LS2 Valve springs

[Z06rydah]

Ok, I own a 03 Z06 and back in August I fell victim to the Broken Valve spring issue the C5 Z06's have. I got away cheap with only the spring and retainer getting damaged. So I replaced just that one spring and retainer( A buddy let me have one of his springs since his heads were off his engine). Now with that said, I have a buddy that did a cam swap on his LS2 GTO about 4 months ago. So what I was thinking, is putting his Stock LS2 Springs on my LS6. Has anyone heard of this swap? Is the LS2 Spring better than the springs that came on the 01 through 03's? I know that in 04, GM upgraded the yellow springs because of the issues the 02 and 03's where having, but yet never made it a RECALL! I was doing some research and I read that these are better springs than the ones I got on my engine right now. I also heard that people where actually changing out the Stock LS6 springs for the LS2 springs to avoid the broken spring issue. Any info you may have on this will be very helpful. Thanks

[PerforminNorman]

Since the LS2 heads are the same 243 castings that were used on the LS6, I'd assume they are the same springs. I don't think you'll gain anything from the swap.

I could be wrong. If anyones knows better please chime in.

[seamus2154]

I don't think he is trying to gain more like protect Norm. Insurance really. I read on anothe rforum that the LS2 spring and the 04 LS6 spring are a "better spring" and the replacement for the 02-03 spring which has most of the problems.

[PerforminNorman]

Originally Posted by seamus2154

I don't think he is trying to gain more like protect Norm. Insurance really. I read on anothe rforum that the LS2 spring and the 04 LS6 spring are a "better spring" and the replacement for the 02-03 spring which has most of the problems.

Gotcha. I wasn't aware of the changes. I thought all the LS6 and LS2 springs were the same.


Btw when I said "Gain" I meant, I thought he'd be in the same boat as I thought the springs were the same. If the 04 LS6 and LS2 springs are better than it would be a gain over the earlier. Get where I'm coming from?

[Z06rydah]

Originally Posted by PerforminNorman

Since the LS2 heads are the same 243 castings that were used on the LS6, I'd assume they are the same springs. I don't think you'll gain anything from the swap.

I could be wrong. If anyones knows better please chime in.

I am resarching this because a buddy of mine has a set with like 10K miles on them and will be cheap insurance for me.

Originally Posted by seamus2154

I don't think he is trying to gain more like protect Norm. Insurance really. I read on anothe rforum that the LS2 spring and the 04 LS6 spring are a "better spring" and the replacement for the 02-03 spring which has most of the problems.

Thats what I had read too, but not sure if it will hold up to the stock cam of the LS6.

[ZO6 Bryan]

If you have an '03 Z06, then you already have the better springs. Only the '01 Z06 had the old style spring.

[Z06rydah]

Originally Posted by ZO6 Bryan

If you have an '03 Z06, then you already have the better springs. Only the '01 Z06 had the old style spring.

I believe the 01 Z's had no problems with the valve spring issue due to the lift not being as big as the 02 and 03's. It affected the 02 and 03's more than the 01's and 04's. In 04, GM upgraded the springs for the Z's due to the issues the 02 and 03's where having. I read in a article that the LS6 had the biggest valve lift in any GM small block production car. I believe it has a 550 lift if im not mistaken.

[ZO6 Bryan]

Originally Posted by Z06rydah

I believe the 01 Z's had no problems with the valve spring issue due to the lift not being as big as the 02 and 03's. It affected the 02 and 03's more than the 01's and 04's. In 04, GM upgraded the springs for the Z's due to the issues the 02 and 03's where having. I read in a article that the LS6 had the biggest valve lift in any GM small block production car. I believe it has a 550 lift if im not mistaken.

I have a set of the yellow stripe springs right here that came out of my '02 Z06. Changed to the comp 918's when I did a cam. They are the same spring as the '04s

[Z06rydah]

Originally Posted by ZO6 Bryan

I have a set of the yellow stripe springs right here that came out of my '02 Z06. Changed to the comp 918's when I did a cam. They are the same spring as the '04s

Yes, all springs are yellow. The ones on the 04's and up, replaced the 01 through 03 springs due to them breaking, and GM didnt even make a recall on them. On LS2 egines, the valve springs are yellow too, same ones that came on the 04's. All this info is what I have read since I bought my Z. I didnt think it this valve spring issue would happen to me, I guess I was wrong.