opinions and input needed.

[ricky_ZL1]

Its probably been beat around before, but I've seen about this 1500 mile brakein? should the dealer have told me about this? can i just drive it like I stole it? Its killing me to stay below 80! Also i want to start some odds and ends like pulley, CAI, and a tune. i live in central TX. Anyone have advice?

[The Stig]

It's in the owner's manual, so don't think the dealer really needs to mention it. But it's up to you whether or not you follow GM's break in procedure.

[ricky_ZL1]

That's where I found it.

[RedZL1]

Ricky, you will find people on both sides of the aisle on this topic. There are many people who have dropped the hammer right out of the gate, did not adhere to the 1500 mile break-in procedure, and have stated they have not had any issues.

I followed the break-in precedure and have to admit, it was extremely difficult to show restraint.

As Stig said, do what you're comfortable with.

[BeachBum]

Originally Posted by RedZL1

Ricky, you will find people on both sides of the aisle on this topic. There are many people who have dropped the hammer right out of the gate, did not adhere to the 1500 mile break-in procedure, and have stated they have not had any issues.

I followed the break-in precedure and have to admit, it was extremely difficult to show restraint.

As Stig said, do what you're comfortable with.

I Too Followed The Prescribed Break-In Period Thing - At 1500 Miles I Took The car Back To My Dealer Had It Serviced With A Complete Fluid Change-Out Of Engine, Trans, Rear End, And had The Dealer Flash The Computer So They Knew I Had Done It To The Book - I've Had NO Problems With Anything And "Baby" Runs Terriffic

[michaelfaucher]

We pretty much hit engines hard right out of the gate. We've done this with both scratch build engine and crate as well as any car that I've bought new (only a few). In twenty years I have never seen and engine failure that could be contributed to this.

[hawk02]

Originally Posted by ricky_ZL1

Its probably been beat around before, but I've seen about this 1500 mile brakein? should the dealer have told me about this? can i just drive it like I stole it? Its killing me to stay below 80! Also i want to start some odds and ends like pulley, CAI, and a tune. i live in central TX. Anyone have advice?

Yep, it's been beaten around pretty good.

As RedZL1 pointed out, there are folks on both sides of the aisle on this topic.

All I can say is Scott Settlemire (the Godfather of the F-Body) who works for Chevrolet has posted numerous times on this board the importance of following the recommended 1500 mile break-in period.

http://www.camaro5.com/forums/showth...=295112&page=2 See post #49.

Bottom line It's your car and you can treat it however you want. Personally, I followed the 1500 mile break-in.

As far as mods, my recommendation would be to wait until you car has 1500 or more miles on it. That way you'd hopefully catch any premature part failures while you still had a power train warranty. Once you tune the car, your power train warranty will be bye bye.

I waited until I had 2500 miles before starting any mods.

[ricky_ZL1]

Thanks for all the input. Airmail recommends tuning for their CAI.

[HDRDTD]

Among other items mentioned in The Great Warranty Debate, is the possibility that the breakin period may not be all about the mechanical parts. It may also be a breakin period for the driver. This car has some awesome power straight from the factory, and it can get out of your hands in a heart beat if you're not respectfull of it.
Thus, perhaps they want the driver to get a feeling for just what this car can do, before you just drive-iti-like-you-stole-it.

Learn what it can do carefully, before you truely put the hammer down.

[michaelfaucher]

Originally Posted by HDRDTD

Among other items mentioned in The Great Warranty Debate, is the possibility that the breakin period may not be all about the mechanical parts. It may also be a breakin period for the driver. This car has some awesome power straight from the factory, and it can get out of your hands in a heart beat if you're not respectfull of it.
Thus, perhaps they want the driver to get a feeling for just what this car can do, before you just drive-iti-like-you-stole-it.

Learn what it can do carefully, before you truely put the hammer down.

That is a good point..... Here is the result of a ZR1 getting away from one of our customers. The good news is Carbon fiber holds up well in a crash.

[BigBoyBlue]

My BMW mechanic told me that the break in is not necessary anymore, as the engines are so advanced now. I didn't follow any break in with my 2 M3s and they were golden the whole time.

I have followed the break in for my ZL1. Being that the weather has been so cold, I really haven't had a choice.

Food for thought: if your car came with a couple miles on it, do you think the test driver babied it? I worry about that for my car, as it came with 150 miles on it.

[BigBoyBlue]

Originally Posted by michaelfaucher

That is a good point..... Here is the result of a ZR1 getting away from one of our customers. The good news is Carbon fiber holds up well in a crash.

Ugggh!! Is that considered totaled? The damage does not look very bad, but I know it can be misleading. If my car was in an accident like this, I'd hope it was totaled. I'm way too anal with my cars to have that much work have to be done on it.

[michaelfaucher]

Originally Posted by BigBoyBlue

Ugggh!! Is that considered totaled? The damage does not look very bad, but I know it can be misleading. If my car was in an accident like this, I'd hope it was totaled. I'm way too anal with my cars to have that much work have to be done on it.

No it was not.... but then again it didn't go through the insurance either. That is why we were the ones to do the repairs. He did not want it on record (big hit on value of a $120k car if its been wrecked). He also didn't trust a normal collision shop.

The cool thing is I got to put about 50 back country miles on it.....

[ZMEnow]

Originally Posted by ricky_ZL1

Its probably been beat around before, but I've seen about this 1500 mile brakein? should the dealer have told me about this? can i just drive it like I stole it? Its killing me to stay below 80! Also i want to start some odds and ends like pulley, CAI, and a tune. i live in central TX. Anyone have advice?

Nothing to do with the motor, it's the rear end that needs to get seated according to a couple of Milford proving ground tech engineers that I talked to about it on Woodward. Only rear end made to take endless hole shots and track use combined.