SBC 461 heads

Jon Riedel · 03-22-2021, 10:42 PM

Friend of mine has 2 pair of 461 heads w/1.94 intakes. Does anyone run them & what would they be worth

nhramnl · 03-23-2021, 07:14 AM

Sadly, probably not a lot. I have a set also, complete with original valves, springs, retainers, etc. in literally perfect shape, with ZERO core shift, and a Corvette guy (327/250??) offered me $300 and acted like he was buying me a house. My experience doesn't establish the market, though (obviously). I was told a number of times that they aren't very important to drag racers anymore.

richie 2 · 03-23-2021, 08:40 AM

really only good for resto applications now, and some mild bracket motors. to prep for street is costly as compaired to better aftermarket units.

Henrys Toy · 03-23-2021, 11:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nhramnl

Sadly, probably not a lot. I have a set also, complete with original valves, springs, retainers, etc. in literally perfect shape, with ZERO core shift, and a Corvette guy (327/250??) offered me $300 and acted like he was buying me a house. My experience doesn't establish the market, though (obviously). I was told a number of times that they aren't very important to drag racers anymore.

Some of the lower class circle burners can still use them.
It depends on the local Track and Rules.
If aftermarket Iron heads are legal, then they are really not as desirable as they once were. Maybe a Restorer would pick them up. Its a tough market right now.

Alan Nyhus · 03-24-2021, 08:26 AM

Still a viable casting for quite a few mid '60s 327's. -Al

Don Sofranko · 03-26-2021, 10:08 AM

A friend of mine has several sets he is liquidating from his dads estate.
if anyone wants some 461 heads, I can hook you up, location near Ottumwa iowa.

Good read on the 461 heads and early vette heads
Copied from the vette forum not my words...

https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...ump-heads.html

The 461X heads are 61-63 ONLY. They ONLY came with 1.94/1.5 valves, and as mentioned, they had about 170cc intakes. PERIOD.
The 461 heads were 64-66 ONLY. They could have EITHER 1.94/1.5, or, 2.02/1.6 valves, depending on engine application (350, 365, 375hp/327). Also, as mentioned, they had about 160cc intakes. If the 461 heads were machined for the larger 2.02/1.6 valves, then the wall of the combustion chamber next to the intake valve was relieved by machining to reduce flow restriction. If they got the 1.94 valves, this extra machining was not done.
Below is one of my 461X heads which I had machined to accept 2.02/1.6 valves and the added machining for relief around the intake valve. The other head is an untouched head with 1.94/1.5 valves. Back in the day, and to some extent, still today, heads (either 461X or 461) which got the smaller valves are machined for the larger 2.02/1.6 valves and also have the extra machining done to improve flow around the intake valve. Of course, porting and polishing is also still done to these early heads. On mine, I only had the intake runners smoothed up to relieve the rough casting.

Debate on power pack, double hump heads, included talk on single and double hump heads. Per the website below, casting numbers are 3917290 and 3927185 for single hump.

Don

Greg Reimer 7376 · 03-26-2021, 10:54 AM

The 3917290 head at first glance resembles a Power Pack head, but the PP head has a pointed pyramid marking on the end. The 3917290 head has a rounded hump in the middle of the marking on the end. At first glance, they look the same, but the 290 head was a one year only head, 1968, for the 250 horse 327. It had rather large chambers and 1.72 intakes and 1.50 exhausts. The 250 horse 327 that year came only in Chevelles and the Impalas,Bel Airs and Biscaynes. Quite a few Super Stock GT combinations use them, but Stock is pretty limited to only those two body lines. The 68 250 horse 327 is not to be confused with the 62-65 engines, these had 4 jet carbs and the 896-520 power Pack heads, except that the 65 250 horse engine used the 461 castings. The 462 casting came on the 67-68 engines and could be used on the earlier motors, but the 461 can't be used on a '68 327 275 horse. That included a lot of Camaros,Novas Chevelles, Vettes, and the big cars, so the 462 casting is definitely more useful to class racers. It's identical to the 461 except for the casting number. The 69-70 041 head is a legal replacement for the 462, as is the 291 head going all the way back to a '62 327/300 horse engine.

Tim H · 03-26-2021, 12:03 PM

The 462 and 461 combustion chambers are NOT identical. 461 heads have a rather unique combustion chamber shape as compared to all the other 1960's - '70's era hi-perf SBC heads.

Greg Reimer 7376 · 03-26-2021, 06:15 PM

Alright, I have a 3782461 head that someone told me was a 461X casting. I don't see an X on it anywhere near the casting numbers, I remembered seeing 461X heads that had the X at the end of the casting number. This head has a date code of G 111, but it does have a small X on the bottom of the head right below the water passage near the deck surface and between the intake gasket surface at the water crossover passage. It has 1.940 intakes, 1.500 exhausts, and looks like an original old head that might never have been apart. Where was the X that designated this as a 461X casting?

Greg Reimer 7376 · 03-26-2021, 07:27 PM

Seems like the 461 head is only legal up to about 1966 cars, the 462 head is legal from '61 to 68, the 041 head is legal from '61 to '70, since most new stocker projects are newer than that, the 041 head from '69-70 would be a better head to get, since it has a far broader range of applications. It's like the 993 casting for the '70's cars. Legal replacement for a lot of cars, for sure.

