Who knows how to port camel hump heads? - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

Mrturner1 · 03-17-2016, 02:46 PM

Hey guys, I just finished my engine build and now I have a bunch of parts Latin around. One of the things that came off the old motor is a set of 492 casting Camel Hump heads. They have 2.02 1.60's and heavy duty valve springs. I've heard that these heads can make 500hp if the right guy ports them. I have no use for them currently, but if they are gonna just sit on the shelf I was thinkin send them to "the right guy" who can make them sing. Any leads are much appreciated.

I love learning the history on our trucks and the parts they use, so any cool info on 492 camel humps would be great! Far as I can tell from reading, these were on corvettes in the late 60's early 70's?

Matt

Mrturner1 · 03-17-2016, 02:48 PM

Here's a pic, they are really dirty still but I'm going to clean up and paint

Mrturner1 · 03-17-2016, 02:48 PM

Casting

**Grumpy old man** · 03-17-2016, 03:06 PM

I'll do so bartering with you on something we talked about already ! Barters always better !

Don't bother cleaning them . if any porting is to be done they need to come apart and may as well change the valves/springs and use hardened seats . Now there not so cheap are they ?

hugger6933 · 03-17-2016, 03:18 PM

Vortecs are better as far as getting the most power out of them. It has been said in almost every mag out there except maybe Mustang Monthly. Now someone needing some old iron to put on a 327 for the dates to be right now that is a different story. I have a 327 they would be nice on and my 400 in my one ton has some but I was thinking they didn't have the acc holes. if they did [same for my 327] I would put A serpentine off the old tbi trucks on my truck[s]as they look and perform well and is a popular upgrade.
as far as porting those heads to make 500 horse, I may have to call BS on that one. Maybe with a 150 shot of nitrous?Later on. Jim

hugger6933 · 03-17-2016, 03:21 PM

on the vortecs those same mags said they were worth 40 horse more than any other chevy head[production]but I don't suppose you have any of those laying around . I'm getting off now I seem to be rambling.

burnin oil · 03-17-2016, 03:21 PM

^^^
What he said. Camel humps where the hot ticket but anymore they are only worth the money to someone who wants stock. With porting they can flow pretty well but after that you have as much money in them as a new set of aluminum heads that will kill them in combustion chamber design and flow. Nothing wrong with them and are definatly better than smog heads but the cost is the killer. Now if you could do the work that would be a different story.

cypressbog · 03-17-2016, 03:33 PM

I agree with the others. Camel hump heads used to be the gold standard, but not so much now-a-days.

MARKDTN · 03-17-2016, 04:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cypressbog

I agree with the others. Camel hump heads used to be the gold standard, but not so much now-a-days.

Agree. Sell them to someone restoring a Camaro or Corvette and buy Vortec or aftermarkets.

Mrturner1 · 03-17-2016, 04:49 PM

I already put a nice set of heads on the new build, I'm not actually looking for heads

I'll try to find the article about the guy making 5-600 horse with camel humps. It was a pretty interesting read. Somebody commented on it in my build thread too so maybe I'll find out what that guy knows.

Mrturner1 · 03-17-2016, 04:58 PM

I can't find the article, DANGIT! I do know the motor they were on was a 331 stroker, and the man with the magic porting hands nickname was "Da Grumps" must have been one heckofva builder. I'll keep looking for the article

**Grumpy old man** · 03-17-2016, 05:08 PM

Don't look too far , Send them to me I have an engine to throw that old garbage on

Barter is always better !

Mrturner1 · 03-17-2016, 05:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Grumpy old man

Don't look too far , Send them to me I have an engine to throw that old garbage on

Barter is always better !

I KNEW IT!!!! I was betting my fiancé on whether or not there was a connection! Haha that's awesome.

hugger6933 · 03-17-2016, 05:59 PM

Matt, look up Grumpy Jenkins aka da grump. You bet you last dollar he knew his stuff. He was a very highly sought after builder for his ability to make small blocks and big blocks too kick major buttocks. He at one time ran a small block [very well] in the category known as Pro Stock in the NHRA. He was a innovator and a visionary. He was if I'm not mistaken the very first to run a tube chassis car. He did stuff with a small block back in the 70's and early 80's that most can only read of or dream of.
Now if you hadn't guessed it I was a fan of Grumpy back when I was a kid. One of the most famous pics of him he is laid out super model style on a bearskin rug with the famous cigar he chomped on with him in a swinsuit if I remember right.When I was younger My heros were Grumpy Don the snake and Connie Kaleta. Oh and I liked jungle Jim[ most loved jungle Pam] If you would love some amazing reads look up some of those drag raging larger than life people.

hugger6933 · 03-17-2016, 06:01 PM

That is if your too young to remember them [witch I'm assuming you are from the sounds of your posts]Please dont take that as a knock.

