Cylinder Head [Vanagon]

Stress-Riser-B-Gone! A new exclusive feature on all GoWesty cylinder heads starting December 2025! Every GoWesty head now includes an additional factory machining process that eliminates a known stress riser found on all AMC heads. See images for a visual explanation. Yeah—GoWesty’s got your back… and your head!

If you need to replace the cylinder heads on your waterboxer, you’ve come to the right place. We offer two excellent options:
• A complete AMC cylinder head assembly, delivered “right out of the box” and fully assembled by AMC—at the best price you’ll find anywhere.
• A GoWesty–enhanced AMC cylinder head—thoroughly inspected and upgraded by us—for no more than what some retailers charge for the standard AMC head.

Fits: All 1983–91 waterboxers. Sold individually. Two required per engine.

Options (select from the drop-down menu):

• AMC Unmodified - NEW AMC complete cylinder head assembly, as delivered from Spain*
• GoWesty Modified - NEW AMC complete cylinder head assembly, fully inspected and upgraded by GoWesty

*You can buy an AMC waterboxer cylinder head from many suppliers, but buyer beware: while the Spanish AMC casting is the best available, the complete AMC assembly is not as good as it can be right out of the box. If you’re investing in new cylinder heads, we strongly recommend going the extra mile and choosing our GoWesty-built version.

We purchase AMC cylinder heads directly from the source, in bulk, as complete, ready-to-bolt-on assemblies. These heads include the exclusive GoWesty Stress-Riser-B-Gone feature. The AMC-built heads we sell are identical to what you can buy anywhere else (we never even open the box!)—except for the price. Because we buy directly from AMC, we simply can’t be beat. And as a bonus, you get our added stress-riser–elimination machining found only on GoWesty heads.

GoWesty-Built AMC Heads Receive the Following Treatment:

• Unbox and completely disassemble
• Measure valve guide clearance
• Measure valve seat eccentricity; perform a three-angle valve grind as needed
• Measure cylinder counterbore depth
• Blend valve seat to combustion chamber using a radius cutter
• Sand/blend areas between valve seats and around spark plugs
• Measure and polish valve stems
• Face valves
• Final clean and reassemble

The result is a cylinder head that is better than the standard AMC assembly, vastly superior to the original Volkswagen head in every respect, and better than any other cylinder head available anywhere.

It’s often said, “You get what you pay for,” but that’s not always true. Many retailers sell the same AMC-built cylinder heads—without even opening the box—at the same price or even higher than our GoWesty-built heads, which include our exclusive stress reduction feature. Nobody knows the waterboxer better than we do, and our experience delivers genuine added value. Buying a GoWesty AMC cylinder head is money well spent.

Bottom line: You can get a better out-of-the-box AMC head at GoWesty for a lower price than anywhere else—guaranteed. And in many cases, even our fully GoWesty-built AMC head costs less than what some places charge for a standard, untouched AMC head.

Do it once. Do it right.

Click here to read the full cylinder head story!