to build a C6 track car. LMR - Late Model Racecraft out of Texas really know what they are doing with Corvettes. He says the LS3 is his favorite motor to build--I suggest you spend a little time on ther website.
Couldn’t bring myself to hit the thumbs up. Sorry on the news as that sucks. I know the ls7s had lifter issues from factory that can result in dropping a valve. Regardless, with all the options out there I have no doubt you can build a powerful and reliable track engine. Wishing you the best and I’ll keep on watching.
I actually had a buddy with a C6Z (first one I reviewed for the channel years ago) and his motor got destroyed by either a bad lifter or a broken rocker (hard to tell which one failed first). It's a shame that the LS7 has issues, but it's such an amazing motor. Looking forward to learning a lot more about motors as we push this project forward!
Josh - an amazing video. Just when you're focused on building a Porsche killer. You had a lap. With the Stig. In a Ferrari. Honestly, you should taking racing classes in a car like Aaron's. You will learn a ton about yourself and racing. You should also watch ChrisFix series on his E46 lemons build. It should give you an idea of what a race build needs to look like.
Thanks! I’ve done quite a bit of endurance racing in Miatas and true race cars really are the way to go if you don’t care about street driving. This might be the final straw in terms of sending Goldie in a much more hardcore direction. Someday I want to take on an endurance racing build aimed at competing in ChampCar / Lemons / et al.
Dang sorry to hear this,I had a feeling you were going to have issues. I purchased an 09 z06 with 60k almost have 70k now. It has the better larger sump,but I daily drive mine and have the tick and need to do the guides,I bought the che bronE deals for the rockers ,but won't autox it or track it till all those issues are done. Did you do the black stone oil analysis on your also? Good luck,and don't listen to the guys saying piut an ls3 in that makes the same power,they don't feel the same,with the large bore and stroke. Ls7 has a 4.0 stroke,ls3 3.622 I believe power can be the same but not feel the same.
I didn’t send an oil sample out but that will be on my checklist in the future. I agree the lower displacement motors just don’t have the same magic… but whatever magic Goldie’s motor had went up in smoke 😅
That model/ color Vette would be my ultimate attainable dream car. 996s have the IMS bearing and apparently the Z06 dry sump isn't up to snuf. Bummer. Find a LS2, put LS3 heads on it along with a zr1 style blower?
Sorry to hear about the bad news. I'm a BMW guy but have recently taken up an obsession for Corvettes, specifically the C6 Z06. If money, time, and resources allow, I encourage you to not give up on the "GT3 Killer" as this channel is one of my many inspirations for wanting a C6Z. Don't know how far you're willing to go but Mast Motorsports makes a de-stroked LS7 that revs to 8500rpm. Worth a look IMO
@@JoshVanVeld Don't know what the price is since it's a custom request but definitely prohibitive. If the block isn't toast you could definitely get by and be happy with a refresh of parts and upgraded dry sump. I look forward to seeing the update video, enjoy your evening🍺
i know the pain of blowing a motor in front of a person you think highly of it sucks. my recommendation for you is to send it to Race Proven Motorsports. they know the ins and outs of the ls7.
Josh. Just saw the video. Probably the combo of the sticky tires, better brakes, and long duration corners caused the starvation and poof. I’m so sorry man. I’ve been there. Top of the world one minute and crashed into the tire wall at VIR the next. I would check with Vengeance as they are local to you. Otherwise a modded LS2 swap would be cheaper as the LS7 is a bit of a unicorn. Just know that you’ll need oiling mods for sticky tires and great brakes. I’ll be watching to see what’s going on!
Thanks Ken. I should have known I was getting too greedy! VIR is no joke, sorry to hear about your run-in with the wall. I might get in touch with Vengeance, they are right down the road.
Wow. Another awesome vid. Sad to see, as this was my favorite build series on UA-cam. I say in order to keep the series going source the other GM LS aluminum block hero engine. The mighty dry sump LS3 with the forged longer crank. These only came in the manual hard top Z16 C6 Grandsports. They are known to be way more dependable than LS7 & can handle more abuse and power than a SBE LS7. They are arguably the best stock bottom end engine GM has ever produced. With a street-able but aggressive heads & cam package you could potentially make more usable power than the stock LS7 for much cheaper. Should be an easy drop in too as this motor has all the same accessories and provisions as the LS7. I think I just saw a video where LEE C. PARTS salvage yard (scrap life garage on UA-cam) had one in their inventory. Or they can easily be obtained at a lot of yards or the Facebook Vette groups. This would be the fastest, safest, & cheapest solution. Also, if you nail the right heads & cam package you are potentially looking at a net benefit with a faster and more reliable setup. Goodluck. I would also talk to GPI about the heads cam package if you go this route.
@@JoshVanVeld Yeah I was sleeping on that channel. Love it now. Also, GPI has some LS7 top end fixed heads & cam packages that are made to work with the stock displacement LS3s. If your LS7 heads are salvageable cores post teardown and diagnosis that would save you some cash too on a sick top end. You will get the best of both words in better flowing breathing LS7 top end stuff with the better dependability of a dry sump LS3 short-block. You can also reuse your stock LS7 intake manifold & injectors with this setup. However, I would also send that to GPI so they could port it. This way you can make sure the LS3 with fixed spec'ed LS7 top end is going to put down more power than a bone stock LS7. Probably should have them remote tune it too. This will help make up for the displacement envy of losing out on a 427. Also, I feel keeping a stock GM bottom end fits your theme of building something obtainable to compete with other stock super cars. It will be way less impressive to beat factory cars with a fully built after market motor thats going to dam near cost the price of a C6 itself.
I feel your pain having blown 2 LS7s, I know people say fix the valves/heads and it’s bullet proof but I’ve seen plenty of the built guys drop valves or blow that engine. I will say I ran in to a guy that opted for a built/cammed LS3, not the same but had been much more reliable for track racing. Food for thought if you continue. I know that 7k redline is heavenly but perhaps that’s the real Achilles Heel of that engine aside from Oil Starvation from the dry sump when you’re beating on it.
Wow, my new goal is to be able to say a year from now that I've only blown ONE LS7. I can't even imagine what the second one feels like. That seems to be the common theme that's emerging - the LS7 has some really alluring aspects but if you want true reliability for track work, it might not be the best starting point... I don't think this is going to be an easy decision.
@@JoshVanVeld the Z06 is supposed to be a purpose built track beast but the heart of it can only take so much. Grand sports seem to be the happy medium which I am leaning towards for my next Corvette. One thing I will say is no matter the cost, do what’s gonna make you happy because although I had blown 2 engines, I put 35k hard miles on the car between 11 seconds quarter miles, and a lot of track days. I looked for excuses to drive that car and loved every mile of it. But older wiser me will not do that again haha. Also, make sure to get an extended warranty, 5 years motor power train. That saved my wallet, only had to pay $5k for replacing to oil system out of pocket. The second blown engine was fully covered by the manufacturer warranty on the new engine. Towed straight to the dealer from Leguna Seca and did not void that warranty haha. Good luck with whatever you decide! You have a lot of fans excited for the future regardless 👍🏼
certain vin numbers have bad machined valve guides also titanium valves are abrasive change to stainless steel, also some years had issues with the oil dry sump failure
I'm a big fan of Katech for engine builds. Not cheap though. They been doing track engines on Corvettes and LS7s for a long time.
