btharbold

Hi,

I have been looking for a set of Flint heads in the right date range for my car, May of 65. I found a set but thought the humps might be a little too clean. Figured I would ask some of the experts here what they think. Are these Flint heads guys?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...m=330471050520

Thanks

Brad

LSUvetteguy

I didn't know there were F and T heads. Those look about like my 65 heads dated E55. M2C

btharbold

I had read that the Flint heads (which would be correct for vettes) had the double hump castings with a machined surface. The Tonawanda heads were left "as cast" but I have never really compared so I wanted to ask the experts.

MikeM

They're flint heads.

ktchir

Mike what tells you that they are Flint heads? (I am not doubting you I would just like to know for future reference)

Thanks

Donald #31176

The cast date for the year on Flint heads are single digit.

MikeM

See Donald 31176 post.

chet b

I have seen the T-heads with a T below the 461. The T is not raised but the T is a depression. Maybe an owner with T heads will chime in. The heads on E-Bay appear to be Flint.

ktchir

Thanks guys...missed that one completely

oldskydog

Not all Tonawanda castings used double digits, I have a pair of 462 heads with single digit casting year and unmachined ends. I originally thought they were Flint untill I looked again and found a T cast between the spring seats and A "T" faintly stamped below the casting date as seen in the center pic.. One is dated H-13-6 and the other is K-14-6 and no evidence of grinding...not enough space to allow a second year character. One also has a Z (or N for Nodular?on it's side) cast near the spring seat on one end. One has a 25 cast below the first spark plug hole and the other has a 16 cast there. I also have a 68 327 engine Tonawanda casting with a single digit year.
The dead giveaway for the later Tonawanda head besides the unmachined ends, is the presence of the 2 digit number just below the spark plug hole. Not sure when this started, but the single digit casting year must have started around 65-67.

65tripleblack

Also.................
Tonowawanwndana heads don't have the double humps machined like the Flint heads.
Tonowawanwndana heads have the double humps rough cast.

MikeM

Yer a little late to the party Joe. That's already been mentioned 3-4 times.

MikeM

It might be a little tough to find 461 heads with those Tonawanda casting features.

65tripleblack

Ah, yes! I hate it when that happens.
Some people need repetition for it to sink in. Three times ought to do it.
Question: do Tonowawanwndana heads have the humps machined?

oldskydog

You may be right as the earliest T castings I have with single digit year are the ones pictured above, but I have some 64 Tonwanda heads with double digit year that also have the 2 digit number below the spark plug hole. I've never seen a Flint (Saginaw) head with those digits.
I also have a pair of 68 291 T castings with single digit year and 2 digit numbers by the plug holes and another set of 68 T castings the same way. It is beginning to look like the change to single digit year on T castings started near the end of 66 for the 67 model year.
My only point is that single digit year casting by itself is not a definitive indicator of a Flint (Saginaw) casting.

oldskydog

Strangely enouugh, here are some 461 single digit year tonawanda heads.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/66-Corvette-Nova-Chevelle-Chevy-327-Heads-461-H-date-/390018263431?pt=Vintage_Car_Truck_Parts_ Accessories&hash=item5acee66987

JohnZ

Those are the small-valve (1.94/1.5) heads, which are the only ones you'll see from Tonawanda; they didn't make the 2.02/1.6 versions. The Tonawanda head line didn't have the station in the transfer line that performed the intake valve unshrouding cut in the chamber wall on big-valve heads - that station only existed at Flint V-8.

65tripleblack

That is a photo of a 462 chamber. Note the relief above the spark plug.
461 chambers don't have that relief. They have a flat (quench) area above the spark plug, and, consequently, a smaller chamber volume. The redeeming factor for the 462 is that it has better spark plug location; the spark plug on the 461 head is closer to the deck than on the 462.

MikeM

AWWWWWWWWWWW, why did you have to ruin it?

4440stevesvette

OUCH!!! - they seem pretty spendy to me at $400 and need a though going thru.