Rod Run · 03-17-2016, 09:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mrturner1

I can't find the article, DANGIT! I do know the motor they were on was a 331 stroker, and the man with the magic porting hands nickname was "Da Grumps" must have been one heckofva builder. I'll keep looking for the article

I had those heads on my '69 Camaro back in the day, when they were "the head" to have. I was also running them on a 331 (not a stroker, just a 327 punched out .030). I also changed out the press in studs for screw in studs. You rip one rocker off at higher RPM and you don't use press in studs ever again

I don't know about 500hp, but I do know I was running 12.9 in the quarter at around 103MPH (with horrible 60' times and bad street tires), so I know there was some good power there.

As others have already said, those heads are pretty much worthless these days, unless you're looking for a numbers matching resto.

Mrturner1 · 03-17-2016, 10:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hugger6933

That is if your too young to remember them [witch I'm assuming you are from the sounds of your posts]Please dont take that as a knock.

Not at all, I am sure it's brutally obvious in some posts lol sounds like some reading is in order

30 a truck · 03-18-2016, 05:38 AM

I have a set also. When I was planning the engine for my truck, I talked to a friend of mine who happens to build drag engines in Spartanburg, S.C., former IHRA Champion, He said the same thing, cost too much to make them good unless you want a numbers matching car. They are sitting on the shelf wrapped in plastic now waiting on someone who wants them worse than I do. Some dirt track guys like them also depends on the division.

03-17-2016, 02:46 PM	#1
Mrturner1 Registered User Join Date: Nov 2015 Location: Colfax California Posts: 1,644	Who knows how to port camel hump heads? Hey guys, I just finished my engine build and now I have a bunch of parts Latin around. One of the things that came off the old motor is a set of 492 casting Camel Hump heads. They have 2.02 1.60's and heavy duty valve springs. I've heard that these heads can make 500hp if the right guy ports them. I have no use for them currently, but if they are gonna just sit on the shelf I was thinkin send them to "the right guy" who can make them sing. Any leads are much appreciated. I love learning the history on our trucks and the parts they use, so any cool info on 492 camel humps would be great! Far as I can tell from reading, these were on corvettes in the late 60's early 70's? Matt

03-17-2016, 02:48 PM	#2
Mrturner1 Registered User Join Date: Nov 2015 Location: Colfax California Posts: 1,644	Re: Who knows how to port camel hump heads? Here's a pic, they are really dirty still but I'm going to clean up and paint Attached Images

03-17-2016, 02:48 PM	#3
Mrturner1 Registered User Join Date: Nov 2015 Location: Colfax California Posts: 1,644	Re: Who knows how to port camel hump heads? Casting Attached Images

03-17-2016, 03:06 PM	#4
Grumpy old man Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Gods country East,Tn Posts: 8,545	Re: Who knows how to port camel hump heads? I'll do so bartering with you on something we talked about already ! Barters always better ! Don't bother cleaning them . if any porting is to be done they need to come apart and may as well change the valves/springs and use hardened seats . Now there not so cheap are they ? __________________ 1967 Factory short bed - Old school '71 - 350 / 4bolt / 487 heads / Edelbrock C3BX Muncie M-22 4 speed / Hurst Comp plus Factory 12 bolt posi 3.73 / 255-70-15 Smoothed firewall / Factory cowl induction Power disc brakes / power steering / 3.5-5" drop Last edited by Grumpy old man; 03-17-2016 at 03:15 PM.

03-17-2016, 03:18 PM	#5
hugger6933 Registered User Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Marianna Arkansas Posts: 7,257	Re: Who knows how to port camel hump heads? Vortecs are better as far as getting the most power out of them. It has been said in almost every mag out there except maybe Mustang Monthly. Now someone needing some old iron to put on a 327 for the dates to be right now that is a different story. I have a 327 they would be nice on and my 400 in my one ton has some but I was thinking they didn't have the acc holes. if they did [same for my 327] I would put A serpentine off the old tbi trucks on my truck[s]as they look and perform well and is a popular upgrade. as far as porting those heads to make 500 horse, I may have to call BS on that one. Maybe with a 150 shot of nitrous?Later on. Jim

03-17-2016, 03:21 PM	#6
hugger6933 Registered User Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Marianna Arkansas Posts: 7,257	Re: Who knows how to port camel hump heads? on the vortecs those same mags said they were worth 40 horse more than any other chevy head[production]but I don't suppose you have any of those laying around . I'm getting off now I seem to be rambling.

