what was the first and last year for the NAIL HEAD?

hey guys I would like to install a buick nailhead motor into my 1941 chevrolet and make it into a little rat rod. I was wondering what was the first and last year of the nail head engines so i can start looking.
thanks,
jimmy

 

oh yeah its a 1941 chrolet truck.

 

First was 1953,(322) last was 1966,(425) give or take 5 years.

 

anyone have the exact years?

 

1966 WAS the last year, both 401 & 425's were available at that time. Not sure of first year of the smaller displacement units were, above info is probably correct. Do some searching here, a few early years are far less desireable.
Mark

 

I thought they started in '54 with the 264 and 322, but I could be wrong. They definitely ended in '66 though with the 401 and 425. There was a 364 in there somewhere too. You need to research these a little more. The early motors really limit your choice of trans and there are very minor differences between the early and late blocks. IMO I'd go with a later motor which would allow you to run a BOP TH400.

 

The 53 looked like the later ones but was not a good motor to have. Many internal parts are very hard to come by today.

 

56 is the best 322, 364 came out in 57.

 

I believe '64 was the first year they switched from using the dynaflo to what everybody knows now as the TH400 automatic tranny.

 

According to "Seventy Years Of Buick" byGeorge H. Damon, 1953 was the first year for the 322 cu. in. Nailhead and 1966 was the final year for the 401/425.

 

'53 in all models except the Special, the only Buick motor until '61.

As noted, 364 came out in '57 and there's two bellhousing patterns, 53-56 and 57-66 - but the TH400 and predecessors won't mate up to 57-63 cranks.

FWIW, build a hot rod or a custom, but leave the rats for the garbage dump and the back alley...

 

don't forget the 264 was also available in the the early runs... but the years are correct...

because you don't know, there are plenty of trannies available as well as adapters for the newer OD trannies... Manual bellhousings are as easy as a phone call....

Yep if you want the early one get the '56 322 as stated right below...

364's are easy and cheap to find... good motors..

Yep but '64 was one year only valve body, the 65-66 was better, plus they were available in Jeeps and such for a while after that...

You got the rat part right, but it only takes a little grinding and a bushing to mate up those trannies....

 

How much difference is there between a 55 and a 56 322? I have a low mileage 55 that's going in my 53 Studebaker (maybe.)
I had a 264 in a 54 Special.

 

I would like to put an overdrive behind mine, but am undecided. The car is a stick now, and I'd like to keep it a stick in some ways (more of a hot rod) but since it's going to be a custom, and I'm getting old with a bad knee, the auto sounds pretty inviting, also. I have a 700r4 now (I know, the preference is 200-4r, but it's what I've got.)

Any ideas/suggestions? db

 

Just to correct everyone...the trannys in the 64-66...refering to the 3 speeds are St400's ...not Turbo 400 St= Super turbine

 

Just to clarify the ST400 and the SP400 are internally the same as the early TH400 except for the Switch Pitch converter in the SP. They take the same internals as the early TH400. The 64 has a one year only valve body which can be swapped for the early other style. This is where GM got what was the early TH400.

You can buy a regular early TH400 kit to rebuild a ST400 and the only thing that you will need is the proper tailshaft seal since the outer diameter of the yoke is different, but the shaft and splines are the same.

IF you're going to come on here and try and correct people please get it correct. But thanks for playing and dragging up an old thread.

 

In your face FNG! Zman knows Buicks better than anyone around. If you have a NailHead he is the man. Keith

 

I will agree wholeheartedly. and lately he has even been rather pleasant!

 

My transmission man that knows his stuff tells me that the '64 ST400 won't accept a later valve body.
Frank

 

Ok, it won't accept the later as in 70's one, it will accept the later ST/SP one 65-66. That's what was meant by later. Sorry if there was some confusion. Or at least that has been the word in the Nailhead community for a while, I personally don't do automatic transmission work. Personally I have seen no need to do it to my '64 ST. I'll see if I can dig the info back up on that, I've been pretty good about keeping all the info in a binder for the last 15 or so years.