In the classified section of my club magazine I frequently see ads that reference camel back heads. What exactly is a camel back head?
The heads have a couple of little humps in the casting near the deck surface. One chevy's early efforts to be cool like the Ford guys....didn't work......easy fellas' just yanking your chain!
Google image search: They came in 2 sizes of intake valves 2.02 and 1.94". These are the early heads from most of the 60s, without accessory holes in the ends of the heads.
To add to the above mentioned, Many versions of Camel Hump heads were made. they were used on the upper HP SBC's say 327-250 and up. The heads for the most part flow better then the LOPO versions of the day. The small valve versions are very common 1.94-1.50 but can be machined for 2.02-1.60 as GM made them both ways for a given casting number The casting number will make or break the value EG a 461 as opposed to e 461X. If you find a set of 461X heads for a good price I'd grab them. Use the online casting number listings to see what you might be buying. For a period Hot Rod the early 327 heads without holed in the front are a good place to start with for a "Belly Button" (SBC).
And here I always thought it referred to heads shaped like these. But, what do I know. I'm a Buick guy. Learn something everyday I guess.
bottem line, they were the preformance head for there day. camaros and corvettes had them. I think they also came in 58 and 64 cc sizes with 2.02/1.60 valves the later versions did have accessory holes in both ends. Godspeed MrC.
The marks are actually what's left of the in gates used to feed the molten metal into the part when pouring at the foundry
Just remember anything without a belly button is an alien. The smaller combustion donot like the 2.02 valves real well, they will have to be unshrouded if you go that route. Those are actually W heads, but it is an honest mistake. That is whay we congregate here to help us realize what it is that we know and what it is that we don't. I am forever running onto things that I thought that I knew and then found out that I didn't. I have found good information when I can't remember here: http://www.fastnuf.com/Headguide.html
how do you mistake a W head for just a camel head? haha and camel heads are the ones that hold more water..duh!
Prone to cracks! Comes in lightweight or heavyweight versions, some access holes. Early models not permitted, remember, pre - 1964.
Chester, I'm not at all trying to be a wise guy here, but do you drive truck or have friends that do? " Camel Back " rear axles are popular on Mack heavy duty rigs especially those used on and off road like dump trucks. Picture a 9" Ford rear and turn the housing 90 degrees so that the center chunk is facing upwards and the back of the housing now faces downward. Instead of the drive shaft going into the center of the front chunk and through the axle housing into the front of the rear tandem axle front chunk, it goes longitudinally on top of each axle housing. The pinion being now on top of the rears looks like two humps, hence the Camel Hump rears. Mack engineers believe they are both stronger and they provide much needed ground clearance for off road use. Probably has nothing to do with the price of rice in China, just trying to help, TR
I've also heard the 1.94"s refered to as 4-bbl heads. They did not crack as often between the two valve seats.
My dad has a 348 in his truck, and it never fails at a car show or cruise night for someone to look at the engine and tell his girlfriend or wife "Honey, those are Camel Back heads."