I was researching the Katech LS7.R out of curiosity... apparently the price tag on those was around $125K 😳They are definitely on my radar!
@@JoshVanVeld made my own comment before seeing this one but i think you should get a katech race lt1. if you dont want such a tall intake you can get a BTR intake.
@@JoshVanVeld 🤯🤯🤯
@@JoshVanVeld I have a full katech race engine. Highly highly recommend
@@ViperMods_216 Tell me more!
Josh, you handled this like a badass. You've shown all viewers that your character is stout and that you possess amazing resiliency. Even if you cried off-camera, you had every right to do so.
Now, all that being said, I really hope you don't leave the C6 world. I'd understand, but I would be SO bummed. I'll always give your vids a thumbs-up, though. Just please don't talk yourself out of being a car guy and please keep releasing videos!
Thanks Roger! I'm not a badass, but mama didn't raise no b*** either (pardon my language 😆). Literally no chance I'm walking away from Goldie, even though that would probably be the best decision from a financial standpoint. I appreciate the encouragement!
If we wanted to save money, we would take up knitting as a hobby! Sorry about the loss!
I’d go LS3, with some bolt ons a tune and you’d be close to the same power and very reliable. But I understand the allure of the LS7!
Great content again! Don't give up on the "GT3 Killer"! The C6 Z06 has the tools (low Cg, proper track width and wheel base, light weighting, good weight distribution, great braking, lots of tire contact patch, double wishbone suspension, and now a new and improved power unit coming soon!!), to beat the GT3 991. It would have been awesome to have stig drive your buggy and ride along.
I agree and no way I'm giving up when I was just getting a taste of what the car could do with proper tires and brakes. I'm hoping this won't be the last time Ben visits AMP and next time I'll be ready!
Josh, your channel is phenomenal and is going to grow in massive ways. Awesome video - one of the most entertaining videos Ive watched on UA-cam in recent memory. THANK YOU so much for taking us on that lap with Ben!. Looking forward to seeing what you do with the Z06.
Thanks, I really appreciate the comment. The way Ben could hop in that car on a track he'd literally driven for one short session and then go ripping around while having a conversation with me... the word "impressive" barely covers it!
My Mazda had the same thing happen at Road America. Not enough oil at the pick up during high G cornering, starved the engine and spun a bearing after like 5 laps. Now I'm building an 07 mustang gt xD
I am really sorry to hear this. I have been following for a while now since you got the C6 Z06, and I remember following your journey with the C5 as well. In 2021 I also bought a 2007 yellow Z06 with similar intentions as yourself. I had a C5 Z06 long ago, and I sold it because I knew the LS engines had oil pressure issues on track. I experienced a low oil pressure warning on a left had sweeper at Roebling Road even after I overfilled it and I didn't want to take a chance. So jumped into the C6 partly because I knew it had a dry sump, but I knew it had its limits. After all my research and with this new purchase, engine reliability was important to me. I replaced the original 21k mile heads with machined heads. I did this because I knew others experienced dropped valves. The early hollow stem exhaust valves had thin walls and manufacturing tolerances could make them a potential failing point. The intake titanium valves had a coating that could fail, and the titanium could wear the valve guides. I was lucky and found a pair of ported and fixed heads with ti moly intake valves and lightweight stainless steel exhaust valves along with aftermarket guides. Comparing the original and new heads, there was definitely play in the original valve guides. I checked the new heads after 8k miles of street driving, and they still feel solid. I didn't measure them, and its not scientific, but it was enough for me to be confident that they are fine for now. Long left sweepers like at AMP also concerned me. You may have seen the thread on the corvette forum, but someone (Dreamin) captured data on the loss of oil pressure (20psi) at Thunderhill with a similar high speed left sweeper in their 07 Z06. They solved it by installing a larger oil tank. I went in the same direction but I installed a 2009 oil tank and added an Aviad oil tank insert. There is a lot of information out there and some of it conflicting, but I would recommend keeping your next engine as stock as possible with fixes for reliability. I added long tubes and a cold air, and the car is more than fast enough. I added an MSD manifold and NW throttle body, but it ended up being problematic and removed them. I've been tempted to replace the stock cam, but these cars really don't need it for the track and it just takes away from the reliability. If you see what others are doing to make their LS7s more reliable for track usage, they are reducing power and not trying to make them monsters. I don't know if this will help, but I thought I would share. Don't give up, and this doesn't have to cost 20k. I'd buy a low mileage replacement engine, and use it as an opportunity to update the valvetrain and install a bigger oil tank with better oil control. There are plenty of LS7s that have lived long lives on track.
What was so bad about the msd intake manifold? I'm thinking about running it with stock TB
Wow, I was wondering if anybody'd seen my C5Z thread. I did read that oil starvation post on the forum and thought it made a lot of sense.
I am definitely all about prioritizing reliability over power and I was planning on making those mods, I had just been putting them off. Everybody thinks it won't happen to them until it does 😅
Anyone who has ever blown an engine on track understands the pain. I’ve been there and it stinks. Curious to hear what you learn about the cause. Good luck and look forward to seeing the next steps in the journey.
I've learned it's easier to have sympathy for somebody in a tough situation if you've been through something similar yourself. Thanks for the encouragement!
Some thoughts having a fair amount of experience with these cars. The oiling system needs to be addressed, especially for that track. At a minimum upgrade to the 09+ tank. There are several other aftermarket upgrades worth considering as well. For track use, I'm also a big fan of adding an oil accumulator (plus you can eliminate cold start OP issues with them).
I thought I saw oil under the car, if so, it likely has a new window in the block and it's scrap. A fairly bulletproof solution is to switch over to the LS3. They are stout, cheaper, and can still make decent power. Personally, even though I have one in my SL-C, I'm not a big fan of going this direction in a C6Z. It decreases the value of the car, both financially and emotionally. And IMO, having had the LS7 in the car, it's hard to go backwards. The LS3 lacks that specialness of the larger LS7 with it's better flowing heads, more cubes, and higher rpm. Yes, you can mod them to make similar power, but no matter what, they still lack the better flowing heads and usually the higher rpm. But this is a sound option if you just want increased reliability.
Whatever you do, you absolutely want to stick to an aluminum block for weight reasons. I would stick with the LS7 and use this opportunity to add mods and make improvements. I'd look for a donor engine and go through it and do the basic upgrades. Inspect the bottom end and address as needed. If budget allows, aftermarket forged rods and pistons. I would absolutely go with a good set of "fixed" CNC ported heads (preferably aftermarket IMO), install a slightly larger cam ("stage 2") to keep it awake closer to redline, do headers and possibly an MSD intake. I know some folks say stick with the stock cam for reliability, but installing a slightly larger cam really allows these engines to pull a lot more on the upper end, it's totally worth it IMO. The extra NA power will be quite noticeable and welcomed on the street and track (watch out GT3's!) Yes, you'll still need to keep an eye out for the valve guide wear from time to time, but it's not like you're going to rack up high milage on this car and to me this is worth the effort as the performance results and retained value of the car will be superior. Once you experience a C6Z with H/C/I done, you'd be really hard pressed to leave it stock, lol! Even with a mild cam, those mods will add around 100rwhp and be amazing on the street and track.
