Aluminum Heads 1986 Vette

[Rock Doc]

Hello, I have a 1986 vert. How do you tell if you have the aluminum heads? If my car has iron heads can they be switched to aluminum heads? I have come across some aluminum heads and was wondering if going from iron to aluminum would be worth buying the aluminum heads? Thanks

 

[c4cruiser]

All 86 verts received aluminum heads. Coupes got them late in the production year and all C4's after that got aluminum heads. The heads should have a silvery look to them and of course a magnet will not stick to them.

 

[Mart]

Better yet do theyhave center bolt valve covers or side bolts.

But C4Cruiser is correct all Verts had aluminum heads.

Cheers to all 86 owners

Mart

 

[rrubel]

To answer your second question, it wouldn't be worth switching heads just for the sake of switching heads... You would save about 40 lbs in weight and have to buy different valve covers and gaskets. Maybe a couple HP in performance.

But since you've already got AL heads from the factory, doesn't really matter anyway...
[RICHR]

 

[Rock Doc]

Thanks for the replys. Now that I will not be buying the heads since I have them already, I can spend the money on other things for my car!!!

Thanks, Rock Doc

 

[vetteboy86]

I guess another CAC member's question answered by us 86 owners.

Craig

 

[corvette66]

Wait a minute. I have an 86 it has iron heads, the aluminum heads did not start till the late model 86's.

 

[corvette66]

oh wait, did all the convertibles have aluminum heads in 86?????

 

[Ken]

oh wait, did all the convertibles have aluminum heads in 86?????

Yes.

 

[vetteboy86]

All verts in 86 had Al heads because they were released later in the model year. The 86 vert was the first since 75. When the Al heads went into the verts, they also went into the late 86 coupes. So if you have an early 86 coupe you have iron heads. However a late 86 coupe has Al heads. I am not sure what the cut off dates are but I would love to find out.

Craig

 

[corvette66]

Mine was built on 5-11-85. looks like it anyway, hard to make out the nubers this many years later. Is there any other way to check the date other than the door?

 

[Ken]

From Mike Antonick's book ...

Corvette Specs:

The Corvettes driven by journalists at the July 1985 press event for 1986 models had new alumnum cylinder heads which were highly touted in the press materials. But two weeks after the preview, Chevrolet sent a letter to the media announcing the new heads would not be on 1986 production models initially because of quality problems. The heads were redesigned and did make it in time for installation on all 1986 convertibles. Of 27,794 1986 coupes built, the last 8,594 had aluminum heads. For the record, here is the exact wording of the aluminum head delay letter from Chevrolet Public Relations.

Introduction of aluminum heads #9428 sent 08/01/85:

WARREN, MI - Introduction of aluminum cylinder heads on Chevrolet's 1986 Corvette will be delayed while the heads are redesigned to eliminate a cracking condition around the head attachment bosses.

As a result, early-production '86 Corvettes will be equipped with cast iron heads.

Castings in the water jacket area of the aluminum heads had been thinned intentionally to reduce mass and improve cooling. Durability tests revealed the thinning weakened the structure enough to allow the bosses to crack under high stress.

Design of the heads has been revised to alleviate the problem, and they will be placed in production as soon as testing confirms their integrity.

 

[vetteboy86]

I wonder who has the first coupe and vert to roll off the line with the Al heads? I guess we might never know. I guess the person with number 19,200 or somehwere around there for coupes and number 00001 for verts. My vert was # 02246. Kind of neat, I guess I am just a nerd for this stuff.

Craig

 

[Mart]

I hear ya Vetteboy86, Nerd #09846 here. iron head, Z51

And lovin it!!!!!!!

Mart