03-22-2021, 10:42 PM	#1
Jon Riedel Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 4 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	SBC 461 heads Friend of mine has 2 pair of 461 heads w/1.94 intakes. Does anyone run them & what would they be worth

03-23-2021, 07:14 AM	#2
nhramnl Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Posts: 507 Likes: 8 Liked 358 Times in 83 Posts	Re: SBC 461 heads Sadly, probably not a lot. I have a set also, complete with original valves, springs, retainers, etc. in literally perfect shape, with ZERO core shift, and a Corvette guy (327/250??) offered me $300 and acted like he was buying me a house. My experience doesn't establish the market, though (obviously). I was told a number of times that they aren't very important to drag racers anymore.

03-23-2021, 08:40 AM	#3
richie 2 Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 970 Likes: 422 Liked 204 Times in 93 Posts	Re: SBC 461 heads really only good for resto applications now, and some mild bracket motors. to prep for street is costly as compaired to better aftermarket units.

03-24-2021, 08:26 AM	#5
Alan Nyhus VIP Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Lower Dakota territory Posts: 1,180 Likes: 1,074 Liked 799 Times in 236 Posts	Re: SBC 461 heads Still a viable casting for quite a few mid '60s 327's. -Al __________________ "That'll never work....."

03-26-2021, 10:08 AM	#6
Don Sofranko Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Iowa Posts: 121 Likes: 0 Liked 128 Times in 32 Posts	Re: SBC 461 heads A friend of mine has several sets he is liquidating from his dads estate. if anyone wants some 461 heads, I can hook you up, location near Ottumwa iowa. Good read on the 461 heads and early vette heads Copied from the vette forum not my words... https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...ump-heads.html The 461X heads are 61-63 ONLY. They ONLY came with 1.94/1.5 valves, and as mentioned, they had about 170cc intakes. PERIOD. The 461 heads were 64-66 ONLY. They could have EITHER 1.94/1.5, or, 2.02/1.6 valves, depending on engine application (350, 365, 375hp/327). Also, as mentioned, they had about 160cc intakes. If the 461 heads were machined for the larger 2.02/1.6 valves, then the wall of the combustion chamber next to the intake valve was relieved by machining to reduce flow restriction. If they got the 1.94 valves, this extra machining was not done. Below is one of my 461X heads which I had machined to accept 2.02/1.6 valves and the added machining for relief around the intake valve. The other head is an untouched head with 1.94/1.5 valves. Back in the day, and to some extent, still today, heads (either 461X or 461) which got the smaller valves are machined for the larger 2.02/1.6 valves and also have the extra machining done to improve flow around the intake valve. Of course, porting and polishing is also still done to these early heads. On mine, I only had the intake runners smoothed up to relieve the rough casting. Debate on power pack, double hump heads, included talk on single and double hump heads. Per the website below, casting numbers are 3917290 and 3927185 for single hump. Don Last edited by Don Sofranko; 03-26-2021 at 10:25 AM.

03-26-2021, 10:54 AM	#7
Greg Reimer 7376 VIP Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Glendora,Calif. Posts: 1,135 Likes: 172 Liked 704 Times in 218 Posts	Re: SBC 461 heads The 3917290 head at first glance resembles a Power Pack head, but the PP head has a pointed pyramid marking on the end. The 3917290 head has a rounded hump in the middle of the marking on the end. At first glance, they look the same, but the 290 head was a one year only head, 1968, for the 250 horse 327. It had rather large chambers and 1.72 intakes and 1.50 exhausts. The 250 horse 327 that year came only in Chevelles and the Impalas,Bel Airs and Biscaynes. Quite a few Super Stock GT combinations use them, but Stock is pretty limited to only those two body lines. The 68 250 horse 327 is not to be confused with the 62-65 engines, these had 4 jet carbs and the 896-520 power Pack heads, except that the 65 250 horse engine used the 461 castings. The 462 casting came on the 67-68 engines and could be used on the earlier motors, but the 461 can't be used on a '68 327 275 horse. That included a lot of Camaros,Novas Chevelles, Vettes, and the big cars, so the 462 casting is definitely more useful to class racers. It's identical to the 461 except for the casting number. The 69-70 041 head is a legal replacement for the 462, as is the 291 head going all the way back to a '62 327/300 horse engine.

03-26-2021, 12:03 PM	#8
Tim H VIP Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 1,041 Likes: 1,068 Liked 481 Times in 158 Posts	Re: SBC 461 heads The 462 and 461 combustion chambers are NOT identical. 461 heads have a rather unique combustion chamber shape as compared to all the other 1960's - '70's era hi-perf SBC heads. Last edited by Tim H; 03-26-2021 at 05:55 PM.

03-26-2021, 06:15 PM	#9
Greg Reimer 7376 VIP Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Glendora,Calif. Posts: 1,135 Likes: 172 Liked 704 Times in 218 Posts	Re: SBC 461 heads Alright, I have a 3782461 head that someone told me was a 461X casting. I don't see an X on it anywhere near the casting numbers, I remembered seeing 461X heads that had the X at the end of the casting number. This head has a date code of G 111, but it does have a small X on the bottom of the head right below the water passage near the deck surface and between the intake gasket surface at the water crossover passage. It has 1.940 intakes, 1.500 exhausts, and looks like an original old head that might never have been apart. Where was the X that designated this as a 461X casting?

03-26-2021, 07:27 PM	#10
Greg Reimer 7376 VIP Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Glendora,Calif. Posts: 1,135 Likes: 172 Liked 704 Times in 218 Posts	Re: SBC 461 heads Seems like the 461 head is only legal up to about 1966 cars, the 462 head is legal from '61 to 68, the 041 head is legal from '61 to '70, since most new stocker projects are newer than that, the 041 head from '69-70 would be a better head to get, since it has a far broader range of applications. It's like the 993 casting for the '70's cars. Legal replacement for a lot of cars, for sure.