Ditch the cats if you're okay with the smell, otherwise get a set of high-flow lower cell count cats. Speed Engineering offers a great header and exhaust system for these cars and it's fairly cheap. No cats, but they can be retrofitted.
Lot's of different options out there, but I guess it all comes down to what your wallet will support, what your expectations are, etc. But again, what really makes these cars special IMO is the LS7, and I'd be extremely hard pressed to give it up! I'd stick with it, make it better, and mitigate as many of the known weaknesses as possible, but that's just me! Obviously you can go with another beefier aluminum block, but the cost will certainly escalate.
BTW, absolutely don't forget to upgrade the clutch (and install a bleeder) while it's all apart! It might be worthwhile to rebuild the torque tube as well while it's out of the car.
The oil looks like it came out of the intake. Not sure what to make of that.
I feel the same way about the LS3. Probably a wise choice, but not really in keeping with what made the car special in the first place.
Thanks for the write-up, great food for thought.
@@JoshVanVeld I would suggest bringing the car home (I'm assuming you already have), pulling the valve covers for inspection, checking behind the TB, and sticking a bore scope into the spark plug holes. You can get a cheap bore scope for use with your cell phone for little money and they are handy to have in general. I suspect the bore scope alone with tell you what direction you're headed... It would be nice to see if you have oil pressure, but I wouldn't turn the engine over until you have a better idea of where/what the failure was. This could be a rocker arm bearing, valve spring, broken valve, etc. If you don't have oil dripping from a new window in the block, and there's no spare parts behind the TB blade, it's quite possible some of the big ticket items are salvageable. Pulling the valve covers and inspecting with the bore scope should give you some valuable info for your next steps.
Fabulous write up. Thank you. I own an LS3 base Vette and I have driven a couple LS7s and I have to say the LS7 is just special even if just for the sound. My next will be a Z06 for sure.
@@jamesw.6931 2009+ is 10.5 quarts.
@@jamesw.6931 Thanks, how much was the modification?
you make some great high quality content and deserve more recognition than you currently have! Can't wait to see your growth over the next year!
You are too kind!
I’m assuming you dropped a valve or had oil starvation during hard cornering. I’m sorry this happened it is a bummer. Maybe buy a used ls7 and have the heads ported and built. Possibly the best option. I’ve owned 2 c6z06 one red and current yellow. I have ran the absolute fuck out of both of them and never had issues knock on wood. C6 z06 is a phenomenal platform. Can be a super car killer all day. I love your videos. Keep your head up. Keep making videos we love c6z06 content. ❤
Sorry to hear about the engine 😢
You've now gotten the full C6Z experience. It was surreal listening to you describe it blowing because mine was so similar. My built motor blew up on track at Pocono. I had just dusted my buddy in his C7Z and was feeling great and then heard a slight change in sound (pretty sure it was one of the dual valve springs breaking) and the next lap I got the smoke show.
I had a great experience getting an all new built LS7 with RHS block from Chad Golen at Golen Engines in NH. He offers a fully built engine to just about whatever spec you want with a 1 year warranty and didn't up charge for the RHS block.
Good luck!
Pocono? Sounds like you are local to me... I have blown up an engine there as well. Funny to look back on but sucked in the moment.
Man I feel your pain! Glad you're enjoying the fully built replacement, sounds awesome.
Very well made video! Ben Collins seems like such a legend, a true sport in that moment :)
Well said. Having made car videos for a couple years, Ben is a hero, not just for his driving, but for having been a big part of the most successful and influential car show of all time. So it’s difficult to describe what a treat it was to have him participate in one of my videos. He’s so good at what he does. A real inspiration.
Josh, I just found your channel a few weeks ago. In that time I’ve become a subscriber and huge fan. As someone who loves the track too, I find your videos relatable and so well done.
I was very excited to have a new video come from you today, but hate to see what happen to Goldie! Looking forward to see what you do going forward.
It wasn't the video I was hoping to make, but I'm going to try to make the most of it. Glad you're enjoying the channel!
That’s sad to hear about your motor. With that being said, I was having some issues with my motor. I ditched the LS7 and had a darton sleeved 434 (Gen 4 5.3L block) with a forged rotating assembly, reworked the stock heads, went with a Katech high pressure oil pump, Aviaid crank scraper with their oil pan trap door system and baffles in the sump tank. Hope that gives you some ideas with your engine build
The heads of the ls7 is one of the things that drove me away from the z06. Feel bad that it happened to you too
First, Wow! Not only did you get to meet The Stig but you had the opportunity to take a ride with him in his element. Truly amazing and a bucket list moment for sure!
Have Goldie (sp?) assessed. It may not be as bad as you think. If it’s not, heads, cam, valve springs, piston rings, bearings, timing refresh, long tubes, and a tune. If it is, source a long block and do the above. With a little help, I’ve seen prices in the 10-15k range.
What a Gentleman letting you drive the Ferrari on track after blowing your Z06 motor…great video and best of luck!
So sorry to hear what happened :[ looking forward to hearing what happened to the engine, best of luck with finding the right solution
Hey Josh, love the channel. Owner of a red 2007 Z06 myself. Hopefully wasn’t the notorious valve guide/ valve issue with the LS7. Might be an LSX upgrade opportunity. Keep up the good work!
Wouldn't surprise me at all if it's a dropped exhaust valve, in which case I knew full well that I should have gotten the heads fixed and I procrastinated one track day too many...
Definitely find a replacement motor and get the necessary parts to make it bulletproof. I am definitely digging these series. Don’t let Goldie die!
Goldie's just resting for a minute 🥲
Josh, I really feel for you, this really sucks to hear. I was worried because we hadn’t heard from you in a while and this is anyone’s worst nightmare. I’ve had many second thoughts about tracking my c6z as well (even with heads addressed and larger oil tank). I’m sure we all do, even those prep’d to the max.
I wish I had some great wisdom to share to make you feel better, but I won’t even try.
From my perspective, the real fear is not being able to source an LS7 when my time comes.
P.s. The STIG? You’ve got to be kidding me! That’s just freaking amazing!
Thanks, I saw your comment on the other video and I just knew this one would make you sad.
Hopefully the lessons I'm learning will help some other people avoid the same situation, but I think a lot of it is luck of the draw when it comes to things going wrong on a car that sees track use.
Curious to dig in and see if I can figure out exactly what failed.
@@JoshVanVeldYeah, wasn’t the update we were looking for! I see Summit Racing has LS7 long block in stock. Looking forward to see your future videos, and what direction you take.
Josh, I just discovered your channel and I love your general philosophy of driving and commitment to learn and improve and your passion for recording every step of the way.......at least when you can remember to hit the button for (haha). So cool you got to ride with Ben, and that he let you take a couple of laps in the 488. I too was a huge fan of the BBC TG and the whole "tamed racing driver" "some say......." was a blast!!! True story, for the fun of it I used to wear an "I'm the Stig" sticker on my W210 wagon, and I plastidipped my helmet white and went to a Halloween party as the stig one year. LOL!! Frankly, that track appears too small for that as well as a C6. While relatively interesting and with ele change, much like your autocross footage, that car needs more room to stretch it's legs. Track construction ain't cheap, so I get it. Keep recording and let me know when you wanna come to COTA. Ebb
Josh sorry to hear about the Vette. The look on your face while riding with Ben is worth 1k words. Good luck with the Vette, an aftermarket dry sump system is worth it.
