Thread: Fuelie Heads?

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I'd like the flattie stuff too! But then, I'd feel obliged to get a Ford to but them in. Might be cheaper for me just to find a good 331 or 354 for my Mopar.

Dave wrote:

Guess I'll still take efficiency and performance over nostalgia

I wouldn't expect anything less from someone running an 82 Camaro. Choice is by preference, but can't see an 1982 anything running anything old. Almost like adding Olds Rocket valve covers to a 350 sbc.

Mike34....a little background on "fuel injection" heads. In the beginning, there was the small block Chevy. The first two years offered what was called the "power pack" engine option. In 1957, Chevy introduced the fuel injected motor and the head castings were improved. Chevy put a cast identifier on the end of the heads...like a "double hump", a triangle, a saw tooth shape, etc. Since there were zero aftermarket heads available, the best Chevy head of the time was very desirable. Thus, "fuelie" heads were the hot ticket, especially for the non-ported guys. The "double hump" heads were of the 1965 Fuel Injection era. They used to sell for $100 a pair brand new including valves and springs...I bought a few sets myself.

The last "fuel injection" was 1965 for Chevy until the tuned port injection was introduced in the '80's. The older heads don't have the accessory bolt holes in the end of the heads since the accessory brackets mounted differently...until about '69 (as I remember) when the brackets mounted to the heads.

Now, you can buy aftermarket heads by the zillions and even the Chevy Vortec heads are superior to the old heads. But, if you have them, why not use them...or sell them to someone who is trying for historical accuracy...and take the $$ and buy a new set of Vortecs.

I had a set of '57 F.I. casting number heads and gave them away...before the restorer craze made them worth more than scrap value!!

mike in tucson

I agree that the 461 "fuelie heads" are old school performance heads that will not be expected to perform with the modern stuff. Having said that, a well ported set of feulies will run pretty well. I had a set of 461s on a built 12:1 compression 383 with a solid flat tappet cam in a full weight 69 firebird street car and hit 115mph in the quarter on NO traction street tires.
My next motor (10:1 406, xe 274h cam, etc) used another set of redone "fuelies" and ran to 112 mph while being very streetable. Newer heads would have made more sense(performance and $ wise), but I like the old school bit. There is something about using real 60's hardware and being able to have respectable performance for a street car. It's all about what makes you happy.

George