03-17-2016, 03:21 PM	#7
burnin oil Registered User Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Eastern TN Posts: 1,921	Re: Who knows how to port camel hump heads? ^^^ What he said. Camel humps where the hot ticket but anymore they are only worth the money to someone who wants stock. With porting they can flow pretty well but after that you have as much money in them as a new set of aluminum heads that will kill them in combustion chamber design and flow. Nothing wrong with them and are definatly better than smog heads but the cost is the killer. Now if you could do the work that would be a different story.

03-17-2016, 03:33 PM	#8
cypressbog Go Pack Go! Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Green Bay Posts: 2,669	Re: Who knows how to port camel hump heads? I agree with the others. Camel hump heads used to be the gold standard, but not so much now-a-days.

03-17-2016, 04:49 PM	#10
Mrturner1 Registered User Join Date: Nov 2015 Location: Colfax California Posts: 1,644	Re: Who knows how to port camel hump heads? I already put a nice set of heads on the new build, I'm not actually looking for heads I'll try to find the article about the guy making 5-600 horse with camel humps. It was a pretty interesting read. Somebody commented on it in my build thread too so maybe I'll find out what that guy knows.

03-17-2016, 04:58 PM	#11
Mrturner1 Registered User Join Date: Nov 2015 Location: Colfax California Posts: 1,644	Re: Who knows how to port camel hump heads? I can't find the article, DANGIT! I do know the motor they were on was a 331 stroker, and the man with the magic porting hands nickname was "Da Grumps" must have been one heckofva builder. I'll keep looking for the article

03-17-2016, 05:08 PM	#12
Grumpy old man Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Gods country East,Tn Posts: 8,545	Re: Who knows how to port camel hump heads? Don't look too far , Send them to me I have an engine to throw that old garbage on Barter is always better ! __________________ 1967 Factory short bed - Old school '71 - 350 / 4bolt / 487 heads / Edelbrock C3BX Muncie M-22 4 speed / Hurst Comp plus Factory 12 bolt posi 3.73 / 255-70-15 Smoothed firewall / Factory cowl induction Power disc brakes / power steering / 3.5-5" drop

03-17-2016, 05:59 PM	#14
hugger6933 Registered User Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Marianna Arkansas Posts: 7,257	Re: Who knows how to port camel hump heads? Matt, look up Grumpy Jenkins aka da grump. You bet you last dollar he knew his stuff. He was a very highly sought after builder for his ability to make small blocks and big blocks too kick major buttocks. He at one time ran a small block [very well] in the category known as Pro Stock in the NHRA. He was a innovator and a visionary. He was if I'm not mistaken the very first to run a tube chassis car. He did stuff with a small block back in the 70's and early 80's that most can only read of or dream of. Now if you hadn't guessed it I was a fan of Grumpy back when I was a kid. One of the most famous pics of him he is laid out super model style on a bearskin rug with the famous cigar he chomped on with him in a swinsuit if I remember right.When I was younger My heros were Grumpy Don the snake and Connie Kaleta. Oh and I liked jungle Jim[ most loved jungle Pam] If you would love some amazing reads look up some of those drag raging larger than life people.

03-17-2016, 06:01 PM	#15
hugger6933 Registered User Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Marianna Arkansas Posts: 7,257	Re: Who knows how to port camel hump heads? That is if your too young to remember them [witch I'm assuming you are from the sounds of your posts]Please dont take that as a knock.

03-18-2016, 05:38 AM	#18
30 a truck Registered User Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Cowpens S.C. Posts: 138	Re: Who knows how to port camel hump heads? I have a set also. When I was planning the engine for my truck, I talked to a friend of mine who happens to build drag engines in Spartanburg, S.C., former IHRA Champion, He said the same thing, cost too much to make them good unless you want a numbers matching car. They are sitting on the shelf wrapped in plastic now waiting on someone who wants them worse than I do. Some dirt track guys like them also depends on the division.



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