The casting number has been ground off this 261 head. Has anyone ever seen this and know why. The date code on it says it is a 55 261 head. I have no history on the engine other than it was painted a light metallic blue when I got it and had a rebuilt by (the only thing I could read ) sticker on the block. Just something that I seen when I overhauled the engine and wondered why someone would do that.
51 GMC 100 with 59 chevy 261 under the hood. 3 on the floor with 3.42 gear.
~ Dan 1951 Chevy 3 window 3100 Follow this story in the DITY Gallery "My Grandpa Carl's Truck and How it Became Mine" 1966 Chevelle (Wife's Hot Rod) | 2013 Chevy Silverado (Current daily driver) US Army MSG Retired (1977-1998) | Com Fac Maint Lead Tech Retired (1998-2021)
I'm confused, if the casting number is missing, how do you know it's a 261 head?
The casting number in your pictures are numbers/letters used by the foundry and are of no value to us now. Post pictures of any other numbers you have on your head and we'll try help figure out what you have.
Mike B
Mike Boteler
1956 Chevy 3100 Resto Rod 1952 Willys M38 Army Jeep 1983 Jeep CJ7 Laredo 1984 Jeep CJ7 +++++ Silver Spring, MD
It has steam holes and the other side of the head has the 848 and 850 numbers. It's a 261 head. I'm just wondering if anyone would know why someone would grind off the casting number. It's not a special head or anything so why do it it, why hide what it is. It just pushed my curious button.
51 GMC 100 with 59 chevy 261 under the hood. 3 on the floor with 3.42 gear.
It has steam holes and the other side of the head has the 848 and 850 numbers. It's a 261 head. I'm just wondering if anyone would know why someone would grind off the casting number. It's not a special head or anything so why do it it, why hide what it is. It just pushed my curious button.
Maybe it's a 848 head off of a 235 and when they modified it by drilling the steam holes they didn't want to mix it up with non-modified heads in the shop.
The side of the head with the 848 and 850 numbers are there so the foundry knows which sand cast mold to use when casting either of those two different heads which share that same part of the mold.
Mike B
Mike Boteler
1956 Chevy 3100 Resto Rod 1952 Willys M38 Army Jeep 1983 Jeep CJ7 Laredo 1984 Jeep CJ7 +++++ Silver Spring, MD