Shouldn't need an upgraded dry sump system. It probably dropped a valve, but we won't know until it's assessed
@@nickadkins7765 probably true, is the Achilles heel of the LS7, I bought an 07 that had the work done already.
@@2801race my old 08 dropped a valve early in it's life. Around 30k miles. Had a built 427ci LS3 in it ready for boost. Never boosted it before I sold it though. Thatdudeinblue actually reviewed my Z06 lol
I had the same setup as yours Nick on my C5Z Track Car with an Aviaid Dry Sump system. That’s why I mentioned it before but it would probably be overkill for a dual purpose car. I must say thought I never worried about oil pressure or temps with it.
Been loving this series dude. Been in the blown LS7 boat before. It’s fun picking out new parts, not so fun paying for them 😂
Haha I think you pretty much hit the nail on the head.
You handled this a lot better than I would have
Honestly the me a year or two ago probably would have handled it a lot worse 😅
You’ve got lots of gr8 comments out here…awesome support.
My two cents are…you’ve found the main weakness and now it’s an opportunity to build reliable fun. The $ hurts…we get it. I’m doing that now with my projects. But it’s a journey, that requires the first step. Dude…we’re expecting to watch this entire process unfold! Lol. You won’t be alone.
And seriously, thank you for sharing…
…your time with the Stig. What a surprise…it was unreal! I’m glad I got to share that experience with you. What a dream come true!
I look forward to seeing your next post and will send recommendations if good ones come to mind.
Thank you! I'm glad people enjoyed seeing the Ben Collins portion, that was a real treat and I think this is a video I'm going to come back and rewatch for myself many times in the future because it was such an amazing experience.
Having him kicking the rear end out of the 488 on purpose as we exited AMP's (terrifying) Turn 16 gave me a whole new perspective on car control.
Wow, Ben Collins is a complete champion for doing that for you. Great video! Sorry about the engine.
Agreed! Thanks.
Depending on what your budget is there is a lot you can do. If you want to go all out, RHS or C5R blocks are the way to go, you’ll definitely be spending well above $20k to build one of those though. If you don’t want to spend that much the stock block holds N/A power fine and reliably, even though they’re not priority mains. Keep us updated with what you find.
Lots of research in my future. I'm looking forward to hearing what everyone's ideas are and also thinking about how much of the work I can handle doing myself.
Funny that you mention the Batmobile, as Ben Collins was the stunt driver for the Batmobile as well as James Bond's stunt driver!
The look on your face throughout the fast lap was priceless!!😂
🤣🤣🤣
Very cool to go for a ride with Ben Collins. Hope you come up with a good solution for your Z06.
Great video man. Hope your Z is back stronger than ever.
It's just a matter of time! (And figuring out how to pull an engine in my garage)
@@JoshVanVeld Will be watching. Cheers
So sorry to hear, time to build it stronger then ever. I heard so many things about the LS7 and I was told you would have to spend some money, to build it up or it will blow up 😫 and GM spokesman on a video said it was a solid motor just don't touch it. Well I see differently, please don't give up on the LS7. Rebuild it stronger with more HP.
Yeah, I guess I'm now on the list of people who've had their LS7 fail. It's a shame because it's a brilliant performer. Hopefully V2 will be more reliable 😀
What an enjoyable video. Great stuff. I don't drive anything fancy, came from an old E90 which I still have, to a 4th gen Mazda 3 Hatchback awd, but the C6 Z06 is one of my absolute favorite cars. The LS7 engine is holy not to mention you have Ben Collins driving you around. Love the man's character.
Bro - that sucks but meeting and driving with the Stig is super cool
Hey Josh, I just recently found your channel and have been watching several of your videos. Absolutely amazing content, keep it up!
I am a fellow C6Z owner, and one that also had a valve drop at that. I am incredibly sorry to hear about your LS7 failure, and I hope you can get her running again soon. My '06 dropped it's #6 exhaust valve at 19,922 miles on the dot on my brother's birthday in August 2022. I went with the LS7 route once again and got myself a crate motor from Scoggin Dickey for $14.7k. I had some trouble along the way getting it together, but that's irrelevant right now. I ended up going with American Heritage Performance fixed and ported heads and a BTR stage 3 cam with supporting mods. My car has ran flawlessly 3 months into having it fixed, although the car was down for 7 months total.
It's your car and you're welcome to do as you please, but I'd really recommend to keep your faith in the LS7 and go for a crate motor and just get some reputable fixed heads. Oddly enough, I wouldn't recommend a huge cam. If you want your car to perform well on AutoX and track days, I have found the cam becomes a handful and slightly less usable than the LS7s already decent power output, and streetability takes some getting used to. That being said, I really have a blast with my car being cammed and I need to get it on the track sometime soon. Being in Arkansas makes it difficult being that there's only one circuit within 5 hours of where I live.
Good luck to you and whatever you decide! I tried to keep this concise, but I know my way around the LS7 pretty well despite me being in the youngest C6 owner age group, so feel free to reach out to me on Instagram @lunarz06! I'm definitely a new subscriber and will be a returning one.
Thanks and I’m glad you’re enjoying the videos! Sorry to hear you’re in the blown LS7 club, but it sounds like it worked out Ok! Hopefully I’ll have some progress to post soon.
Please update us on the motor. Anxiously awaiting news
Update video is up!
For the LS7 block, a company out in Oceanside CA, Racing Engine Development (R.E.D.) can make you a replacement LS7 block from an LS3 block. Actually his LS3 to LS7 block conversions are better than the OEM LS7 block. He can also re-sleeve your block if the block damage is minor. Next, get a forged bottom end kit, steel crank, forged rods and forged pistons. This is your chance to get away from the titanium rods which can gall at the bearing cheeks and can also be a cause of engine/rod bearing failure. Also changes to an upgraded piston from the eutectic pistons to forged. Next are the cylinder heads and valves. I figure you have a least one cylinder head completely survive and hopefully the other can be welded(?). In any case, go to Katech and get their head package for the LS7. This solves all the issues with the LS7 valves. Fixes the bad OEM valve job ( main issue with breaking valves), replaces the DLC coated titanium intake valves with Moly coated valve stems. Much better for the application as the DLC coating is rough and wears out the guides. Replaces the powered iron guides with hardened bronze. Slightly better heat transfer which helps the exhaust valve and bronze machines very well so the guide to stem clearance can be held very tight and keep the valve dead centered in the port bowl and valve seat. Your 2007 had the first generation exhaust valve which were updated in late 2008 or 2009. Katech will likely recommend to replace those exhaust valves with the updated valves. For the track, as you know, the dry sump lubrication system as designed doesn't fully solve the G loading issues. The dry sump update to the 2009 12 quart sump may be good or an aftermarket dry sump. What is also needed though is a better windage tray. Improved has a good kit that is a crank scraper and windage tray, their part no. : EGM-740C Configurator. They have track data on their site that shows how well this solves (improves) oil pressure from hard cornering and braking. I figure around $13,000 in parts to do the above which is a lot of money. However, this LS7 is better than the stock one which, (fixes all the fragility items) when available sold for more like $17,000+ from GM. Hope this helps. Reach out if you think I can help.
