Just wondering about living with a Buick Nailhead or Ford flatty. Just basic stuff. Costs for buying or rebuilding. Stuff to look out for that could be a problem. Does running a 5 speed behind the Ford make them more livable on the street? I've read quite a bit about both but just want to get the straight poop on them.. I want to build an "A" type roadster pick-up. If I don't go with one of the above engine it'll probably be a small block Ford. I've had LOTS of small block Fords. I've ALWAYS been a powerd by Ford guy in the past. Hi po 289s, A Boss 302, Assorted other 302's. My 40 Mercury has a Bellybutton 350. I know the stigma that goes with the SBC but after having one I "get it". Common as they may be It's pretty hard to beat for just getting in and going. Some day I'd like to put a blue 347 in it but for now the Chev is just fine. Thanks for any feed back.
I live with a 401 nailhead every day. Love the torque, love the sound, HATE the gas milage, course my 60 LeSabre is a 5000lb beast and the dynaflow doesn't help, nor my heavy right foot. Found what I've needed for it off eBay for reasonable. I am going to tear it down once my income tax gets here and have it bored and balanced, do a lil port work, stick a ST400 behind it with a new rear and new rear suspension, and then proceed to buy new rear tires regularly. Mmmm....burnouts.....lol.
I personally think that the nailhead and the flathead are two of the best sounding American motors ever... They each take a little maintenance and I guess the nailhead has a better reputation for reliability, but my Tardel built flathead has been absolute joy - easy to service and I've never had anything major issues.
Neither is cheap. Both put together right and maintained are reliable. Both sound distinctive. Both look cool.
One thing to think about where the OHVs are concerned is that they're built to power heavy cars. With the lightweight cars we're involved with OHVs last a long time since they're not working hard in normal driving. Half throttle in most of our cars leaves the traffic behind and doesn't make so much noise that it will attract attention from the Gendarmes. But . . . you gotta nail the throttle once in a while. Just to keep em cleaned out and running good. Ya know? Sure you do....
You picked two great motors........................If you take your time and shop around, parts are reasonable and easy to find. Complete rebuilds, by a machine shop, will cost you big time. If you have friends you can cut the cost in half.......... Check here http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=330306&highlight=nailhead+picture+post Get a Nailhead...
Both motors would be perfect for your build but I prefer my Nailhead. The rebuild kit was a bit pricey but since the rebuild this thing has been reliable to a fault. I think they look great in old rods too. Just make sure you have a full plan for your build before just slapping it together.
If its going into a Model A, I say the Nailhead. The sound is like no other and nailheads are very pleasing to the eye when they are all dressed up.
the nailhead is all about TORQ. You can put as high a rear gear as you want it wont complain, coupled to a turbo 400 trans [especially a "'switch pitch'" and you have a indestructable tiresmokin beast! they were designed for pulling huge monster Buicks with dynaflow trans. Excellent street engine.
If leg room is an issue, and it probably is in a Model A roadster pick-up, you wouldn't have to recess the firewall with the Flathead. I don't know about the Nailhead.
For a sharp cookie machinist anyhow. I know if anything other than a SBC comes into a few shops I know of, the guys will complain, try to talk you out of it, or charge you an astronimical ammount to do the work on it. Weird, you'd think they'd get bored building 383 strokers after a while...
The local guys I use for engine machining ( I assemble them but farm out boring, honing, and stuff like that) don't charge any different for a SBC or a Nailhead. And they do good work. They also refer business to me as well as they don't do complete builds.
I love both engines. I have a 1946 59A flathead with late 8RT heads and a Thickstun PM-7 in my '35 woodie. And I just finished a 1964 401 nailhead for my deuce hiboy under construction. During the engine build, I found both Carmen Faso in Tonawanda, NY and Russell Martin in CA, www.nailheadbuick.com to be great people to deal with on my nailhead rebuild kit and all the other stuff I needed. They have forgotten more than I will ever know about nailheads. Carmen and Russell make this hobby fun!!
my rebuilt flathead cost me 1700 bucks.. its totally stock. damn shame its been sitting on an engine stand for over 2 years.. maybe one day ill actually use it..
In my opinion, a nailhead gives you the advantages of a vintage look as well as the advantages that most modern engines have over flatheads. Even a stock 322 will put more power to the rear wheels than anything but the most radical (and very pricey) flathead, and speed equipment is still quite prevalent for them.
This has been very helpful. I appriciate all the positive input and inside dope on these engines. Street Rodder had a really good series about the Nailhead a few years ago that really got my attention. I do like the "look" of them too. But then the flat head is soooo cool too. Thanks guys.
Well my flatty has been running strong for 20 years, it still has the Mercomatic hooked up, its been shootin flames and I never let up when travelin around. All I have ever done to it is screw around with the carb tring different set ups and put a alternator..It has made me look good since day one..and nail heads they just keep going, lots still out there being used..
I just picked up my 3rd flattie a few weeks back. I wanted a builder and got this for $200. It has the desirable 2 piece truck bell housing and a giant boat anchor 4 speed with PTO attachement. Won't use the tranny. Plan to build it into a mild street engine and hook it with a T-5 for the roadster project that now has a stock flattie. Hope to get this car on the road and then swap engines. This new engine is not a runner and we started the teardown this weekend - man is it gunked up! Came outa a '52 (?) COE truck. Try to get it dipped soon to see what we got to work with. I've had a stock flattie in my '36 sedan for over 20 years - its always been reliable what little I drive it. Hope to build this new one using modern water pumps, electron. ignition, etc.
the only rod I rode in that could pull the front wheels off the ground was a rag tag beast of a model A coupe powered by a 56 nailhead
This is the reason I would like to use a nailhead the look is to neat for words, and getting wood at 56 dosn't happen on just anything.
I have two nail heads. One is a stock 322. the other is a 401 with weiand 2x4 intake and valve covers. I am temped to install the 401 in a tri five chev. Their torque was so good that chev factory installed 322 engines in the truck tractors in 1956. The nailhead is quite narrow in with and will easily fit in most engine bays. I prefer mine with a stick shift. Flatheads are good also but it is hard to find a block that isnt cracked. You also need a very good cooling system with a flathead. I think the cost would be about the same for either engine. OldWolf
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