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Technical Best Performing "Traditional" head for a 283 build

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by Holmes Cycles, Jun 7, 2019.

  1. Holmes Cycles
    Joined: Dec 25, 2011
    Posts: 33

    Holmes Cycles
    Member

    Hey guys, I've been messing with 283s for years now and most of my builds have been a mix of eras and not trying to stick with a traditional build so I've used the HO 305 heads, the power pack heads, vortecs and aluminum heads etc.

    But on my current '31 Chevy Coupe build I'm trying to keep everything mid 60s and older (At least the Technology standpoint on it, example a brand new Fuel pump but based off what was available in the 60s styling and performance wise)

    So my question is what traditional type Heads should I be looking at performance wise for a 300+- hp 283 based off of a mid 60s era Hot Rod

    Thanks for any help

    Sent from my XT1585 using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
     
  2. any 68 and older 1.94 or 2.02 camel hump head. That was the head used on all the high hp small blocks in the 60's
     
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  3. Holmes Cycles
    Joined: Dec 25, 2011
    Posts: 33

    Holmes Cycles
    Member

    Do you happen to have the casting numbers or the last 3 of them for ease of research?

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  4. Bandit Billy
    Joined: Sep 16, 2014
    Posts: 12,287

    Bandit Billy
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    Or a nice new set of edelbrock aluminum heads with the accessory holes welded shut, grind off the logos and paint them orange. Hell, a little jb weld and you could re-create those camel bumps. :cool:
     

  5. 462
    291

    the 291 heads are 68 only as they have no accessory holes and a hold for the temp sender.
     
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  6. Trick Flow is now making aluminum heads that look dead on to an old camel hump head.
     
  7. DDDenny
    Joined: Feb 6, 2015
    Posts: 19,143

    DDDenny
    Member
    from oregon

    All three of these have the "camel hump" casting identifiers like my "291's.

    20170226_145049.jpg
    "461" (with an X also, but getting hard to find).
    "462"
    "291"
     
  8. Holmes Cycles
    Joined: Dec 25, 2011
    Posts: 33

    Holmes Cycles
    Member

    That's what my engine machinist wants to do is go with Aluminum heads for an easy guranteed 300+hp and better overall drivability. I'm just trying to stick with traditional on this particular build. But I did think about the aluminum heads roughed up and painted to look old

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  9. the trick flows have that cast look and the chevy camel humps.

    [​IMG]
     
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  10. Doublepumper
    Joined: Jun 26, 2016
    Posts: 1,535

    Doublepumper
    Member
    from WA-OR, USA

    This is from How to Hot Rod SB Chevy's book.........Heavy duty parts section.
    20190607_123213.jpg
     
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  11. DDDenny
    Joined: Feb 6, 2015
    Posts: 19,143

    DDDenny
    Member
    from oregon


    As per my previous post.
    These castings were available as both low/medium performance applications (1.94" dia. intake valves) and 2.02 dia. from the hiperf cars. The 1.94's are the better choice for the small bore of the 283's.
    Another thing; don't let people discourage you from using these by saying they won't survive without hardened seats, first, the type of cars we (generally) put them on are not everyday drivers racking up a hundred thousand miles like the old days and two, if you are starting with bare castings that need all new valves, etc. just have them machined with hardened seats installed.
    Not the cheapest proposition but any other casting will not have the correct look for a 60's period engine build.
     
    Last edited: Jun 11, 2019
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  12. DDDenny
    Joined: Feb 6, 2015
    Posts: 19,143

    DDDenny
    Member
    from oregon

    All of these are modern style heads but none have the casting identifiers as a "true" camel hump head, not important for some but a dead giveaway of a NOT traditional type build.
     
  13. bobw
    Joined: Mar 24, 2006
    Posts: 2,376

    bobw
    Member

    Why not build a stock 230 hp 283 with power pack heads ?
     
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  14. Holmes Cycles
    Joined: Dec 25, 2011
    Posts: 33

    Holmes Cycles
    Member

    I want a little more pep in its step. On this 283 in the coupe I would like to hit the 300 horsepower mark

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  15. 327Eric
    Joined: May 9, 2008
    Posts: 2,116

    327Eric
    Member

    Research early Corvette heads. There were other head markings for the dual quad 283s, and the fuel injected 283s. Many times I have seen the old triangle power pack heads ported and polished with bigger valves. I would go this route before I ran musclecar era heads if I was imterested in era correct, and do some port work.
     
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  16. LBH
    Joined: Dec 22, 2010
    Posts: 66

    LBH
    Member

    461 ...
     