Wow, thanks for taking the time to type this up. Great info.
@@JoshVanVeld First off thank you Josh for the doing the C6 Z06 upgrade to Porsche GT3 level track configuration. Viewed all your videos and was encouraged that a very knowledgeable track driver was working through upgrading a Z06. Excited with the progress so far and anxious to see what track times you get from the car.
I, like many others, have only just recently found your channel. I was looking forward to seeing progress on the Z06 as told/shared by your storytelling. Sorry that happened, it sucks but as you know its part of being an enthusiast. Personally I hope to see the Z06 back on the road again, but either way I know I'm here for your journey going forward. Looking forward to what's next!
That's great to hear, thank you! I'll try not to disappoint 😊
Damn. Sorry about your car man. I’ve been following this build as a first time vette owner and enthusiast (13 C6 Grand Sport). I chose the GS simply because of the LS7 issues as I daily drive the car, but if it were a track/fun only car I probably would’ve gone Z06 anyway. The valve guide issue is 100% real and even cars with “heads fixed” still drop them sometimes. Even if you had addressed it there was still a chance of this happening with track use. Still, it remains a phenomenal platform and I hope you get her fixed up. Curious to see what you go with for a replacement engine. Can’t go wrong with LS3 but then it wouldn’t really be a Z06 anymore. Bulletproofing a LS7 gets expensive but probably worth it long term if you’re planning on keeping it. Best of luck!
The LS7 really defines the car so an LS3 is a tough pill to swallow even if it's the wise choice. This channel hasn't really been about wise choices so far, even if that was the goal when I started 😅
@@JoshVanVeld 100% agree. Either way, I’ll keep watching! At least the brakes were a win lol.
@@JoshVanVeld yes to the masses the 427/7.0 sounds so much cooler on paper. However, I think many people forget the carbon body panels, the aluminum tub, the magnesium cradles, the better shifter, the stiffer dampners and leafs, the better trans gear ratios, the better diff also make stock C6Zs the monsters they are compared to the GS & base models too. But yeah if no budget than yeah LS7 is way cooler.
Dude! Best video EVER! Ben is such an absolute legend. Only downside was that absolute ape of an assistant camera man you had in the background. What is that guy, like 6’6” ish? 😜
I'd say that guy was 6'8" easily. No way he could have crammed that giant frame into a 488. But I will say, dude could wield a camera like Andre Agassi with a tennis racket. 🤣🤣
Good content as always regarding your Z06. I hope to see your teardown to see what happened to your engine. Then see where you go from there. It is a bummer the rough experience you have had with your C6 Z06, but I admire you for sticking with it and sharing it on your channel.
I have tracked my 08 Z06 a number of times in the 11 years I have owned it, not as much as you it seems. Before I did, I changed to the larger oil tank from the later C6 Z06's. Not sure if this has prevented issues for me, I think oil starvation issues can be track dependent to some extent, but GM seemed to see the need to improve the oil tank after a few years production, so I did that upgrade as well.
That upgraded tank (the Lingenfelter version) was on my to-do list. I think AMP has characteristics that probably expose that issue if you're going fast enough.
Sorry about the blown motor, sir. Best of luck with the next steps. May I recommend, as you source another motor, looking up American Heritage Performance in California for go-fast LS7 components that are built to better spec than OEM.
Also, The Stig laps were incredible, what a way to end a bad day!
My heart goes out to you.
As for video ideas, maybe the film the whole assessment and repair process. What broke, what went wrong, what could have prevented it etc…
That is definitely the plan! (Although things never seem to go according to plan with this project)
Hope you can get sponsors for your channel. Really enjoying the content and eager for each new video
Ah man, that sucks. I feel for you. Keep your head up and don’t give up.
I'm so sorry for what happened to Goldies engine. I agree that your next step should be to understand the failure so you can determine an efficient solution and keep it from happening again. This is just a learning experience and you will come out of it better and smarter than you were before. Just remember to keep Goldie balanced.
Whatever displacement or builder you decide to go with, please make high revving a priority. Good luck!!!
This video brought back some terrible memories - my C5Z did the same thing to me ON THE WAY to the track while driving on the highway, intake valve spring in cylinder 6 gave up and sent the valve straight down 😢 almost 2 years later, she’s still down but getting close to being back on the road! I’m sorry brother.
Ugh! That's terrible. I hope you manage to get back on the road soon. I'm going to try my best to keep my momentum going. Sometimes that's the hardest part.
Hey Josh, I feel you completely here as I just had a rod bearing failure a couple months ago that lost me oil pressure and the factory rods. I'm replacing the factory short block with a forged one from Dart since I'm going for stroked and higher compression n/a build and will probably go for higher power with a decent shot of the good stuff eventually, but that means I have a factory ls7 block and crank that are still good with roughly 29,000 miles (2009) on them so if you end up wanting them let me know and I can arrange shipping with the shop that currently has the car. I personally wouldn't reuse the factory pistons as they are cast and a weak point and the factory block has only proven reliable up to 800 wheel as the cylinder walls are fairly thin to support high cylinder pressure. That's a big reason why people are recommending the ls3 block to use with boost. It definitely is the cheapest of the safest options to support boost.
Hey fellow Josh, thanks for the offer! If it makes sense after I've dug into it I'll look you up. Sorry to hear about your issue but sounds like you're going to have a monster on your hands.
Car problems as an enthusiast always hurt more!! Wish you all the best with getting back up and going as soon as you can. Cars can humble you so quickly its ridiculous.
It was best of times, it was the worst of times… so sorry to hear the LS7 laid down. Like you said, it’s time to see what’s what. I pray your block is intact but they usually don’t survive drop as I understand it.
I’ve heard people talking about swapping an LS3 which might be a lower cost option however I only go that route if it was my only option. But first thing first, what failed needs to be determined.
One step at a time! I feel like a dry-sump LS3 is probably a really prudent option... but I also feel like 7 liters kind of defines the C6Z... Lots of research to do.
@@JoshVanVeld - my first corvette - 98 C5 - LS1 - Vortec V3si - stock internals through an A-4 trans with 3.42 gears. 9lbs boost - stock exhaust manifold - borla cat back -
473 WHP/442 TQ - black wing cold air. 60 lb injectors and beehive valve springs. Basically a stock LS1 with a Vortec V3si and 9 lbs boost. A bullet proof combination. This in stock LS7 territory. I would have been making 500 wheel with a manual trans. Anyway, power & torque is linear. It acts like an ls7. About $8K for kit/install and Dyno tune.
1998 C5 Corvette 0-60 mph in Under 4 sec
ua-cam.com/video/vmAYGxwxqcw/v-deo.html
@@JoshVanVeld - sourced V3 kit through A&A Corvette. They have a great mounting bracket design for the head unit. Never had any issue with belt slip under WOT.
