I am hoping that my 1949 216 flywheel will seat. It is a tight fit lining up the three posts on the crank. Can't get it to seat all the way on the posts. I don't want to force it.
Shouldn't need to force it. As I understand it the flywheel crank flange pattern was unchanged from '40 to '62. Should bolt right up.
Also, steam holes in an 848 head on a 261 between the fenders of a car seem an optional affair:
ChevyTalk apparently they were added with a heavily loaded 2 ton truck in mind . . . so perhaps unnecessary in a hot rod.
I believe that there is posting here on Inliners that warns that the steam hole drilling process needs to be approached with care (as the holes are not drilled squarely due to available material in the 848 casting). Apparently getting the angle just right can be tricky.
Found it:
Inliners circa '13 apparently the holes need to be drilled at a 12 degree angle to hit the water jackets.