[SupergasDil]

Does anyone know if the 61 head bolt pattern will fit the 67 and later 400 block?

[SupergasDil]

Does anyone know if the 61 head bolt pattern will fit the 67 and later 400 block?

[Stuart]

I'm pretty sure the head bolt pattern to the block is the same, but you have to use a '61-'64 intake manifold as the '67 manifold has a different pattern.

[tom s]

61 heads oiled through the studs,so make sure you use 65 rockers.Also valves are at diff angle so reliefs are in diff place.Tom

[SupergasDil]

My heads are complete so do I need to change any parts on the heads? rockers?
The reason I asked about the bolt pattern was I thought someone once said that the center bolts were about 1/4" closer on the early engines.

[61man]

I think that you also have to use a different timing cover, I might be wrong on this though....

[tom s]

are they stock pass. car 61 heads or 61 SD heads.HUGE diff.Timing cover wont change.Tom

[Goatracer1]

The heads will work if you dont use a cam with a lot of lift otherwise the valves will hit the pistons. The timing cover works ok. You will have to use 389 push rods ,they are shorter, use the 400 rocker with the oil holes, and a 1961-1964 intake manifold. You can use either 389 or 400 valve covers. You may find the compression a little high for pump gas so use as thick a head gasket as you can.

[SupergasDil]

Bob, do the 389 rockers not have an oil hole? What's the down side?

[60man]

SupergasDil: Like TomS said....Some 389 rockers have oil holes. The 61's used hollow studs for oiling and 65 & up oil throught the pushrods.The early rockers did not need oil holes. You need rockers with the oil holes in order get oil to rockers.

[tom s]

also 389 rockers are diff from later 400s so valve train issues can result.Use the proper ones or use roller tip which are more forgiving.Tom

[Goatracer1]

The first "street" head to use push rod oiling rather than stud oiling was the 1963 421 # 9770716 cylinder head. This head was used on 1964 421's and 1964 GTO's 389 also. By 1965 all V8's had push rod oiling I believe.

[SupergasDil]

Wow, I'm learning more about the 61 engine all of the time.
I know how the hollow push rod oiling comes up through the lifter, pushrod, and out the tip oiling the rocker and have seen the stamped steel with the small hole so oil can get throgh and into the nut/ball area.
But I haven't been into this 61 engine yet. How does the stud oiling system work?

[tom s]

there is a gallery in the block that feeds to the heads and goes through a gallery under the studs which are hollow and have a hole to allow the oil to get to the rocker balls.Tom

[SupergasDil]

Tom,
So does this system also oil through the pushrods as well?

[tom s]

I really dont think any oil will come through because no holes in the rockers.Tom

[Goatracer1]

Swappers must also be careful of the lifters that they use. If you put push rod oiled heads on an engine that came with stud oiling too much oil will end up in the top of the heads. Going with heads that were originally stud oiled,converting them to push rod oiling and installing them on a push rod oiled block should pose no problem.