Great video and can’t wait to see Goldie on the track again!
That makes two of us! Thanks man!
There are a lot of good engine builders so you shouldn't have a hard time getting that done, I personally went with LME in Texas, they built Feras's motor who holds the production lap record for almost every big track in the states. One thing I would 100% recommend is going with aftermarket heads. The aftermarket addresses alot of the issues that the stock casting has and are a lot more reliable. Check tolerances every other season (depending on how much you track) and do the necessary oiling upgrades, pan baffle/trap door, bigger tank from lingenfelter, etc. Log your runs and pay attention to oil pressures under braking and corners, that is the best way to know your setup is working right. Another recommendation that I was told from one of the biggest LS shops in the states, in LS7 motors the piston velocity and speed is so immense which puts huge stress on the valve train, invest as much as you can on the valve train and the motor will last a lift time, make sure to do link bar lifters and shaft mounted rockers for valvetrain stability. Good luck!
Thanks for the tips. Feras's car is a monster!
I couldn't take the chance and just got a LS3. Several good blower systems out there for 10k or less. I searched all these forums for literally years and the LS7 bomb is real . If you have one be proactive on the fix.
I'm slowly designing a hybrid-ish dry sump system for this exact reason. Good luck with the rebuild/new build!
Wow. What an opportunity. I don't comment often on videos, but if my input means anything - I say keep on keeping on with the C6Z! I am sort of paralleling your progress as well with my own C5Z that I got in November. My next hurdle is engine cooling - I was just at Thunder Hill and hit 250* with my coolant. I got home and sprung a coolant leak when I took it for gas. Replacing the water pump/thermostat is nothing compared to a blown engine though, obviously. Bring Goldie back to life! Hopefully the interaction with your channel earns you some youtube revenue to put towards the cost to fix her!
Thanks! I had a C5Z and loved it. The LS6 can have oil starvation issues too depending on the track and how hard you're pushing so that's something to be mindful of as well. I appreciate the support 🤜🤛
What an amazing episode!!! Thanks for sharing.
Same thing happened to me with my 2007 Z06 following a track day... Broke a piston land and ended up with micro cracks in the sleeve. I wish I had a more competent shop repair the car. They recommended a TSP427 to replace the LS7. They told me that people do not re-sleeve LS7 blocks (which is not true)... They convinced me to go with the TSP block. It runs fine, revs slower than the LS7 due to heavier rotating assembly (pistons/rods), but it killed the value of the car even though it can hold twice the power of the original block. The LS7, although legendary, is also kind of fragile. I always thought they were indestructible (after valve guide replacement) until I owned one.
Dang man that’s a sad story!
I have a yellow 2006 Z06 that looks just like yours. I bought it with low miles and the previous owners had tracked the car. The heads were in great shape but I was too scared and got them fixed before I went to the track. I am so sorry to hear about your car.
I don’t have much to add other than you should try a lightweight clutch/flywheel. I have one in my c6z and it’s brutal for street driving, but in a road course application it would be terrific. It revs incredibly quickly.
In your case I’d yank the engine out through the top, it’s actually not that difficult. Put in a new rotating assembly, get the heads worked over by AHP, add a small cam and good lifters, good oil pump, some 1-7/8 headers, lightweight clutch, new balancer. And slap it all back in.
I've been wrestling with how much of this I can handle myself. I've never pulled a motor, but there's only one way to learn...
@@JoshVanVeld you got it, it’s really not that bad of a job. I did it with jackstands and I hadn’t wrenched on a car in 15 years. Plus it’ll make for great content.
@@scottjames1904 This is a reasonable path forward. Although I'd add a 2009+ oil tank and rocker trunnions to that mods list!
Tough part is the rotating assembly. You’ll have to find a shop that can do that properly and provide rods, pistons, and a crank. What’s in the ls7 now is likely toast. Fortunately the block is good.
Ha Haaa!! What a great driver that guy was!!! Amazing to see what a true driver can do. Sorry about the Corvette... you're not alone, that's for sure. I hope you get it fixed to the point where you can push it and not worry anymore. IMO it's the only newer Corvette that I would own.
New viewer and subscriber, here. The C6Z platform is definitely worth sticking with! Plenty of engine options available. I'm not sure how forced induction fits into your racing / class plans, but an LS3 with an A&A supercharger setup would definitely be my choice replacement for the LS7. Looking forward to seeing more of your content! Cheers!
Thanks! Definitely not giving up on Goldie. I like naturally-aspirated but I'm not ruling anything out just yet.
I've been this route and I'd suggest sticking to NA. Cooling is already a concern with these cars and adding a SC and intercooler makes it that much worse. Not to mention the significant weight added right over the front hurts handling and braking, less than idea for a track car. If you're looking to make 525-600 rwhp, that can easily be done NA with a H/C/I LS7 with better handling and braking dynamics.
Soooo very sorry to hear that Goldie might have lost the mighty LS7. Crossing my fingers it's something minor in all this but likely will need some serious attention. If you're going to replace the old one with something new then I'd suggest looking through some of the Texas Speed line of engines as I've seen a ton of luck out of those. You could try LMR to get a sponsorship with them on an engine build too or even RPM for that matter. Either way, wishing you the best of luck with the old girl. Sad to see her down and out.
Ugh. Sorry to hear about the motor. There are better days ahead, though riding with The Stig is a hard day to top!
sooner or later it would have happened anyway, from what I read that engine is just like that, it likes to drop valves... even though GM says it's only a limited number of cars...channel is fantastic, you will soon get tons of subscribers. I would put an LS6 in goldie and if you want more power you can work on that motor, car will still be plenty fast even with a standard one, you are a track guy and you know a few horses do not make a huge difference on lap times. keep it up with the great content! ciao
I could be completely way off base here but Texas Speed & Performance could be a good option. I have an 2008 LS3 z51 with 95k miles, if I ever have issues in the future I have been thinking to go that route.
Heads really should have been addressed before anything else.
definitely check out savage goose's video on the LS7.
I think most agree just ponying up for another LS7 is worth it. From there, do the common sense reliability things with oil capacity. Consider a remote reservoir and/or filter to make changes easy in the future. Changing your oil "too" often is worth it long term.
It's well documented that the valve guides in these, esp earlier ones, can have defects and there exist kits with better tolerancing to fix it. Best of luck man.
NOOOOO!!!
Great content as always. Really sucks man. Hate to see it. Best of luck. Unfortunately I’ve been there with the ls7.
Is there a club for blown LS7 owners somewhere I can join?
Hey buddy, I live right there in and Gwinnett county close to you. I have a Z06 as well. LS7 more than likely if you were running stock heads you probably dropped a valve or lifter related ditch those stock castings go aftermarket. Trick flow makes a nice set. That's what I've got on my car. Tony mamo full top end build ,wish you the best. If you need anything I can sure help you with it ✌️
Hey neighbor! Thanks for the tips 😀
Ah man! This is super unfortunate. Great content though.. wasn’t what I was expecting when you said it’d be worth the wait. Just a thought for your next engine, I’m fairly certain all LSX blocks are iron… definitely not what you’re going to want if you wanna keep the weight distribution for track use. You can buy a aluminum 5.3 and have it re-sleeved into a 7.0L again. I am not sure though how it would work with the crank, you may end up with a weird stroke that gives you all the power and no torque or vice versa 🤷♂️ best of luck man. Excited to keep watching… the yellow ‘06 Z I just picked up has the heads fixed with a BTR stage 2 cam and full exhaust. Made 535whp. I will learn from your experience that I will focus on oil cooling and capacity first and foremost. “Improved racing” is a company that makes unreal quality stuff for the Z06 that you’ll wanna check out. Comes highly recommended.
