A question about sbc heads

[Otto138]

Hey Everybody,

Would a set of "fuelie" heads be worth rebuilding? I am new to the SBC, and they come with the block. If they are not worth it what should I keep my eyes open for?

Otto

[briggs&strattonChev]

I hope this post goes better than the one a few days ago hahahahahaha....................

what year are these heads? Ive heard that any heads from the 70's are fuelies, and ive also heard that 87-95s are fuelies. Are yours 2.02's or camelbacks?

[Otto138]

Hey,

They are on a late 60's 307 block. I think that they are camel hump heads? I am doing this as a budget motor to get my truck going again...so I want to make some torque, and enough horse to have fun in and around town.

Otto

[briggs&strattonChev]

if they are camel hump they are good heads, but look into the cost of rebuilding them. Idk, it might be about the same price to get a new set of either vortec or 87-95 heads. 87-current might be the best idea. These heads will have 4 bolts going down the center of each valve cover to hold them on, so if you are looking for something that looks nostalgic this isnt the right thing to do. And also, with the 96-current heads, you will also have to get a different intake manifold that accepts vortec heads. Your valve covers will not work on the 87 + heads. If you are looking for something nostalgic (or at least pre-1987), keep your camel humps and build them, but if you dont mind how it LOOKS, the later models will probably be the better way to go and work even better. I hope this helps.

Briggs

[briggs&strattonChev]

ps, ive seen good camelback cores sell for $100-300+, so you might be able to sell them and take a chunk outta the cost of the newer heads. Advertise in the hamb classifieds if you are interested in that.

Briggs

[Rand Man]

The heads with two humps on the casting mark at the front are commonly referred to as fuelies. They originally came out on 300HP 327's of the early sixties. They were used on several 327 models including the fuel injected Corvettes that topped out at 375HP. The 302 Z-28's used them. I think the last Chevy engine to use them was the LT-1 350 in '70 or '71. They were hot head to have for a long time. Any vintage rod with a smallblock Chevy should be proud to wear them.

The price of performance aftermarket heads has gone down to where many say don't bother rebuilding the old dogs. The main drawback is that they don't have hardened valve seats. Today's unleaded gas will ruin the exhaust seats pretty quick. I run them on my ’57 and ran real hard for a couple of years. I have noticed the performance has faded lately. I’m going to rebuild them when I put this engine in my model A. They should wok pretty good on your 307.

[buzzard]

What are the casting numbers? Should be a seven digit number in between the rocker studs. Hopefully they say ####461 or ####462. These are the "good" ones.

I got rebuilt 186's (69-70 Corvette) heads last year. Pinned studs, new 2.02/ 1.60 valves, and a little port work for about $400. They're pretty easy to find around here for about that at swap meets.

Hope that helps. Let me know the numbers and I'll get some more info.

[adjustablejohnsons]

If they are "camel humps," keep in mind that they probably won't have accessory holes. That wouldn't bother me (if I was a SBC type), but could be an inconvenience to some.

[Bass]

It would be even better if the casting # ended in 461X.

There's a lot of misinformation that has gone around for years about "fuelie" heads. A lot of people mistakenly refer to any head with the "double hump" or "camel back" or "camel hump" casting marks as "fuelie" heads.

If they are original to that 307, then they are not "fuelie" heads.

Like Buzzard said, post the casting numbers and we'll be able to tell you more about them...and maybe if they are worth taking the time and expense to rebuild.

[buzzard]

461x's are like a 58cc chamber aren't they? Seems like a lot of compression for pump gas these days.

Is that what you have on the new engine? I passed on some because of the pump gas issue. And they were a little more than the $400.

[buzzard]

Nevermind. I just saw the acc. holes. What are those heads? I also have questions for you about tuning you dual quads. I'll start a new post so people can see it and input.

[Otto138]

Hey Guys,


The heads and the engine are sittin in SLAMIT's garage at the moment. I will make a point of pulling the numbers off the heads next time I am there. I don't know if they are the original heads or not. It sounds like they maybe a good candate for re-building. This engine is gonna be a mix of new and old, but all proven. I just lucked into an edelbrock intake...and SLAMIT is throwing in a mild isky cam. The bottom line is that this is gonna be a budget backyard build, so any ideas are helpful. Thanks for all the input.

Otto

[Bass]

Buzz, the 461x heads have 62cc chambers and larger, better flowing 172cc intake ports. They are the original "fuelie" head.

I'm using aftermarket aluminum heads.

[buzzard]

aluminum sounds fast.

[Bass]

I guess we'll see...

...as long as I can make it out of the burnout box this time!

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[Just Gary]

Ditto what Rand Man & Bass said.

I have a set of camel hump/fuelie/461's on my car because I already had them and they were the thing to have in the '60's.

If HP is your goal, sell them to a Corvette restorer or another HAMBer and spend the $ on a more modern design. Newer heads flow as good or better out-of-the-box than modified 461's, probably for less $.

If low-budget is your goal, you're probably better off using what you have.

One more point- as you're selecting parts for the engine, make sure they're compatible- all designed for a common application or RPM range. For example, don't build a mild engine, then slap a 1150 cfm Holley dominator on it.

Hope this helps.

[Rand Man]

Compression ratio is a function of cylinder volume as compared to chamber volume. I assumed he had the more common 64cc chamber. While this may run you into touble on a 350ci (or higher), I think he might be ok with 307 cubic inch displacement.

I have a set that does have accessery holes. I don't know what car they came stock on, but they must be later models. I will have to look at the casting numbers.