How to ID a camel back or camel hump head, and what good are they?
 

I have just bought a 66 with a 283 and the guy said that there are camel back heads on it, and I would like to know how to ID them to check. And are they any good. The guy raved about them. Also what intakes would best fit them?

Thanks guys.

Re: How to ID a camel back or camel hump head, and what good are they?
 

I am sure someone will have a picture of the markings.....Camel hump (double hump) heads we GM's high flow heads in the 60's. They were used back in the day for power. Now they are more of a nostalgic piece or legend than something "special" or "hot" to have and to use. Most aftermarket heads now are much better. Its fun to go look at cars that old timers have and listen to them brag about the (double humps) that are on it like it is actually worth something extra.

This could actually be an elusive rare Corvette option!

_TT_TT_ This a a bad example but I thin the markings on the head will look like this. Im sure someone will post a picture later.

Re: How to ID a camel back or camel hump head, and what good are they?
 

not the best photo, but you can see the 2 humps on the end of the head< hence, the word camel humps> heads with drilled holles are newer style camel humps,like early 70's,, most sought after camel humps have no pre drilled holes, . there are 202'valve chambers and 194's hope pic helps

Re: How to ID a camel back or camel hump head, and what good are they?
 

A stock out of the box set of Vortec heads will out perform those heads any day, they are however "worth" something to the old timers who refuse to believe GM built anything performance oriented after about 1970, especially a head put into a truck!!

Re: How to ID a camel back or camel hump head, and what good are they?
 

Did those heads also come as two triangles instead of humps? Or am I confusing them with the old typical "Power Pac" heads?

Re: How to ID a camel back or camel hump head, and what good are they?
 

Yeah triangle are "supposed" to be power pack heads, the humps are just that rounded humps (double humps/camel humps).

Re: How to ID a camel back or camel hump head, and what good are they?
 

they are good for selling on E-bay... ppl will pay stupid money for marginal parts thinking they are "the shiznit"

Re: How to ID a camel back or camel hump head, and what good are they?
 

Ok,I do remeber the single triangle heads found on 283's and 250 HP 327's.But wasn't there a dual triangle marked head,maybe on like a 61 Fuelie 283 ???

Re: How to ID a camel back or camel hump head, and what good are they?
 

Not sure, I try not to hassle with anything that doesn't have accessory holes!! I have a set of double humps and ebay would be where I'd go to sell them.

Re: How to ID a camel back or camel hump head, and what good are they?
 

Don't waste your money on Camel Humps.

Re: How to ID a camel back or camel hump head, and what good are they?
 

are they better than a smog (1985) head???

Re: How to ID a camel back or camel hump head, and what good are they?
 

I would say yes, they would be way better than stock 85 models. But not knowing all of the specs on yours it would still be a guess.

Re: How to ID a camel back or camel hump head, and what good are they?
 

Yeah, they are better than the 85 heads for the fact that the 85's are thin castings (prone to cracking) along with the bigger cc combustion chambers.

Re: How to ID a camel back or camel hump head, and what good are they?
 

it's kinda like asking if you are better off constipated, or with diareha.
The money you would spend buying, then fixing up a set of vintage (read;old ass) double hump heads, you could have gotten vortech heads, and the parts needed to run them, and pissibly paid for the tires you'd burn up with the vortech's added power.

Re: How to ID a camel back or camel hump head, and what good are they?
 

Thanks everyone for your advice it sounds like you all are going with the new Vortec technology, these heads were on the truck when I bought it so I havent changed them yet, I was wanting to go air gap intake but without changing the oil filler hole can you go ari gap intake with vortec heads, thanks again for the addvice an pics

Re: How to ID a camel back or camel hump head, and what good are they?
 

After looking on my heads I noticed one triangle on the front of the head are these power pac heads

Re: How to ID a camel back or camel hump head, and what good are they?
 

The guy told you they were 'double hump' heads and they have a triangle casting identifier... sounds like he needs a @$$ beating. He flat lied to you.
I agree with everyone else,, they will cost so much to refurbish, they are not worth messing with. Most need new exhaust seats to tolerate the unleaded pump fuels of today, all new valves, new iron guides, new slroings, locks and retainers, some milling to get them back flat,, you just spent about $650 on a 50 year old technology. I myself am not on the Vortec craze. By the time you buy the dedicated intake top put a carm on the vortecs, buy self aligning roller rockers, and centerbolt valve covers,, you can buy a set of Holley , AFR or other aftermarket aluminum heads for not much more, and make a BUTT LOAD more power. BUT,, heads are where the power is made. Scrimp here, and you throw potential out the window.

just my 2cents

Re: How to ID a camel back or camel hump head, and what good are they?
 

On a 283 I wound'nt get to worked up about powerpack heads, they will work fine in a truck on a small engine like the 283. Just dont expect to rev it to the moon and still make the power you would with a better head.

