Camel Back Heads
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 799
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From: Lexington Park Maryland
Camel Back Heads
While I was working on the 65 coupe (adjusting timing), a friend noticed the engine, not the original. Owner said it's a 70 LT1, he also said it had "Camel Back" heads.
Can someone share their knowledge on this style cylinder heads? Thank you.
Can someone share their knowledge on this style cylinder heads? Thank you.
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2000
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From: Southbound
Cruise-In II Veteran
The term is Camel Hump due to the casting marks on the head. If memory serves, they were also called Fuelie Heads although they were not used on C2 FI engines. They were not used on LT-1s.
Race Director
Joined: Dec 1999
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From: Forked River NJ
I had a set of these in the late 70s. Decent heads in their time but not worth anything but to the restorers now. So much better heads out there now for the money. They make a nice door stop.
Race Director
Joined: May 2006
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remove a valve cover and post the casting number or look it up here, another term is "double hump"
http://outintheshop.com/faq/casting/heads.html
http://outintheshop.com/faq/casting/heads.html
Last edited by MelWff; Feb 3, 2017 at 01:04 PM.
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2011
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I believe both 186 and 041 heads found their way on the LT-1s. The 186 had the small Camel humps and accessorie holes. The 041 heads had a small triangle with accessory holes. Both were 202 valved heads.
Last edited by Boswell; Feb 4, 2017 at 02:38 PM.
Is my vette stock?? HAHA
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also post the stamp from the fromnt passenger side pad in front of the head, that will tell you and us everything
Team Owner
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From: Thomson Georgia
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2011
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Camel humps were made from early 60s through 1970 in several different variations and cast numbers. The majority were used on 327's. Rare? No. The larger 2.02 valued heads with screw-in studs and guide plates are somewhat rare. For many years they were sought after as Chevrolet's best performance head. The advancement of the superior aftermarket heads has made camel humps dated. For those doing correct or original restorations they are still very sought after.
Norm
Norm
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2003
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From: Maryland
St. Jude Donor '05, '09, '15
Le Mans Master
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SBC cylinder head casting number 3990462, c/n 378461 similar
Various double hump identifiers
GUSTO
Team Owner
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From: altered state
St. Jude Donor '05
Think you mean the old 461 or 2s.
If you like them fine
If you were hunting power sell those dinosaurs and look up Trick Flow they make a nice alum head that flows well has a nice combustion chamber and looks outside like them them. paint them orange enjoy a nice power gain.
Like said unless someone HAS to have them for resto they are not worth getting excited over no matter who gets what cfm out of them. Even a box stokc set of Vortecs which arent all that great will smoke those old relics. No offense intended but parts have come a LONG ways since the 60.s. Even a stock 70 LT1 is a pif by todays stds. We all enjoy em way back but id be embarassed to pull up to a light in cammed up LT1 and have some V6 hyundai blow me in the weeks...even a Ford Focus. Wow
If you like them fine
If you were hunting power sell those dinosaurs and look up Trick Flow they make a nice alum head that flows well has a nice combustion chamber and looks outside like them them. paint them orange enjoy a nice power gain.
Like said unless someone HAS to have them for resto they are not worth getting excited over no matter who gets what cfm out of them. Even a box stokc set of Vortecs which arent all that great will smoke those old relics. No offense intended but parts have come a LONG ways since the 60.s. Even a stock 70 LT1 is a pif by todays stds. We all enjoy em way back but id be embarassed to pull up to a light in cammed up LT1 and have some V6 hyundai blow me in the weeks...even a Ford Focus. Wow
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2011
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Thank you Gusto for posting the photos showing some of the different examples.
I realize everyone has an opinion about the camel hump heads. I see them time and time again referred to as boat anchors, door stops, or relics. Fair enough, however I do have personal experience with both camel humps and modern aluminum heads. Yes, modern design heads whether cast iron or aluminum are superior and that's a fact.
Camel humps setup with the "right build" meaning: modern cam selection, a well tuned carburetor, and correct piston for pump gas will perform just fine. I have seen on 2 occasions both a 327 and a 350 dyno near 400 flywheel horsepower.
For many of us driving 60s corvettes or 1970 and want to keep our cars close to or original these heads will still put a smile on your face and make plenty of "fun" power. Far from boat anchors or relics. If you are wanting to build a 1/4 mile car or to race "ricers" Then these are probably not the best choice.
The car hobby has a different meaning to just about everyone involved.
My 2 cents,
Norm
I realize everyone has an opinion about the camel hump heads. I see them time and time again referred to as boat anchors, door stops, or relics. Fair enough, however I do have personal experience with both camel humps and modern aluminum heads. Yes, modern design heads whether cast iron or aluminum are superior and that's a fact.
Camel humps setup with the "right build" meaning: modern cam selection, a well tuned carburetor, and correct piston for pump gas will perform just fine. I have seen on 2 occasions both a 327 and a 350 dyno near 400 flywheel horsepower.
For many of us driving 60s corvettes or 1970 and want to keep our cars close to or original these heads will still put a smile on your face and make plenty of "fun" power. Far from boat anchors or relics. If you are wanting to build a 1/4 mile car or to race "ricers" Then these are probably not the best choice.
The car hobby has a different meaning to just about everyone involved.
My 2 cents,
Norm
Melting Slicks
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I called them yesterday, they are not ready yet, will be released in May for $1200-$1400 complete.
Instructor
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From: West Lower Mich.
The early 70 LT-1 's came with the 186 Camel hump 2.02 heads with pushrod guide plates and 64cc chamber's . These are the same heads GM used on the 69 302 ci Z-28 Camaro's
Last edited by zebebad; Feb 12, 2017 at 01:35 AM.
Le Mans Master
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St. Jude Donor '05, '09, '15
Burning Brakes
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From: Western New York
I'm in agreement with Boswell on this one. Not everyone on the forum has the $$ or the desire to spend 1-2 grand on a set of heads. If you have a base motor and put on a set of camel hump or double hump heads (186's or 492's) you'll see a great deal of difference, but not what a set of trick flows will give you. Some do not want to spend big bucks on a car that gets driven maybe four times a month during the summer months. We have all different types of members on this forum with many differences in their interests, so we have to consider everything.
Duane
Duane
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Mike just wanted to ask you a question..Did the 1972 LT-1 come with double camel back heads? Thought I bought a completely original LT-1 and found out that I've got a single camel back heads on the car. It looks like everything else is original. I looked up 041 heads did come with a 350 in 1972 and was wondering what the markings are on those heads? Anyway just trying to figure this out. Thanks Steve