Thanks for the tips! 535 WHP sounds perfect.
You can get a full drysump take our for around 10k if you shop around
I'm going to assume you dropped a valve which is very common in the LS7 (valve guide issue), after seeing all these videos I'm pulling the heads off mine before I drive it again and definitely getting those valve guides fixed. Sorry about your engine, I know that sucks. You could always build an LSX motor and turbo it :P
...coming off the previous video, this one is EPIC, despite being very bittersweet.. I expect this one to become rather legendary as time goes on.
I mean at this point I'm running out of major systems to make mistakes with. Maybe I'll tackle electrical next. 😅
@@JoshVanVeld Or...fuel? I dunno...just spitballing....
I'm sure whatever it is will be an exciting learning opportunity.
@@JoshVanVeld Which is why I crack a beer here in my garage when I see you release a new video. 😆 Just kidding...kinda....
That stinks. Horsepower Research in TX also makes nice LS7 upgrade packages.
I work at Atlanta motorsports park and I remember hearing the motor and seeing the smoke right after. Sorry you lost a motor but I hope to see you back out here turning out laps.
Thanks dude. I feel like I've barely been out there this year and it makes me sad.
@@JoshVanVeld You can always come Karting when you need to scratch the track itch.
Recently drove amp. T1 is bearing killer if the sump is oriented at the rear of engine. The braking + downhill grade throws all the oil to front. I have oil pressure gauge with memory on my e36 saw less than 5psi at turn in with stock oil system.
It's a super technical track to drive, also tough on components, especially if you start pushing the car hard. Turn 6 is rough too - right on the heels of the long turn 3 carousel you have a really hard downhill braking zone that transitions into uphill at the end so you can really dig in with the brakes. I saw -1.3G on my AIM lap timer in the wet with the new tires and brakes right before it blew.
Quick google search shows c6 has room for an accusump mounted in the fender. Pretty smart.
Good attitude about the situation. The LS7 is what makes the C6 Z06 special. Nothing like a 7 liter engine singing at 7k. I think GM makes a LS427/570 wet sump crate engine. You could take the pan off and convert to a dry sump with your existing parts. A 570 horsepower LS7 would be a nice upgrade. Good luck.
I agree, 7 liters and 7K define the C6Z experience. I just need a version that delivers that reliably and still allows me to afford to send my kids to college 😅
from a reliability standpoint i'd be considering a crate LS3 plus a cam, make similar power to stock at a decent price point without overwhelming yourself with a ton of horsepower while you continue to learn on the track. that would be under 10k usd easily, with plenty of headroom for other unexpected costs or extra hop-ups if you really want some more power (head work can get SBE LS3s into the 500+ whp range easily). might not be as "special" as an LS7 but it'd be expensive to replicate in a reliable manner. also wouldnt consider forced induction for a track car, superchargers put out too much heat to comfortably manage and turbos arent viable in the limited space under the hood (plus more components to possibly fail)
That is definitely a smart route to go. It's hard to resist the allure of the 7-liter motor though!
@@JoshVanVeld indeed, you could go for a 416 stroker or similar and still keep it on a budget. or just drop the big bucks for a new 427/440ci monster, wouldnt be the most reliable or economical idea but it'd be fun lol. something based on a dart LS next block would be a good starting point that still stay relatively reasonable cost-wise
Like I said previously, all vettes have basically 0psi of oil pressure under braking. DRY SUMP
With your massive increase in braking and cornering performance (and i assume Hoosiers are next) cooling and oiling for your next LS7 is key. We all know, massive power increase is SEXY, but safe and reliable longevity is the true goal. In the future, show us Goldie's 1000th session video
Really sorry to hear Josh. Having the community add salt to the wound wont help you. But it turned around quickly with Ben and the 488! Happy to see that.
I will second the advice of going with Katech as they built motors for GMs racing program with Pratt and Miller for the GTLM Le Mans series, which dominated the series year over year during the time of the C6. No one else has the pedigree or the experience. I had them redo my LS7 heads. Talk to them about your goals and budget and they can give you options. I kept stock power numbers in the interest of reliability and cost. Maybe a used LS7 with forged rods and their fixed heads would be the most cost effective option.
Thanks! I appreciate the advice, I'll definitely look at Katech more closely. Honestly the community has been stellar and I'm amazed at how few negative comments I've gotten over the course of this project given all the screw-ups I've made 😅
Mast Motorsports Black Label LS7 also in Texas! At least three of what seem to be popular engine shops are in Texas.
A hands on visit to each of the shops to check the reality of each shop & quality matches the online presence.
Imho, I think you should just stick with an LS7 long block crate engine. Especially now they've been discontinued. And see about retrofitting in the 10.5 quart oil system. I've been running my 2013 for 10 plus years and now nearly 120Kmiles, including some time on the track. So far, so good. But, it's not a robust track engine for constant track use. But, perhaps a better solution is a LS3 GS engine with forced induction of some sort. The LS3 has a rep for being nearly indestructible as well as being able to take up to 1000 bhp with little internal upgrading. But, my LS7 is a gem for street and occasional track use. But, probably not suited for the kind of track use you'll be putting on it. I think it's more of a high performance road car engine than an all out track unit....But, maybe with the larger OEM oil tank, it might survive.
Can you dry sump the motor? Awesome video btw- instant sub. Best of luck albeit late!👍
The C6Z has a dry sump from the factory, but it needs to be upgraded for serious road course work.
I once tore a tranny apart, after already purchasing it's replacement. I already had planned to replace the thing but the experience was a complete downer. My replacement is still in the car and still works a charm. DO your rebuild and come back stronger and more reliable ...
So sorry-everyone's nightmare. I have a base C4, Base C5, and Procharged C7 Z51. They have all been on a track, and I was worried about oil starvation on the C4/5. I have been watching your videos as I would love to build a C6 track car. LMR - Late Model Racecraft out of Texas really know what they are doing with Corvettes. He says the LS3 is his favorite motor to build--I suggest you spend a little time on ther website.
Couldn’t bring myself to hit the thumbs up. Sorry on the news as that sucks. I know the ls7s had lifter issues from factory that can result in dropping a valve. Regardless, with all the options out there I have no doubt you can build a powerful and reliable track engine. Wishing you the best and I’ll keep on watching.
@JimLahey-ud1vj thanks. That’s what I was referring to. I have an ls3 in mine and thankfully don’t have that problem.
I actually had a buddy with a C6Z (first one I reviewed for the channel years ago) and his motor got destroyed by either a bad lifter or a broken rocker (hard to tell which one failed first). It's a shame that the LS7 has issues, but it's such an amazing motor. Looking forward to learning a lot more about motors as we push this project forward!