Re: How to ID a camel back or camel hump head, and what good are they?
 

The "right angle" (triangle 041) heads are just as good as "double hump" heads. If I'm not mistaken, they are the factory replacement heads for the "double hump". As was mentioned already, the original double hump heads didn't have accessory holes, but the right angle heads do. Outside of that, they are pretty much the same. I have a set in the garage, they have bronze guides and 64 cc chambers. They are good heads. They aren't vortecs, but they're good heads.

Re: How to ID a camel back or camel hump head, and what good are they?
 

Don't the power pac heads (single triangle over a rectangle base marking) only have 1.72 inake valves ? Even a 283 bore will clear a 1.94 intake, still tons of machine work and parts to get old parts like that up to spec.

Re: How to ID a camel back or camel hump head, and what good are they?
 

The double hump heads didn't have accessory holes until 1968. Any of them '67 and older have no holes. The double hump heads made more power than my "hecho en mexico" heads. I don't see a problem with them, but big money can be spent on them. I only have about $100 in my heads, not including the $275 that I paid for the motor. I will have go with the vortecs the next time, but until them, I'll enjoy them in my S10.

Re: How to ID a camel back or camel hump head, and what good are they?
 

Here's a chart with some associated casting numbers.

Re: How to ID a camel back or camel hump head, and what good are they?
 

Right click save as!! That is quite handy. Thanks:metal:

Re: How to ID a camel back or camel hump head, and what good are they?
 

I would drive it like it is, and if you want to go faster add about 123 more cubic inches down the road!

Re: How to ID a camel back or camel hump head, and what good are they?
 

The double hump heads made more power than my "hecho en mexico" heads. I don't see a problem with them, but big money can be spent on them....

Re: How to ID a camel back or camel hump head, and what good are they?
 

Double bump, 'camel' or 'fuelie' heads are good heads but they are generally dated.
That said, there are a lot of intelligently and correctly built vintage motors running around with them that will easily outperform a slap together vortec head job.
Guys were running 12 second quarter mile times with all that 'old/vintage' machinery all day long. You would be hard pressed to find a lot of modern guys being able to match those numbers with generic modern engine bolt-on/builds.
True vehicle performance is an intelligent and well selected combination of parts and set-up. It doesn't reside much in a couple of modern new tech parts.....at least at the end of the quarter mile.
My two bits.
Coley:chevy:

Re: How to ID a camel back or camel hump head, and what good are they?
 

Out dated--Sure (just like me) I ported a set of 462"s with 2.02/1.60 valves for my 355"sb back in the late 80's. 11to1/ Esky 602 rollor/4bolt with cast crank/800 holley/th350 9"conv/4.56 9" in a 67 nova that was back halved. best et was 10.74/123. and that was lunching at 4200rpm on the foot brake (no trans bk). They are good up to about 6500rpm modded.

Re: How to ID a camel back or camel hump head, and what good are they?
 

Wow...great run, great times.
Interestingly you would have won both of these modern 'super car' races:
Worlds greatest drag races: (....maybe?)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uDP7Pty8Qnw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JaS7n6qKQe4

All Good
Coley

Re: How to ID a camel back or camel hump head, and what good are they?
 

Don't know about winning any races nowadays. I was an et-racer on Wednesday night in the jackpot class. cut a light and run your dial-in. with a pro tree a deep stage, was the only way to cut a good light. In the teens area or better was the rule. here's a pic of the car. A little bazaar for the time. i think the 11.23 pic was with a solid cam and not the roller. lol it's been awhile. also car was built in my garage with help from my neighbor. for you old timers, he looked and talked like Woof man Jack (his name was Jack) take care people!!

Re: How to ID a camel back or camel hump head, and what good are they?
 

The double humps were what it was about back in the 70's 80's . The 461's 462's an 291's. The 291 had the bigger combustion chamber.

Re: How to ID a camel back or camel hump head, and what good are they?
 

I have to give in to the vortex heads also. but have a warm place in my heart for the old heads. But if those DDL humps are 492 castings with angle plugs don't throw em away. they are pretty hard to find and will be needed for a proper restore on a fuelly small blk.

Re: How to ID a camel back or camel hump head, and what good are they?
 

I happen to have a set of those in the garage. I'll build another engine to put them on someday.

Re: How to ID a camel back or camel hump head, and what good are they?
 

I'd run ported fuelie heads before "vortex" heads any day of the week. :)

Gary

Vortec for sure. No disputing heads designed after the advent of flow bench technology. Typical double humps flow between 190 and 210 CFM on the intake side. True Vortec (not just center bolt cover type) are around 225 if I remember correctly. More critical than total peak CFM is port shape and flow time through the port. The valve spends little little time during the intake cycle at full open, so numbers at part lift are what makes real power. In other words, sacrificing low lift flow for high lift numbers can be counter productive. In this regard the Vortec are are superior as well.