by GOSFAST » Fri Apr 06, 2018 6:07 pm
novadude wrote: ↑
Fri Apr 06, 2018 5:45 pm
Was there any rhyme or reason for which cars got "x" heads and which got standard 461s? Was it just luck of the draw, or were X heads reserved for certain applications?
Dave "Big Dave" Trahan worked with me for 20+ yearsYou mentioned 487 heads. While we are talking open chambers, were there any unique 441s? I know these are popular in stock and super stock on the 255hp combinations.
As far as I can recall all the 461's cast up to and including the '63 model year were the "X" heads, the '64 model year dropped the "X's".
We have a bunch of experience with those "X" heads, I can tell you many were "destroyed" (on purpose) and "fixed" by an old friend, Al Mathon Sr., he was a master at welding cast iron material!
I believe Larry (up here) knew him really well. Almost every single "X" head he "fixed" ended up setting an NHRA record back in the day!! There was no porting allowed but you could "fix" them when necessary??
(Add) I have few "virgin" sets on the shelf here still, never been machined anywhere! They were all 1.940"/1.500" valves.
Thanks, Gary in N.Y.
P.S. Al made the infamous Chevy V-16 by welding 2 blocks together in tandem! Here's a shot, it ended up in street rod, was originally destined for "marine" use by Al. He was without a doubt the best cast-iron welder on this planet in his time!
Dave ended up in New Orleans suburb working with Joe Helmer who was a Dental assistant
that purchased entire Al Mathon HeadMaster "Rights" + all equipment
and moved entire operation to suburb in New Orleans ( suburb name escapes at this moment )
i never met Al .... just good friends with Joe Helmer new Owner
on my 1st visit ... guess what i saw Joe was welding up / finishing ???
... you guessed it --> killer NHRA C/ED #461X Heads
Joe was "Reverse Angle Welding" is what he termed it ,
that is instead of Angle-Milling .. you Weld up entire Decks/Chambers from opposite side
so you are increasing the Short Turn Curve to a better Shape + reducing the Chamber CC's in process
...sort of like one of Kaase's Chambers ... but not so drastic or obvious because it had to pass NHRA Tech for C/ED
Joe Helmer , David Trahan, and myself , all took a trip to Mena, Arkansas to Brodix
where i custom ordered SBC23 raised runner Pontiac/Brodix Heads 2.150/1.600 spread centers combo , Filed-core-boxes+wider no Pushrod Pinch
1 pair for myself + 1 pair for Steve Benoit
mr J.V. Brotherton gave us the Shop Tour + took us out to eat at his favorite resturant .