@@JoshVanVeld absolutely!
Josh - an amazing video. Just when you're focused on building a Porsche killer. You had a lap. With the Stig. In a Ferrari. Honestly, you should taking racing classes in a car like Aaron's. You will learn a ton about yourself and racing. You should also watch ChrisFix series on his E46 lemons build. It should give you an idea of what a race build needs to look like.
Thanks! I’ve done quite a bit of endurance racing in Miatas and true race cars really are the way to go if you don’t care about street driving. This might be the final straw in terms of sending Goldie in a much more hardcore direction.
Someday I want to take on an endurance racing build aimed at competing in ChampCar / Lemons / et al.
sorry about your motor man, you'll get Goldie fixed and come back stronger than ever though!
Josh looked like his brain lost blood flow and was about to black out, lol..
🤣🤣
Dang sorry to hear this,I had a feeling you were going to have issues.
I purchased an 09 z06 with 60k almost have 70k now. It has the better larger sump,but I daily drive mine and have the tick and need to do the guides,I bought the che bronE deals for the rockers ,but won't autox it or track it till all those issues are done.
Did you do the black stone oil analysis on your also? Good luck,and don't listen to the guys saying piut an ls3 in that makes the same power,they don't feel the same,with the large bore and stroke.
Ls7 has a 4.0 stroke,ls3 3.622 I believe power can be the same but not feel the same.
I didn’t send an oil sample out but that will be on my checklist in the future. I agree the lower displacement motors just don’t have the same magic… but whatever magic Goldie’s motor had went up in smoke 😅
@@JoshVanVeld I'm in socal,I wish you were close to me ,I'd give you a hand pulling that motor.
A dart blocked ls7 would be sick. Definitely the way to go over a c5.r block
That model/ color Vette would be my ultimate attainable dream car. 996s have the IMS bearing and apparently the Z06 dry sump isn't up to snuf. Bummer.
Find a LS2, put LS3 heads on it along with a zr1 style blower?
Sorry to hear about the bad news. I'm a BMW guy but have recently taken up an obsession for Corvettes, specifically the C6 Z06. If money, time, and resources allow, I encourage you to not give up on the "GT3 Killer" as this channel is one of my many inspirations for wanting a C6Z. Don't know how far you're willing to go but Mast Motorsports makes a de-stroked LS7 that revs to 8500rpm. Worth a look IMO
Holy s*** 8,500 RPM sounds like just what the doctor ordered. I'm sure it costs a pretty penny.
@@JoshVanVeld Don't know what the price is since it's a custom request but definitely prohibitive. If the block isn't toast you could definitely get by and be happy with a refresh of parts and upgraded dry sump. I look forward to seeing the update video, enjoy your evening🍺
@@user-ki8zf1rp1e Mast makes some great stuff for these engines. Their heads would be towards the top of the list for any LS7.
i know the pain of blowing a motor in front of a person you think highly of it sucks. my recommendation for you is to send it to Race Proven Motorsports. they know the ins and outs of the ls7.
Josh. Just saw the video. Probably the combo of the sticky tires, better brakes, and long duration corners caused the starvation and poof. I’m so sorry man. I’ve been there. Top of the world one minute and crashed into the tire wall at VIR the next. I would check with Vengeance as they are local to you. Otherwise a modded LS2 swap would be cheaper as the LS7 is a bit of a unicorn. Just know that you’ll need oiling mods for sticky tires and great brakes. I’ll be watching to see what’s going on!
Thanks Ken. I should have known I was getting too greedy! VIR is no joke, sorry to hear about your run-in with the wall. I might get in touch with Vengeance, they are right down the road.
Wow. Another awesome vid. Sad to see, as this was my favorite build series on UA-cam. I say in order to keep the series going source the other GM LS aluminum block hero engine. The mighty dry sump LS3 with the forged longer crank. These only came in the manual hard top Z16 C6 Grandsports. They are known to be way more dependable than LS7 & can handle more abuse and power than a SBE LS7. They are arguably the best stock bottom end engine GM has ever produced. With a street-able but aggressive heads & cam package you could potentially make more usable power than the stock LS7 for much cheaper. Should be an easy drop in too as this motor has all the same accessories and provisions as the LS7.
I think I just saw a video where LEE C. PARTS salvage yard (scrap life garage on UA-cam) had one in their inventory. Or they can easily be obtained at a lot of yards or the Facebook Vette groups. This would be the fastest, safest, & cheapest solution. Also, if you nail the right heads & cam package you are potentially looking at a net benefit with a faster and more reliable setup.
Goodluck. I would also talk to GPI about the heads cam package if you go this route.
Scrap life garage is a great channel, really cool seeing it blow up lately.
@@JoshVanVeld Yeah I was sleeping on that channel. Love it now. Also, GPI has some LS7 top end fixed heads & cam packages that are made to work with the stock displacement LS3s. If your LS7 heads are salvageable cores post teardown and diagnosis that would save you some cash too on a sick top end. You will get the best of both words in better flowing breathing LS7 top end stuff with the better dependability of a dry sump LS3 short-block. You can also reuse your stock LS7 intake manifold & injectors with this setup. However, I would also send that to GPI so they could port it. This way you can make sure the LS3 with fixed spec'ed LS7 top end is going to put down more power than a bone stock LS7. Probably should have them remote tune it too. This will help make up for the displacement envy of losing out on a 427. Also, I feel keeping a stock GM bottom end fits your theme of building something obtainable to compete with other stock super cars. It will be way less impressive to beat factory cars with a fully built after market motor thats going to dam near cost the price of a C6 itself.
I feel your pain having blown 2 LS7s, I know people say fix the valves/heads and it’s bullet proof but I’ve seen plenty of the built guys drop valves or blow that engine.
I will say I ran in to a guy that opted for a built/cammed LS3, not the same but had been much more reliable for track racing. Food for thought if you continue. I know that 7k redline is heavenly but perhaps that’s the real Achilles Heel of that engine aside from Oil Starvation from the dry sump when you’re beating on it.
Wow, my new goal is to be able to say a year from now that I've only blown ONE LS7. I can't even imagine what the second one feels like.
That seems to be the common theme that's emerging - the LS7 has some really alluring aspects but if you want true reliability for track work, it might not be the best starting point...
I don't think this is going to be an easy decision.
@@JoshVanVeld the Z06 is supposed to be a purpose built track beast but the heart of it can only take so much. Grand sports seem to be the happy medium which I am leaning towards for my next Corvette. One thing I will say is no matter the cost, do what’s gonna make you happy because although I had blown 2 engines, I put 35k hard miles on the car between 11 seconds quarter miles, and a lot of track days. I looked for excuses to drive that car and loved every mile of it. But older wiser me will not do that again haha. Also, make sure to get an extended warranty, 5 years motor power train. That saved my wallet, only had to pay $5k for replacing to oil system out of pocket. The second blown engine was fully covered by the manufacturer warranty on the new engine. Towed straight to the dealer from Leguna Seca and did not void that warranty haha. Good luck with whatever you decide! You have a lot of fans excited for the future regardless 👍🏼
certain vin numbers have bad machined valve guides also titanium valves are abrasive change to stainless steel, also some years had issues with the oil dry sump failure