sorry, no way...

 

Yes, the power of the internet is amazing.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/auto...the-track.html

Yes, the LS3's are quite prone to blown up if you run sticky tires and have tracks with long sweeping turns. It's well documented. I'm not making this up. Plenty of people have spent lots of money on blown up cars.

Maybe novice guys on street tires won't have a problem, but if you drive them fast, and have sticky tires, it's a matter of time unless you accusump the car or go to dry sump.

 

Maybe not in terms of small issues like boost leaks etc. But as far as catastrophic engine failure, I stand by that statement. Especially if the LS7 is modded. I know three people personally who have had their Z07 motor blow up. Have seen three others at the track.



Don't take this as anti-corvette sentiment, because I really love corvette's, I just don't trust them. My built C5R blew up too, so I have a sour taste in my mouth for LS series motors.

 

The day that I bought my turbo from the Porsche dealer there was a C6ZO6 with only 5k miles on it in the dealer for less than the turbo that had 30k miles. I hadn't really considered it, but the salesman mentioned it to me, which means they wanted it out of the dealer. So I drove it. At my altitude, the difference in performance both stock was negligible. The ZO6 had more low end power, but the TT seemed to pull more in the higher gears. But the real difference for me was in the shifter/clutch. The TT's shifter is so much smoother and refined. I could see myself ripping huge chunks of gear in the ZO6 during hard shifts, but the turbo is just so nice and refined. It really wasn't a choice for me. Funny thing is that the ZO6 had been traded in for a CarreraS which is slower than the ZO6. I have seen several vettes traded in at the porsche dealer, but I have not seen any turbo's traded into the chevy dealer locally. That says a lot. Having said that, I think the ZO6 is one of the most iconic american performance cars of all time. Just cam and headwork turns them into supercar killers. So if you are into just performance and nothing else, it's hard to argue with the ZO6.

 

Dez, this says a lot. I may not be a road racer track guy like yourself and some of the others but I know the LSx motors pretty well. Who built your motor? In the past 10+ years there have been some extremely shady shops in the Atlanta area amongst other parts of the country. The oiling and starvation issues in the LSx have been around since its inception really. There are ways to fix it for good though or the C6R corvette would not be so successful in ALMS.

The Vette drive trains are not purpose built for that abuse over time. Upgrading a clutch, cryo treating the gears & syncros, and bigger half shafts on a C6 with do a ton for durability from what I've heard/read. I don’t think you can compare a forged turbo motor & tranny to a stock C6, it's not apples to apples.

 

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Just get a real Porsche a 997 GT3

 

Only the GT3 4.0 will do it,otherwise get a 997tt......amazing

 

I disagree to a point. You are comparing a forged motor to a N/A motor which is what the topic of conversation is about. You know me Jimmy and I would take a Z06 in a heartbeat. I think it is one of the best looking corvettes ever built. I know my C5 Z06 was a different generation but that car did everything well. I think my overall feeling after owning both cars is that you have to pay to play. If you are going to truly enjoy a car you need to at least take it to the track once. But if you are really going to get the most out of your car there are going to be things that break. Are most U.S. made cars more prone to breaking? Yes. Will I keep buying American even though I think unions are pieces of shi*? Yes.

 

I also want to cast my vote for the 996 turbo. With a little money you can make them a real performer on the track. I think the C6 Z06 is a close second, very close!

 

MTI of Houston built it the first time (out of business, and deservedly so), I had them put the best of EVERYTHING in that thing (BOOM), then MTI of Atlanta (no affiliation) started from scratch and built it. Same result. Kaboom. Yes, I know it was a heavily built high hp motor and has nothing to do with stock, lightly modded motors. This is just my angst for getting hosed.


The C6R's biggest problem last year was their motor's and reliability. The cars were plenty fast enough, and for their standards, they did not do all that well last year. The problem was that last year, I believe GM did not have Katech make the motors, they made them themselves, this year I think they are going back to Katech.

My opinion is that Vette drive trains (at LEAST Z06) should in fact be built for that kind of abuse, it's America's Iconic sports car. LS3's don't have to be bullet proof, but they should not be going like they are and should be better suited for the track. Seems like the ZR-1 hasn't had any problems with blowing up, and it's got more forged internals. I hope that technology helps the next generation of Corvette's. GM is putting 100m into Bowling Green, I hope they built better engines for the C7. I can live with anything but a motor that could go kaboom at any time. The LS6 has still been the best NA motor GM has put out IMO.

 

I was going to guess you'd say one of the MTI's but not both. I could write a book in this thread regarding MTI (Marietta) and how many people want that crook in jail or much, much worse. I learned the hard way as well on the credible shops around town and found one FINALLY to work on my C6.

I agree on the C6R trouble last year in the GT2 class. Making their own motors was a step backwards after Katech.

I'd heard of several LS7's fragging at the drag strip and road courses but I didn't hear anything about the LS3's. I'll cave a little in that the Z06 should be more track capable than it's seemingly showing to be if people are torching the motors, tranny's and rear-ends. I remeber in 08 seeing some instructors at Road Atlanta just beasting the hell out of a new LS3 C6 Z51 and it took the abuse without a hitch. Tapp was with me....

 

I have gone from Supra T78 -> Corvette C6 Z06 -> 996tt

See more pictures here: www.garaget.org/ulrik



// André

 

i went from an almost 800rwhp vette to a 996tt and i dont regret it at all. its a different kinda car. better almost in every way. though for the money the vette is a great car u cant compare the 2. remember these cars sold for 120k plus for a reason new

 

Doesn't matter, he has an 08...it has only straight pipes...the car has a 100k powertrain warranty. He blows the motor it gets fixed, you blow the motor on an out of warranty TT may God help your wallet!

I agree, since a motor failure now would cost him 0 dollars.

I assure you a TT modified the way he wants to modify it does not beat a Z06 still under warranty in reliability.

Yes it not only amazing but WRONG!

Yeah GM put a 100k powertrain warranty on an engine that grenades every time you even look at it cross....



I think you are wrong, ever priced out what an LS7 costs compared to a Metzger motor? You blow a 996 TT engine in a $40k TT you may as well just write the car off.

Agreed, also as the OP's car is modified now he can beat on it for many more miles and its still under warranty.

For an occasional track car, personally I would not sell a car still under warranty that is fast enough for another car out of warranty that would be modified. The Metzger motor is a game changer when running right, but a failure is a wallet changer!