Really deep disturbing questions

[unleadedbrew]

Just 2 short questions........In '86 did any come from the factory with Z51 suspension without being a Z51? :confused

Was there a reason that some stock rims for '84 thru '87 came with black centers and others with polished centers? :confused

Inquiring minds want to know (I use the term 'mind' loosely)

:J

 

[bowmanm]

The center caps changed with the year of the vehicle.

 

[Ken]

Center sections and radial slots of 1987 wheels were painted argent gray. 1986 wheel centers were not painted. Centers and radial slots for 1984 and 1985 were painted black. Dictated by styling.

As for the numbers of Corvettes equipped with Z-51 options, yet "without being a Z-51" car... Well, it looks like inquiring minds will continue to "want to know." :L

 

[Edmond]

As for the numbers of Corvettes equipped with Z-51 options, yet "without being a Z-51" car... Well, it looks like inquiring minds will continue to "want to know." :L

:L:L:L I don't know what to make of that either!

 

[RedRagTop]

In 88 a Z51 or Z52 came with 17" rims for the first time. Easy to tell if a car had it. As for '86 if it has the Z51 factory parts, it must be a Z51 car. You can get your window sticker from the museum...

 

[rrubel]

My '86 has *almost* all the Z51 parts, but is not a Z51. You could RPO all the Z51 stuff separately EXCEPT for the steering rack and the springs/swaybars. Supposedly you could get the 9.5" wheels all around as an RPO, but I don't know the number. The rest of the package was the Bilstein shocks, the oil cooler, the heavy-duty radiator, and the extra fan, which were all separate options as well.
[RICHR]

 

[c4cruiser]

Didn't Z51 cars also come with welded-on stiffeners at certain points on the frame? While you can add Z51 components (springs, shocks,etc.), those stiiffener parts would be pretty hard to add on to a car.

 

[thom]

I bought my 86 new, didn't pick from dealer stock, but ordered it with all the Z51 stuff which includes the following: heavy-duty radiator, engine oil cooler, radiator boost fan, bilstein shocks, 3:07 perf rear, and perf ratio steering....basically, it has all Z51 stuff EXCEPT for the stiffer springs, 9.5 wide rims, and other suspension parts like sway bars and bushings..

Hope this helps, any questions let know

Thom

 

[rrubel]

Thom, what was the RPO for the performance steering ratio? Didn't know you could order that separately... wish mine had it.
[RICHR]

 

[thom]

Thom, what was the RPO for the performance steering ratio? Didn't know you could order that separately... wish mine had it.
[RICHR]

rrubel,

I just check my original window sticker, and build sheet, neither show a specific RPO for the perf ratio steering, which has me a bit confused.. maybe with the 3.07 rear, GM threw-in the perf steering ratio. What rear ratio do you have.?

On the build sheet in block #20 titled 'STEERING' has a column titled 'GEAR" with the letters 'CA' printed..

Mines a LATE 86, last 5 on Vin# 26841, wonder if this is rare, a GM mistake or what ?? Do you know of other, nonZ51 vettes with perf ratio steering ?

Thom

 

[unleadedbrew]

Well, got a lot of good info from you'se guys. Thanks a heap. The reason for the Z51 question was that I read that 12821 '86 vettes had Z51 (RPO #) Performance Handling Packages but that only 7000?+ Z51s were produced, and all that had "that" package came with 9.5/16s all around. I wasn't sure if mine came like that or someone had upgraded it. After consulting my ID spec sheet, which I should have done at first, I had my answer. (I'd much rather read what ya'll have to say, tho.)

 

[rrubel]

maybe with the 3.07 rear, GM threw-in the perf steering ratio. What rear ratio do you have.?

I've got a 4+3, which only came with the 3.07.

Mines a LATE 86, last 5 on Vin# 26841, wonder if this is rare, a GM mistake or what ?? Do you know of other, nonZ51 vettes with perf ratio steering ?

No, I wasn't aware of any others with the performance ratio; it's usually mentioned as part of the Z-51 package.
[RICHR]

 

[88Z51]

I read that 12821 '86 vettes had Z51 (RPO #) Performance Handling Packages but that only 7000?+ Z51s were produced

Call me stupid, but I'm not following this statement. :confused

Greg.

 

[RedRagTop]

You can look it up here in the tech center...

 

[unleadedbrew]

What it boils down to is that I am just now learning that you didn't have to get a Z51 per se, to get a lot of the goodies. My car has just about the same things that Rich's car does. I'm still new at this and learning all I can, so if it seems like a dumb question, it probably is. s

 

[88Z51]

You can look it up here in the tech center...

It shows 12,821 made in 1986. I can't find the conflicting 7000 number.........

 

[unleadedbrew]

You're right and I'm still trying to find the site where I read it.
Bear with me.
Gordon