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  17. Ericnova72
    Joined: May 1, 2007
    Posts: 595

    Ericnova72
    Member
    from Michigan

    3884520, the "520" casting. Was the last "Power Pack head, two versions, 1960-64-ish, and 1965-67. Used on 283's and the 250 hp '62-67 327" engines.
    Early version has less desirable tub combustion chamber so avoid that one... the later '65-67 version is sometimes called a "Jr Fuelie" as it has a 59-60cc version of the good closed chamber that is just a shrunken copy of the 462, 291, 186 style quench chamber.
    Comes with 1.72" intake valves, have the seats and bowls cut to 1.94" and then bowl blend them out nice and slim the valveguide boss.
    End result is better on a small engine than a Camel Hump head....smaller combustion chamber, smaller original valve bowl allows nice porting to match the size of the 283 where the Camel Hump is already too big stock.
    Casting identifier on the end of head is a laid down rectangle with a upward triangle peak on the center top surface of rectangle.

    With the listed modifications, It'll be the best original iron vintage head you could come up with. for a 283, 307, 305.
     
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  18. Camel humps. you don't need hard seats if you install hard valves. just a good three angle valve job.
     
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  19. primed34
    Joined: Feb 3, 2007
    Posts: 1,407

    primed34
    Member

    Don't think the 2.02 will clear the cylinder wall on a 283. We've always used the 1.94.
     
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  20. A 202 will clear the cyl wall. on a 283. However the shrouding will negate any gains that the bigger valves would gain.
     
  21. Dyce
    Joined: Sep 12, 2006
    Posts: 1,973

    Dyce
    Member

    I put a 283 together with 896 power pac castings. I use 1.88 305 valves. Anything bigger is a waste because the ports are to narrow around the valve guide. Then I angle milled them .0625 followed by a .030 flat mill. The chambers end up in around 50cc. It gets the compression up enough to run a good cam. I run the speed pro CS1169R 2000-4500 RPM Range, 292 intake/292 exhaust Adv Dur, Duration @.050 218 intake/218 exhaust, Valve Lift .458. The cam seems mild but in a 283 it lopes pretty good. The 283 is easy to overcam.
     
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  22. I put rings and bearings in a stock 69 327 block, added a 30-30 cam. and edelbrock C4B intake. I used a set of reworked 57 Powerpack heads. Why? because those heads where on the first 55 chevy I ever owned. and I also wanted to use a set of stagger bolt valve covers that I bought when I was a teen. ngines 007.JPG
     
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  23. F-ONE
    Joined: Mar 27, 2008
    Posts: 3,271

    F-ONE
    Member
    from Alabama

    A 1931 Chevrolet is a light car.
    I don't understand the whole better drivability thing. A 1959 283 built with only stuff available from 1959 should be very very drivable in a '31.
    If you want a period engine, build a period engine. I think you'll be pleasantly surprised.
    Power pack heads
    Ram Horns
    Dumtov cam.....
    It should be really sweet.
     
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  24. Mike VV
    Joined: Sep 28, 2010
    Posts: 3,029

    Mike VV
    Member
    from SoCal

    The 461x head was the best flowing iron of the early era.
    Back when the "Econo" classes (A, B, C ,D/ED and A, B, C, D/EF) became a thing in NHRA racing, one of the things that HAD to be used in the lower classes, was "stock" heads.
    By EVERYONE'S take the 461x was the cylinder head to have.

    Otherwise, get the new(ish) Trick Flow head and paint them orange.

    Mike
     
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  25. Where does the X show up? I have 8782461 heads but do not see the "X". Is it marked somewhere else on the head? The heads are currently mounted on the 283.

    Thnx,

    Tom
     
  26. Most people are going to tell you fuel head (camel hump heads) which air pretty good heads. I am personally a fan of Power Pac heads. Granted I am an oddball but they are the heads that I like to work with.
     
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  27. buffaloracer
    Joined: Aug 22, 2004
    Posts: 816

    buffaloracer
    Member
    from kansas

    The X came after the 461. Mainly on vette heads. I'm against 2.02 intakes on a 283 contrary to the now popular belief on the HAMB that they will work fine. Still against notching cylinders on a sbc. Just my $.02.
    Pete
     
  28. DDDenny
    Joined: Feb 6, 2015
    Posts: 19,143

    DDDenny
    Member
    from oregon

  29. Fordors
    Joined: Sep 22, 2016
    Posts: 5,373

    Fordors
    Member

    951F0BD2-56CC-4717-BE1E-95445CC6154F.jpeg
    The photo above was lifted from a post by @big duece. There was also a ‘441X SBC head, but unlike the larger runners on a ‘461X head the ‘441X had 80cc chambers instead of the typical 76cc smog chambers.
     
    Last edited: Jun 10, 2019
    GlassThamesDoug likes this.
  30. Filed away! I get GIDDY over this small-journal stuff!! Gotta get home and recheck my numbers!!!!
     

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