shout for help to all of my L81'er brothers and sisters

[GerryLP]

Well people,

I just got the call from the engine shop. My L81 heads are cracked at the middle where the two exhaust valves are next to each other :ugh :confused :cry ad .

Therefore, that means that I am on the the market for L81 heads. Please let me know if you have any that you can part with. If you have info, then please feel free to contact me or even post a reply. Thanks!

GerryLP:cool

 

[bill81vette]

WOW!!! What a bummer!!!!! :ugh
do you need both heads or just one ,and do you want specific casting numbers or just and SBC from that generation???

I'll look around on this side and see what I can come up with!!!

 

[GerryLP]

WOW!!! What a bummer!!!!! :ugh
do you need both heads or just one ,and do you want specific casting numbers or just and SBC from that generation???

I'll look around on this side and see what I can come up with!!!

Hey Bill, Thanks!

Both of the heads are cracked, and I don't know what the date code on the heads are yet, but definitely I am looking for correct casting numbers, and if I am lucky, then I'll hold my options open for the correct date code as well, but I have not had the need before to find some, so I am not sure how easy or difficult it will be.


GerryLP:cool

 

[bill81vette]

If worse come to worse try to get a couple of heads to get it running,plus it would buy you some time to perhaps find the right date codes!!!!!!!

 

[gedmeyer]

I had a similar issue when I had my engine redone 2 winters ago. I think the passenger side head had a crack by the valves. Apparently this is a fairly common thing to happen to these castings.

Good news is that these heads are very common. My engine guy actually had one laying around his shop, so he gave it to me for free.

I wouldn't worry too much. If anything, I'd look to this as an opportunity to put some nicer heads on.

-tim

 

[LannyL81]

Have stock L81 heads 4 sale

Well people,

I just got the call from the engine shop. My L81 heads are cracked at the middle where the two exhaust valves are next to each other :ugh :confused :cry ad .

Therefore, that means that I am on the the market for L81 heads. Please let me know if you have any that you can part with. If you have info, then please feel free to contact me or even post a reply. Thanks!

GerryLP:cool

Hey Gerry,
If you are needing a pair of stock L81 heads...624 castings...I have a pair that have been cleaned and checked for cracks...none. There are no valves or anything...just bare heads. I just want to get them out of the garage. Let me know if interested.

email is deanvette@comcast.net

LannyL81

 

[GerryLP]

Hey Gerry,
If you are needing a pair of stock L81 heads...624 castings...I have a pair that have been cleaned and checked for cracks...none. There are no valves or anything...just bare heads. I just want to get them out of the garage. Let me know if interested.

email is deanvette@comcast.net

LannyL81

Hey Lanny...You got mail! Thanks! I hate to take those as freeby just like that. I got some parts that I could offer you in trade (like a pair of used slicks (nascar type)), or perhaps you need a lightly used 6AL MSD box or something....


GerryLP:cool

 

[GerryLP]

If worse come to worse try to get a couple of heads to get it running,plus it would buy you some time to perhaps find the right date codes!!!!!!!

Billy,

The date codes are: L180 (December 18, 1980) and A281 (January 28th, 1981). They were casted during the day-shift (slot-head screw on the clock and pointing to the first hour i.e. double dots).

The build Date of my car is February 23rd, 1981, so her 25th birthday's approaching...

GerryLP:cool

 

[bill81vette]

OK Thanks,I will start checking around here,maybe lanny's will have the right codes....

 

[GerryLP]

OK Thanks,I will start checking around here,maybe lanny's will have the right codes....

Billy,

You're an NCRS member, and I have this question: How important is it if a set of heads were casted 2 - 3 days after my Vette's official build date?

Lanny has a set of heads that were casted 25th and 26th of February of 1981. My car's build date is 23rd of February.

I mean, my car does not meet NCRS rules in other features. It would take a pretty penny to make it meet NCRS rules anyway, so would this heads be considered along the lines of New old stock?

The day that my L81 becomes a collectible will probably be when my granddaughter Zoe gets her daughter-to-be in college anyway, right?

GerryLP:cool

 

[bill81vette]

Gerry, I was checking that the other day,and according to the tech manual,They dont judge the head b/c the casting #'s and date codes are under the valve cover.

If your serious about keeping it as original as possible then I would use those heads for now and look for heads that were date coded within a 2 month time frame prior to your vette being built and eventually replace them with the correct codes...

I need to change my valve cover gaskets on mine so I'll check to see what mine are just for FYI

 

[GerryLP]

Gerry, I was checking that the other day,and according to the tech manual,They dont judge the head b/c the casting #'s and date codes are under the valve cover.

If your serious about keeping it as original as possible then I would use those heads for now and look for heads that were date coded within a 2 month time frame prior to your vette being built and eventually replace them with the correct codes...

I need to change my valve cover gaskets on mine so I'll check to see what mine are just for FYI

Billy,

Thanks for the information. I feel the same way. At a minimum the casting numbers would be correct. What the NCRS book says about NOS parts? I suspect that a NOS part would also not meet the date requirements -don't you think?

GerryLP:cool

 

[bill81vette]

Gerry, the tech book mentions nothing about NOS parts.If the part were indeed correct and the part that it is supposed to be,What would be the difference would it be if it were NOS or a used part picked up at swap meet or a junk yard.
As long as the part is correct for the vehicle when it was delivered to the original buyer,I believe that is all that matters.
JMO

 

[GerryLP]

Gerry, the tech book mentions nothing about NOS parts.If the part were indeed correct and the part that it is supposed to be,What would be the difference would it be if it were NOS or a used part picked up at swap meet or a junk yard.
As long as the part is correct for the vehicle when it was delivered to the original buyer,I believe that is all that matters.
JMO

Thanks Billy,

I see what you mean. I have sent several e-mails to various Vette used parts suppliers, and I already have a negative response from Tracyvette.com. I should know by Tuesday (at the latest) how difficult or fair it will be to match (or at least come close to the original heads) date codes.

I am waiting on corvettespecialties.com ; corvettestop.com; gulfcoastcorvette.com; artscorvetteparts.com; corvetteparts.com.

Lanny was gracious to give me a few days on this search. If it all turns-out a big negative response, then I'll purchase our buddy Lanny's L81 heads. Heck, if these dot.com places want too much money, then I'll be persuaded to give-up my wish to match the original dates.

Thanks!

GerryLP:cool

 

[vette333]

Cracked Heads

I don't mean to be negative but I would question a machine shop that tells you both heads are cracked.

Vette333

 

[GerryLP]

I don't mean to be negative but I would question a machine shop that tells you both heads are cracked.

Vette333

333,

I know what you mean; however, I read in one of my casting number books that the 468624 head was vulnerable to cracking due to "an added heat cross-over...redesigned exhaust port [that] did reduced emmisions and raised temperatures...flame-hardening of the exhaust seats to keep them from erroding...and a lightening binge" all contributed to a rash of cracking heads. The cracks formed around the seat of the center exhaust cylinders (Chevrolet Small Block V8 Id Guide, Pierre LaFontaine, Motorbooks Workshop, p. 34.)

Apparently these traits were inherited from the 333882 and 3932454 heads.

Besides, I did go over to the shop, and they did show me the cracks. I will also be getting the old heads back.

GerryLP:cool