A synopsis of the changes to the 86 Vette taken from Cor-Vette Specs C4.
The convertible ruturned as an option for the first time since 1975. Also new were aluminum heads on all verts and the last 8,594 coupes. VATS was standard. Bright Yellow was added as an exterior color option. The upshift light added to instrument cluster. A high mount center brake light was added. Instrument panel was tilted to reduce glare. Master cylinder went to a "bowl-in-bowl" design instead of 2 seperate bowls. Early aluminum heads had a problem with cracking around the head bolts. Electronic AC was not available until halfway through production.
50 Malcom Konner editions were built in 1986. They were painted Silver Beige over Black and had special badging. The actual paint code of these cars was "spec" and Chevrolet records indicate 51 "spec" code Corvettes built so there's either an extra one of the Konner paint combinations out there, a primer-only, or a color entirely different from 1986's oficial chart. Fuel tank capacity dropped from 20 gal to 18 gal. 1986 was the first year for a dual targa top option (RPO C2L). Previously you could get a painted or see-through targa but not both.
All 1986 convertibles were designated to be Indy Pace Car replicas. The actual car that paced the race was yellow, a new 1986 color. Indy decals were included with all convertibles, but installation was at the owner's discretion. The frame for the vert top is made of aluminum. All verts were produced with 9 1/2" wheels and the tire pressure was listed as 30psi instead of the coupe's 35psi for a supple ride. The convertibles received extra bracing. Car and Driver put it on its "Top 10" list and said, "It normally takes General Motors three years to get anyy new car right, and the three-year-old Corvette is deliciously, gloriously, rule-the-roads-at-150-mph right!"

 

...only a few more chapters to go Ron

 

O.k.

 

I have at least 7 more days to work at the Breast Care Service Center as a greeter. They do lab draws there too and one of the young mom's sat down across from me and whipped the left one out and plugged her son in. I know this is totally natural but I was a bit uncomfortable.

 

I'd be tempted to unzip and start peeing in the corner. This too is a natural act. So who the heck let this fairer sex have permission to embarrass others?

 

That's news to me. As with a lot of that stuff.

 

I saw that at the DMV in Arvin, CA. I wasn't just uncomfortable, I was terrified. Her baby must be blind.

 

Wonder why the drop from a 20 gallon tank to an 18 gallon tank.

 

Better fuel mileage maybe.

Damn, makes this 28mpg that much more enjoyable on a 20 gallon tank knowing you don't have one.

 

'86 verts with manual AC controls also got an Indy badge in place of the "Hot/Cold" ****. The function of that **** was relocated as a slide adjustment below the other one, to make room for the badge.

 

My 85 has the hot-cold there too. My rear defrost switch is where that Indy logo is. The verts don't have rear defrost, so that's a dead space for the 86 manual-ac verts only. I guess they just used that to cover up the ugly hole.

 

That's right. It was the rear defroster us vert guys don't have. Thanks for the correction.

 

A cosmetic difference between the 85 and 86 are the wheel center caps - Black in 1985. Polished in 1986.