The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop 235 head on 261 experience ?

I am considering drilling a 235 head and putting it on a 261. Before I go down this road, would some of you pioneers be willing to share your experience with us?
What technique did you use to drill the steam holes? Did you use a stock 261 head gasket? What torque values did you use? Are there any surprises? Has it been reliable, and worth it?
Thanks in advance.

shoeless in Oklahoma

Shoeless, I did it ,so it's a no brainer, no surprises at all. Just place the 261 headgasket on the head as a template , mark and center punch the holes. Then drill them out with a hand held drill.An unmilled 235 848 head will raise the compression to about an actual 8.5 when installed on a 261.For sure use a 261 headgasket, the torque values are the same,but the tightning sequence is slightly different, Inliners click on tech tips, inline torque values, for the proper sequence.For the record, I torqued mine the same as a 235, it's been fine for 6 years.

Have a 235 head (3835913) on my 261. Came that way when I got it. Works fine but don't know if it was ever drilled or not. Probably not. Would like an 848 head but can't seem to locate one. Anyone kow of a source?